Chapter 25 #2
“Washington State. Beck didn’t give me many details, but someone contacted his dad needing help, and Corbin called Beck. They flew out Tuesday to speak with the family. When Lydia phoned yesterday saying they were headed back, she said they would discuss the issue when they got here.”
Carleigh wanted to ask what Bas needed Jon for, but she figured she’d find out soon enough. There wasn’t a lot happening that H3 wasn’t involved in. “Where’s Seven?”
“She’s in town at the jewelry store. She and the owner have become friends, and Seven hangs out there when she’s not helping Kody behind the bar.”
“I thought she was doing your books.”
“She is, but that takes about two hours a week. Are we ready to go look at property?”
“Yes, but let me get this one to the potty first. Come on Junebug.”
“Me go pee. I’s a big boy,” Juni said to Kennedy’s stomach.
Jolee offered to stay behind and check on Diana, and once Juni finished in the bathroom, the rest of them piled into two vehicles and headed down the mountain.
There was one piece of land farther up the mountain past the lodge, but most of it was wooded on a slope, and Carleigh wanted something flat where Juni could have a yard to play in.
Gemi opened a pack of fruit bites for Juni when he asked for a snack. Once he was satisfied, she said, “Sebastian and Dakota aren’t what I expected.”
Carleigh glanced at her in the rearview mirror.
“They’re down to earth the same way Bas’s parents are.
Well, Rafael had his hands full for a while during the battle with his uncle.
Harlow’s dad is the Italian King, and he visits Italy a couple of times a year to check in with his people, but for the most part, Gargoyles are living their lives and not causing trouble.
Except those of us finding our mates,” Carleigh joked.
“Since white tigers don’t have large families and there are so few of us, we stick to ourselves. Bayu mentioned all the different types of shifters. Do any of the others have a King or Queen?”
“You heard Bas talk about Beck. He’s a polar bear shifter, and they have a queen.
His mom ruled for a while, and she called herself the Empress.
The dragons have both. The wolf packs have Alphas, but other than those, I haven’t heard of any of them having a set leader.
That’s what makes it difficult in finding all the different types of shifters for the council.
It’s word of mouth at this point, but with everyone hiding their true nature, it isn’t easy. ”
Carleigh pointed out a few of the stores and eateries she was familiar with.
The first property they stopped at was ten miles outside of town.
It was forty-seven acres and was partially cleared.
The realtor had performed her due diligence, making sure the ground would perk for a septic system.
It had been approved for a five-bedroom house, which was excellent and why Carleigh and Bayu had added it to the list of possibilities.
A driveway had been bulldozed about a hundred yards in, leading to the clearing.
Sebastian had already walked the land, so he showed them all the positives.
There were no negatives as far as he was concerned from a building standpoint.
Bayu, who was holding Juni so his legs didn’t get scratched, handed the cub over to Carleigh, then removed his shoes.
In reading the ancient scrolls, Bayu learned of his connection to the earth, and he had been testing his abilities on the property adjacent to their house.
He didn’t walk away but stood silently, letting the earth speak to him.
Juni had witnessed his abah connect with the earth more than once, and he always grew quiet.
Sometimes he would mimic Bayu by removing his own shoes and wiggling his toes.
Most often, he would shift to his tiger and chase after birds or butterflies.
Since they weren’t familiar with the property, Carleigh kept him on her hip.
Sebastian and Dakota looked on silently.
Bayu inclined his head, smiling. “This would be a fine place for a family.” He explained to Sebastian and Dakota his connection to the earth from being Nuhuala, and they both had questions, which he patiently answered.
The next property was farther out. It was only thirty acres, but it perked for a larger house.
When Bayu removed his shoes, it didn’t take long for him to slip them back on and shake his head.
Carleigh wouldn’t question his decision.
The same thing happened at each of the sites they looked at afterward, so they drove back to the first one.
Sebastian explained the best spot for a house, how he wouldn’t have to remove many trees since it was partially cleared, and told them if they didn’t buy it now, he would so no one else could snatch it up.
Carleigh knew they were looking at their future homesite, but her heart hurt thinking of leaving Harlow behind.
She prayed that Dakota could convince her to make the move too.
“What do you think, my Sayang? Can you see us living here?”
Carleigh wrapped her arm around her mate’s waist. “Yes. It’s so peaceful.”
“Auntie, what say you? Can you see yourself living here?”
Gemi was walking with Juni on top of her feet. She stopped and inhaled deeply. When she blew out her breath, her eyes were bright with excitement. “I go where you go, but I feel it in my bones, this is right.”
Carleigh grinned at her cousin. “I’ll call Missy and get the paperwork started.”
“Yes!” Dakota pumped a fist in the air, knocking her hat off her head.
“Yes!” Juni mimicked, giggling.
On the way back through town, they pulled over, parking in front of a pizza joint.
They walked up and down the sidewalk on both sides of the street, and Sebastian introduced them to all the shop owners or managers.
Carleigh was enamored with the town she and Bayu were going to call home in the near future.
Sebastian would design the house, and it would take months before it was built, but the quaint area already felt like home.
When they arrived back at their vehicles, the sheriff was exiting the pizza place. “Good afternoon, Sebastian.”
“Tom, how are you?” The two shook hands, and Sebastian told them about Carleigh and Bayu deciding to move to Carlton with Gemi and Juni. Bas made the introductions, but when he got to Gemi, the man removed his hat and smoothed out his hair.
“Ma’am, welcome to Carlton.” Gemi’s eyes widened briefly, but after bowing her head, she gave him a huge smile, and the older man’s cheeks turned pink.
He replaced his hat, and said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you all.
I hope to see you around.” That he aimed at Gemi.
He took off down the sidewalk and crossed the street.
Just before he went inside the sheriff’s office, he looked over his shoulder.
Gemi gave him a little wave, and the man laughed, shaking his head.
“Ooh, Auntie’s got an admirer,” Bayu joked.
“I think I’m going to like it here very much, Nephew.” Gemi smiled the whole way back to the lodge.
By the time they got back up the mountain, Lydia, Beck, and Seven had arrived.
After greetings and introductions, Carleigh and Gemi went upstairs to unpack, and Bayu remained downstairs with Juni, letting the cub run around to release some of his energy.
They were gathered in the restaurant later eating supper when Jon and Juniper showed up earlier than expected, as did Harlow and Cailín.
Sebastian excused himself, taking Jon with him.
When Carleigh glanced at Dakota, she mouthed later.
After they ate, everyone pitched in to clean up, then they sat around the lobby with music playing through the overhead speakers.
Dakota was behind the bar, and most everyone else was entertaining Juni and vice versa.
Bayu pulled Carleigh close, slow dancing with her to an upbeat song.
She didn’t care. She was with her mate. Her son was happy, and Harlow’s mood wasn’t in her toes.
She had listened to Dakota drone on and on about the properties they had looked at earlier, and finally she held up a hand, shutting their Queen up.
“You don’t have to sell me on moving, Kody. I’m not staying in Atlanta without C.”
Dakota pumped another fist, this time dodging her hat. Carleigh had been happy before, but now she was ecstatic. Cailín, who had been listening in, was not, but she pasted on a fake smile and tried to get drunk, which was close to impossible for a full-blooded Gargoyle.
The next morning, Carleigh got Dakota alone and asked about Sebastian’s reason for needing Jon.
“It has to do with the family who contacted Beck’s dad.
Their daughter is missing, and Bas wants Jon to help search for her.
I haven’t gotten the complete scoop, but I do know she’s a shifter of some kind.
Lydia sings Jon’s praises constantly, and she’s convinced Bas that he’s wasting his talents running a gym. ”
They weren’t wrong. Frey had owned and managed Hartley’s, but he also taught the younger generation to fight and fly, so it made sense his son might want to do more than show people the correct form while lifting weights.
As more Clan members arrived, Bayu and Gemi got to know them better while watching over Juni, Carleigh and Harlow grabbed those who had agreed to help with their project, and they walked outside for some privacy.
They had gone over the choreography via video chats, and everyone knew their part, but Carleigh and Harlow wanted to make sure it was perfect.
This was the country’s three hundredth birthday celebration, and Dakota had wanted a big party.
What Kody wanted, she got. When Bas first mentioned it months prior, Carleigh and Harlow had the idea for how to end the night, and now it was almost showtime.