Chapter Two #2
Milo hoped Aelryn would pave the way to Fridan acceptance. He also hoped Aelryn would agree to his proposal, the one that had brought him to the door where he now stood, waiting for someone to respond to his knock.
He has to agree. He will, won’t he?
Milo was about to find that out .
The door opened, and a young man stood there, smiling. “Come in, Milo.” He stood aside. “Aelryn can’t be here—he’s still in Maine—but he asked me to speak with you.” He held out his hand. “I’m Scott, Aelryn’s mate. I work here as part of the medical team.”
Milo went into the small room that clearly served as an office, and sat in the chair Scott indicated. Scott picked up a folder on the desk and opened it.
“I’m sure you want news of your mate. Jana is fine. She’s—”
“I know that, and while I want to see her, that’s not why I’m here.” His heart went into overdrive. “I want to join you.”
Scott blinked. “Join us?”
“I met some of Horvan’s team. Do you know him?”
He smiled. “Yes, and I’ve met some of the team too. Three mates—Vic, Saul, and Crank.”
“Well, I’m sure Aelryn has teams too, and that’s who I want to join. I can be useful. I’ve worked in many of the Geran camps, I know their systems, their routines, their—”
Scott held up his hand. “Whoa there. I know how you helped us infiltrate the Maine camp. We couldn’t have done it without you. But I’m not the one you’d have to convince. You’d be fighting alongside shifters who’ve been battling the Gerans for a long time. Some of them might be hard to win over.”
“But that’s why I’m here.” Milo swallowed. “I hoped Aelryn would speak for me. Surely whatever he says will carry weight.”
Scott stroked his chin. “Yes, it would. And you’re right. With his backing, more of our fighters would be willing to accept you. I’ll call him right away and we can get to work.” His smile was warm. “Call it a PR campaign. But in the meantime, he’s instructed me to find you two a place to live.”
“Jana doesn’t have to stay here?”
Scott’s eyes twinkled. “There isn’t a lot of privacy in the school. I don’t want to leave her in the dormitories. But until things become more permanent, there are rooms in the teachers’ wing. I’ll have one of them made up for you. And now”—he grinned—“let’s go find your mate.”
Milo followed him out of the office, his head in a whirl.
I’m a step closer to my future.
Aelryn would make it work. Somehow .
Scott led him into the library, and Milo picked up Jana’s scent in a heartbeat. Then he spotted her at a long table, her nose in a book.
He didn’t have to say a word.
She jerked her head up, closed the book, pushed back her chair, its feet scraping on the wooden floor, and ran to him, her arms wide.
Milo gathered her up, holding her against him. “I’ve missed you.”
I’ve been waiting for my next kiss.
He didn’t make her wait a second longer, losing himself in the smell of her, the taste of her lips, the tiny sounds that spoke of happiness.
You’re really here, in my arms.
Jana tilted her head to gaze at him. And if I get my way, I’ll never leave them again.
Milo kissed the top of her bronze head. From your lips to the gods’ ears.
Then he realized that might not be possible, not if he got his way and joined forces with Aelryn. “Jana, there’s something you need to know. I—”
She placed a finger on his lips. “Do you think Aelryn will have room in his ranks for an otter who wants to fight for the Fridans?”
Milo’s heart skipped a beat. “You want to fight?”
She blinked. “Well, you do, so why shouldn’t I? And I can be useful too, especially with some training.”
He said nothing, but squeezed her tight. Milo closed his eyes and sent up a prayer to whoever had placed Jana in his path.
Thank you.
“What are you doing here?”
The strident voice cut through him. Milo turned, and came face-to-face with a man he recognized from the camp. The guy glared at him. “Why aren’t you in chains? Why aren’t you facing a firing squad? You’re one of them .”
Jana whirled around and glared at him. “Don’t you dare speak to my mate like that again.
And have some respect. You’d still be in that godforsaken place if it wasn’t for him.
Who do you think gave the Fridans all their information?
Hm? I’ll tell you. You’re looking at him. ” She clenched her fists, her face red.
The former inmate stared at her. “He’s your mate?” He gazed at Milo. “Really?”
Milo nodded, his arms around Jana once more, feeling her relax against him. “What she told you is true. And if you don’t believe her, it won’t be long before you hear the same thing from Aelryn’s lips. You’d believe him , wouldn’t you?”
The man nodded, openmouthed.
Milo took a deep breath. This is going to happen a lot, isn’t it?
Yes. And I’ll have your back every single time. Jana craned her neck to peer at him, her eyes gleaming. Now can we go see our new room? Seeing as I have you all to myself for the first time.
There were better places to be, and sweeter things to be shared.
Especially if—when—they found their third mate.