Chapter 30
The call came a little after eight in the morning. By then, Leonie had been awake for hours, pacing round her cabin, her phone clutched in both hands. When it finally rang, she answered so fast, she almost cracked the screen.
“Shit, Catbutt,” said a familiar, amused voice in her ear. “If you wanted me to visit that badly, you could have just said.”
Leonie could have cried in relief. She sank back onto the bed, knees refusing to support her. “You’re okay?”
“I didn’t even wake up. It was bloody confusing, waking up to find the eagle had fucked off. I thought I was going to have to call you to confess that I’d somehow lost the thing. Worst fifteen minutes of my life.”
Shan was looking at her, a question in his eyes. She gave him a thumbs up, and his taut shoulders relaxed at last. Without her having to ask, he quietly left the cabin, so she could speak to her sister in private.
“Did Conleth find you?” she asked Lola.
“Yeah, he crashed into our camp while I was still freaking out over what I was going to tell you. He explained what was going on.” Lola snickered. “And then passed out. Faceplanted right into the dirt before any of us could catch him.”
“Is he okay?”
“He’ll be fine. Connor flew him to the nearest hotel. And gave him shit all the way, I bet. Poor Conleth is never going to live that down.”
She let out a shaky laugh. “I suppose it must be a bit strange, riding your own sibling.”
“Damn straight. I’m glad I’ve never had to get up on your back. Much as I love you.”
“You’re not angry?”
“What, with you?” Lola sounded genuinely baffled. “Of course not. You didn’t mean to yank out the eagle and nearly give me a heart attack, did you?”
“No. It just…sort of happened.”
“Uh-huh.” She could almost see her sister’s leer. “And what were you doing at the time, exactly?”
“I’m not going to share everything with you, Birdbrain.”
“Pity. Your tiger sounds tasty.” Lola hastily added, “Joking! I’m joking.”
She swallowed her possessive growl. “I know. Sorry. Couldn’t help it.”
“Fuck, Catbutt.” Despite her words, Lola sounded almost tender. “He really is your mate, isn’t he?”
“Yes.” She sighed, leaning back against the wall. “He is. My lioness knows he is, too. Though it doesn’t seem to want us to bond. I think that’s why it called in the eagle.”
“Makes sense. Guy’s not my mate, thank fuck. I’ve got no interest in settling down to play happy families. Especially not in some fucked up harem situation with my own twin.” Lola paused. “What does the griffin make of all this?”
“I don’t know.” She’d been trying to ignore that part of herself, like avoiding biting down on an abscessed tooth. “However my lioness got the eagle here, I don’t think I can send it back to you the same way. When can you get here?”
“Not for a while. We’re out on a fire right now, and I can’t exactly tell my superintendent that I need to take a personal day to retrieve an invisible animal. But I’ve got some time off in a week. I’ll book a flight down.”
“A week?” Guilt stabbed through her. “Will you be okay that long?”
“Eh, I’ll be fine. I know how to use a parachute if we have to jump another fire.
Though if Connor gives me any shit over it, I’ll rip his lungs out through his asshole.
I’m more worried about you. I’m guessing you can’t finalize the mating bond while the eagle is hanging around like a third wheel. ”
“Don’t worry. Shan doesn’t mind waiting. But get here as soon as you can, okay?”
Lola's filthy chuckle crackled from the phone speaker. “Sounds like you mind waiting. Listen, I’ve got to get back to work. The rest of the squad is covering for me, but if the superintendent finds out I skipped out to make a personal call, it’ll be my ass that’s on fire.
Sit tight for now, Catbutt. I’ll be there as soon as I can. ”
“What do you mean, you need to stay longer?” Min-Seo frowned at him from his phone screen. “Yesterday, you said you were convinced there wasn’t any threat to the camp.”
“There isn’t. But a different issue has arisen.” He braced himself. “I met my mate.”
Min-Seo slumped back in her executive chair, letting out a long, relieved groan. “Finally. I thought you’d never admit it.”
This was not the reaction he’d expected. “You knew?”
“Of course I knew.” Min-Seo gave him an exasperated look. “Shan, do you really think I’d send one of my best agents to chase ghosts at a kids’ summer camp?”
He blinked at her. “Ah…yes?”
“See, that’s the problem with being able to detect lies.
” Min-Seo unwrapped a candy as she spoke.
“Anyone who knows your talent can run rings around you. Zephyr did contact us about the so-called ghost sighting. What I didn’t tell you is that he asked me for a personal favor.
He wanted me to send you specifically. And when I asked him why, he told me. ”
“Zephyr knew all along?”
“Shan, a bunch of kids worked it out. From a distance of twenty feet, as I understand it. Zephyr was right there when you first met Leonie. He noticed your reaction. So did Conleth.” Min-Seo popped the candy into her mouth, speaking around it.
“It didn’t take a genius to deduce why you rushed away like you’d seen a ghost. The kids just saved them from having to figure out how to force you back to camp. ”
There wasn’t a lot he could say to that. “Oh.”
“I admit I was startled when you uncovered a genuine mystery.” Min-Seo crunched up her candy, reaching for another piece. “But still, all’s well that ends well. I take it you’re asking for emergency personal leave?”
“Yes. I’m afraid I might need to be here for a while. There are…some complications.”
“Shan, you’re a male shifter who just found his mate. Frankly, for the next few months, you’re going to be about as much use to me as a bull elephant in rut. Take as long as you need.” Min-Seo paused, one eyebrow raising. “Though…what kind of complications?”
“Ones that aren’t mine to disclose.” Some flicker of instinct tugged at his awareness. “I have to go. I’ll submit the leave request paperwork today. And…thank you. For everything.”
Min-Seo smiled, her usually sharp eyes softening. “You’re welcome. You’re off duty until further notice, Agent. Go find your mate.”
Leonie came out of her cabin. Putting his phone away, he went to meet her.
“All is well?” he asked.
She nodded, looking much happier than she had earlier. “Lola’s coming to get the eagle back as soon as she can. It won’t be for a while, though. Did you talk to your boss?”
“Yes. She was surprisingly unsurprised.” He wasn’t sure whether he should be embarrassed or grateful. Possibly both. “In any event, I can stay the rest of the summer.”
Leonie smiled, the last traces of worry clearing. “The children will be happy to hear that.”
He put a finger under her chin, bending to claim her mouth. “Not just the children, I hope.”
Her hands slid around the back of his neck as they kissed. When she pulled back, her eyes caught the morning light, shining.
It should have been strange, seeing that sparkling gold instead of the familiar deep amber. Yet somehow, it wasn’t. He didn’t sense any foreign presence lurking behind that bright, clear gaze. There was only her.
His mate.
Leonie reluctantly released him. “We should find the kids. They must be wondering what’s going on.”
“Moira will explain. She and Ragvald are looking after them today.” He caught her round the wrist, pulling her back. “You’re taking a day off. No arguing.”
“So bossy.” Despite the complaint, she took his hand, fingers lacing through his. She glanced down, brow creasing. “Your claws are back.”
“You said you liked them.”
“I do.” She looked up at him, a trace of worry flickering across her expression. “It’s just…”
He stopped her with another kiss.
“It’s fine,” he murmured against her lips. He squeezed her hand, keeping his claws retracted. “Come with me. There’s something I want to do.”
Leonie still looked a little unconvinced, but let him pull her along. “Then why are we moving away from the privacy of my cabin?”
He chuckled under his breath. “Not that. Not yet, at least.”
Shan led her away from the buildings, out into the grounds. This early in the morning, the fields were deserted, all the campers still at breakfast.
He released her, stepping back. “Fly with me.”
From the way her eyes widened, he might as well have proposed they commit a public act of indecency. “You mean, shift?”
“You told me you always dreamed of flying. I didn’t know about your ability at the time, but I could still taste your longing. You have wings now, if only for a short while. Let’s make the most of them.”
Leonie wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m…not sure I should.”
“Why not?”
“Lola can’t get here for at least a week. I’ve never had both animals for that long.” She bit her lip. “I’m worried it might be hard to separate them again. It might be safer if I don’t shift.”
“Leonie. You cannot repress your nature.”
She gave him a look. “You’re telling me?”
“The irony is not lost on me,” he said ruefully. He held up a hand, claws sliding out. “But that’s how I know. You cannot ground yourself out of fear. And it’s not healthy to cage your animal.”
Her gaze strayed to the sky. He could see the desire in those golden eyes, but she still shook her head. “It’s only a week. I can go that long without shifting.”
He could feel his qiongqi, prowling at the back of his mind. Perhaps he should take that quivering anticipation as a warning…yet he was sure this was right.
“Please,” he said softly. “If not for yourself, then for me. I want to see your griffin. I want to see you fly.”
Leonie let out her breath. Her form shimmered.
And there she was.
Yes.
“Yes,” he whispered, echoing his animal. “There you are.”
She was bigger now. Almost the size of his qiongqi, though lighter and more streamlined. She still had the same feline flanks and tufted tail, but now her strong front legs ended in long, grasping talons rather than paws.