by Abby Blake
What the hell were the pixies thinking? They might be indestructible beings, but even they relied on the paranormal community’s secrecy for their way of life.
Benjamin glanced over at Samuel, realized they were in agreement, and nodded to Dyson and Thomas. “All right, is everyone back on active duty?”
“Not yet,” Thomas said with a grimace. “The new boss is requesting that she have the top three squads at her beck and call. Messengers have been sent to everyone currently on holidays.”
“Her beck and call?” Samuel asked, clearly not liking the idea. “Who took over?”
“Cassandra Lipton,” Dyson said with a tight smile. Dyson and Cassandra had history—ancient history—if Benjamin’s memory served him well. He hoped like hell that it wasn’t going to cause trouble for his squad. It wasn’t unusual to find a woman or two on the PUP teams, but it had been a very long time since any of them had taken orders from a female. If nothing else it was going to be an interesting adjustment period.
“Okay, give us a couple of hours to explain to Skye.”
Dyson and Thomas nodded, and a moment later seemed to step through an invisible doorway and disappear.
Skye spoke as soon as she saw their faces. “It’s okay, I can go stay with my sister,” she said trying to smile bravely. “Jennifer won’t mind putting up with me for a while.”
“Is that what you want?” Samuel asked quietly, studying her face closely.
“This isn’t about what I want,” Skye said still with that overly bright smile. “You guys have a job to do and it would be far easier without me tagging along.”
“Actually,” Benjamin said, pulling the woman he loved into his arms, “we were wondering if maybe you’d consider joining the squad.”
“Joining the squad? What as? A cheerleader?”
She squeaked as Samuel’s large hand connected with her bottom. “No, smart-ass. We mean as a fully trained member of the team.”
“Seriously?” she asked in an excited voice.
“You’d have to do a crash course in weapons and defensive training, and you’ll probably spend the first couple years doing the paperwork. Most squad members learn on the job, kind of like an apprenticeship, so it wouldn’t be like you were getting preferential treatment or anything. We’d insist, of course, that you be assigned permanently to our squad, but otherwise your training would be like anyone else’s.”
“Seriously?” she asked again with a wide smile. “I can actually do something with my life? I don’t have to sit on my ass waiting for you two to save the world over and over? I can actually help?”
Benjamin couldn’t help the silly grin that covered his face. Without even realizing it, she’d already proven in the past few months that she was more than capable of being a valued member of their squad. She was smart, quick thinking, intelligent, and reasonable. What more could they ask of a new recruit?
“Yes, baby girl,” Benjamin said as he gathered the woman into his arms. Samuel pressed against her back, trapping her between them. “As long as it’s what you want, then we’ll make it happen.”
“I love you,” she whispered, reaching up to press a kiss to his lips and then turning slightly to press one to Samuel’s mouth. “How long before we need to report in?”
Samuel leaned in and whispered all the things they had time for before they needed to leave. Skye laughed, wriggled out of their combined embrace, and raced toward their room on the second floor. “Gotta catch me first,” she said, almost breathless with laughter.
And as they chased her into the room and gathered her once more in their embrace, Benjamin realized a truth he’d not noticed until now. Despite a rewarding career, despite having friends all around him, despite enjoying the first two hundred and three years of his life, now, he was truly happy. Now, he was truly living.
He may not have planned to create a vampire that night, but it was without a doubt the best decision he’d ever made.
THE END
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Abby Blake prefers to read or write romance over just about everything else—except maybe chocolate. Most days she can be found hurrying to do what needs to be done so that she can curl up with her laptop and her latest bunch of heroes.
Also by Abby Blake
Ménage Everlasting: Viper’s Dungeon 1: Emma’s Education
Ménage Everlasting: Viper’s Dungeon 2: Maya’s Masters
For all other titles, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/abby-blake
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
