Loch & Key (Miracle: Salvation Isle #7)

18. CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 18

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nessim,” Terrence said as he held out his hand as he got off the plane. That he’d instantly greeted Aban’s mate before Saban meant the world to Aban. Not that he was that surprised. Terrence might have lived as a hermit for as long as Aban had known him, but the man had a way of making those around him feel as if they mattered.

Not that Saber wasn’t important, but after several discussions on the phone—which was still a shock that his friend had allowed after not having one for so long—Terrence had realized how important Nessim was to Aban. “If I wasn’t afraid that Aban would shred me apart for daring to touch his mate in that way, I would hug you for making him as happy as I’ve ever seen him.”

Nessim’s chuckle was music to Aban’s ears. That his mate felt the response was to hug Terrence, he could have done without, but Aban wasn’t about to tell Nessim what he could or couldn’t do. All he could do was pull his mate back into his arms as quickly as possible while not appearing rude. Mostly.

Okay…He might have reacted too quickly, but Nessim belonged in Aban’s arms and no one else’s.

Based on the glare he received from his mate and Terrence’s laugh, he hadn’t been that subtle.

“Don’t mind him.” Nessim lightly slapped Aban’s chest. “He’s a bit possessive.”

Was it wrong to want to kill a man he’d considered his best friend for throwing back his head and laughing along with Nessim? He must have been glaring hard because when Terrence looked at him, he grinned mischievously. “Oops,” Terrence said unapologetically. “I think it’s best if I keep you between us,” he told Nessim, who once again slapped him on the chest, but this time with an eye roll.

“Don’t pay him any attention,” Nessim said, even as he kissed Aban’s chin. “He’s just jealous that anyone but him likes me.”

There was no stopping the growl that erupted from deep inside Aban. He had planned none of it, but Aban also damn well knew he couldn’t have stopped himself from turning Nessim into his embrace and kissing him until they were practically fucking right there on the tarmac.

“Okay then,” Chadwick sing-songed. “I’m Chadwick, Saber’s mate. Don’t get me wrong, if you attempt to hug me my mate will likely kill you or, at the very least, fuck me right here in front of everyone, like Aban is apparently prepared to do with his mate. But it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Saber’s growl of displeasure had Nessim erupting in laughter even though he was being kissed senseless. “Stop,” he admonished as he pushed Aban away. “I love you and only you, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be friends with anyone else, especially someone who means so much to you.”

Don’t get him wrong, Nessim loved how possessive he was, but that didn’t mean it was okay for Aban to feel he could control who Nessim spoke to or touched. There was never a scenario where he would cheat on his mate… ever . Aban should know that. Just like Nessim knew, the same was true of his mate.

Then again, he couldn’t deny he hated each time one of the Omegas in town seemed to cling to Aban. He might not have liked watching it, but Nessim hadn’t growled or practically fucked his mate to prove that he was the one who belonged to Aban. Right?

Mostly. Admittedly, in the beginning of their relationship, he hadn’t been as amiable, but they’d been together for two months now. He couldn’t deny Terrence was the first person who’d flirted with Nessim.

Sure, he could tell Terrence had meant nothing by it. If anything, he was just provoking his best friend. Still, Nessim needed to remember his mate hadn’t had to come to grips with someone flirting with his mate until now.

“Promise,” Nessim told Aban. “You are the only person on this earth I give a damn about. That said, I’m going to show your friend I’m not a total asshole and be nice. Maybe then he’d agree to be the Alpha of our new town.”

That was something they’d decided on a week ago. If Terrence, or someone else they liked, if he refused to take the job, they would move. Otherwise, they would make Salvation Isle their home. It wasn’t the best option without a deep freshwater source, but it was better than anywhere else they’d thought of.

No.

That wasn’t exactly true, but between Nessim’s need to help victims’ needs as a therapist yet still be in a place that would—hopefully—keep them safe, it made the most sense. That said, this new town, which would have a fairly large freshwater lake for his shifter half, was by far the better option.

“I love you,” Nessim told his mate before turning back to Terrence, who was currently shaking Saber’s hand.

“We have a trip planned for the possible new town,” Nessim said once the niceties were over. “But Miracle isn’t much different.”

He gestured to Edrick, Lucca, Chadwick, Hudson, and Kellach, all of whom had turned the ghost town into a thriving place to live. “These guys are experts in bringing a dead town alive again.”

“Technically,” Iniko added as he stuck his hand out, even though the only thing Nessim could see was his super bright purple hair.

It's not that Nessim cared about the color, but there were times when it was difficult not to notice it. It's not that it was always purple, but each color Iniko used tended to… stand out.

“I’m Iniko.” Grey, his mate, grinned proudly. Then again, that wasn’t unusual. Most Alphas might tend to be very possessive, but with Iniko’s vivaciousness, his Alpha had learned early on to let his mate be who he was. “I won’t brag,” Iniko said. “Buuuttt, I helped to turn Miracle into the thriving town it is currently.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Sure Chadwick had rebuilt most of the town either himself or with the help of others, but it had been Iniko who’d turned the bones into a true place to live. Not only by creating a grocery store, but by talking to everyone in the town and discovering their unique skill set.

It would help if they hoped to create a new town. No. Not just a town, but a council town. One that would help keep shifters safe.

Terrence already seemed to understand what they’d need when he asked, “I get you live in Miracle, but is there any chance you’d help find and train someone to…” Terrence glanced around even as his cheeks turned pink. “Well…be ‘you’ in our new town?”

Aban had known Terrence too long to not be all for that. His friend might have been a recluse, but Aban also damn well knew Terrence was one of the best in drawing people in.

Iniko giggled. “I would be happy to help,” he said, but then looked back to where his mate stood. Grey, being the supportive mate he was, smiled at Iniko reassuringly.

“It is my honor to introduce you to Saber, our Chief Council,” Iniko gestured to Saber, who as always appeared as dominating as ever.

“Terrence,” Saber greeted with his hand out to shake. “I appreciate that you have taken the time to meet with us.” Saber gestured behind him as if he meant to include the entire town. “It has taken a lot of time and work, but Edrick and…” Saber smiled at his mate. “Well, not just him, but all those who hold Miracle close to their hearts to turn what was a crumbling town into this.”

Aban might have argued there had been a better way to state that, but he also couldn’t deny it was true.