Epilogue
Claudia stood at the wide window of Sam’s office, staring out at the glow of the city lights. Houston pulsed with life far below, but her mind was elsewhere, still circling around the Rollins twins and the puzzle they presented. Behind her, Sam closed the last folder of the day with a solid thunk.
“You’ve been quiet,” he said. “What’s on your mind?”
“Robert and Rowan Rollins aren’t quite what they seem, Sam. They never have been.”
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “They fooled Jeremiah into thinking they were harmless for years. That in itself tells me they’re dangerous. Especially since they seem to have had no trouble convincing the rest of the family that they are, indeed, powerful enough to lead.”
“Do you know how rare twin flames are? Fewer than one in a hundred mage twin pairs ever achieve it. Most twins simply share a bond, a little resonance. But Robert and Rowan…” She shook her head, still marveling.
“Together, they’re something else entirely.
Apart, they look like mid-tier mages. Competent but unremarkable. But when they join their power?”
Sam arched a brow. “What happens then?”
Claudia’s lips curved, not quite a smile. “They’re unstoppable. Power pours through them like a closed circuit, amplifying and feeding back on itself. It’s said that true twin flames can level mountains. I think Jeremiah’s greatest mistake was underestimating Robert and Rowan.”
Sam rose and came to stand beside her, his presence grounding, steady as bedrock. “They hid it from him.”
“Yes,” Claudia said softly. “They had to. If Jeremiah had known, he’d have bound them, broken them, and used them as weapons, if he could manage it.
If not, he’d have killed them to neutralize the threat they posed to his authority.
Instead, they played a careful game, showing just enough power as they grew up to earn respect, but never enough to reveal what they really were. ”
Sam studied her face, his tone thoughtful. “You sound like you admire them.”
“I do.” Claudia met his gaze without flinching. “Because it takes incredible discipline to keep that kind of power contained. They spent years pretending to be less than they are. For years, they survived under a tyrant’s eye without giving themselves away. That takes guts.”
Sam’s jaw tightened. “Discipline and deception. Which led them to now, and the leadership of what’s left of their dynasty. Do you believe we can trust them, Claudia?”
She held his gaze, weighing the question.
“I trust what I’ve seen so far. They spared Marigold when they didn’t have to, and they’ve chosen a different path now, when they could just as easily have seized control and started right back in the evil path Jeremiah had set out.
The fact that they are choosing to do something entirely different tells me something important about them.
” She paused, her voice lowering. “But do I trust them completely? No. Not yet.”
Sam grunted, staring out the window with her. “That makes two of us.” After a long silence, he added, “If they really are as powerful as you say, we’ll have to watch them closely.”
Claudia inclined her head. “I already planned to, and Granny Tucker wants me to keep her updated with my observations as well. I wanted you to know that I’ll be reporting the magical goings-on to her as well.”
“Understood,” Sam said, nodding.
They stood there together, the city lights reflecting in the glass. The silence between them was comfortable now, threaded with an undercurrent of something unspoken.
Sam finally glanced at her. “You’ve got a sharp mind, Claudia, and impressive deductive skills. I’m glad you’re on our side.”
They were silent for a long moment, their gazes on the city below. Finally, Sam broke the silence once more, keeping his voice low.
“Speaking of dangerous minds… I had a report from Liam earlier.”
Claudia angled toward him. “How is the hunt going on Long Island?”
“Liam has made contact with Lina, the agent we have a slight connection with who works out of the New York office. She’s a lynx shifter. So far, they’ve agreed to work together.”
Claudia’s lips curved faintly. “That’s good. I’m sure Liam is a skilled soldier, but she’s a trained investigator. He’ll need her skills to find Mrs. E, if at all possible.”
Sam’s mouth quirked, though his tone stayed serious. “Lina seems up to the task. Liam respects her already, which is half the battle. But as for Mrs. Entwistle…” He shook his head. “Nothing concrete yet. Just rumors and shadows. She’s good at slipping through cracks.”
“Too good,” Claudia murmured. She tapped a finger lightly against her arm, thinking it through. “If she’s sniffing around old bloodlines, she’s laying a foundation for something. Liam and Lina will need to be cautious. I have no doubt she’s playing some deeper game.”
Sam grunted in agreement. “That’s what worries me. Liam’s smart, but he likes to charge headfirst. This mission isn’t about brute force. It’s about patience, tracking, and watching. He’ll have to play Lina’s game as much as his own.”
Claudia glanced at him sidelong. “And that’s what worries you? Not just Mrs. Entwistle, but Liam, letting his temper get the better of him?”
Sam didn’t deny it. “He’s a Kinkaid. He’ll fight like hell for what he believes is right.”
For a moment, the weight of his words lingered. Claudia studied him, seeing not just the Alpha but the man beneath. The one who carried the responsibility for the entire Clan on his shoulders and had never once faltered.
“He’ll be all right,” she said quietly, more reassurance than prediction. “Especially with Lina at his side.”
Sam finally looked at her then, his eyes sharp but softened by something she couldn’t quite name. “You sound pretty certain.”
“I trust my instincts,” Claudia replied. Her lips curved in a small, knowing smile. “And my instincts are telling me that Liam may just have met the woman who can handle him.”
A low chuckle escaped him, surprising them both. “Goddess help her.”
*
Thanks for reading Lion of Fortune.