by April Kelley
“No. It’s impossible to put your own head up your butt. I’m telling you because you seem to think Josh will live forever. He won’t. Everyone dies. No one is exempt from it.” Fane held on to Ramsey’s waist and pressed his cheek against his chest.
“Right. Well, I’m just going over there to apologize now.”
“Come to dinner next week. Mom cooks for the whole family every Sunday.” Ramsey wasn’t sure why he offered. He didn’t like Tim, even with the apology. Something told him Tim had finally learned just how isolating his judgmental attitude was and he didn’t want to be anymore. Maybe being around so many different kinds of people would be good for him. He’d understand that they were just a normal family like anyone else.
Tim smiled and nodded. “I’d like that. Thank you, Alpha.”
Tim moved on, heading to Kristin and Josh.
“I’m sorry about your sensei, Fane. It’s awful you had to go through that.” Ladon kept close to them for some reason unknown to Ramsey. Maybe he understood Fane had a difficult time talking about it.
Before Fane could respond, he heard several loud motors pull up in front of the house. It sounded as if three race cars just pulled into the driveway, but then the motors shut off just as quickly.
Fane was still latched to Ramsey’s chest, unmoving, so Ramsey nodded to Ladon. “Take care of that, will ya?”
“What! I’m not even Alpha yet.” Ladon rolled his eyes and started around the side of the house, mumbling about how he’d get bossed around for the next six month. “I’m not leaving Magnus out there alone. So that you know.” He never turned around but just kept on around the side of the house.
Ramsey didn’t comment because he didn’t expect Ladon to just sit on his thumbs and wait for Magnus anyway. As soon as they had a free moment, they’d talk, and Ramsey would give him as much information as he had as to Magnus’ whereabouts, which wasn’t much but he’d have something to go on.
It didn’t take long for Ladon to come around the side of the house with three shifters all dressed in black leather and sunglasses. One had a bandana on his head.
Ladon led them over to Garridan. Sage curled up into Garridan as soon as they came over. Garridan smiled and hugged one of the guys.
Garridan called Shawn over to him and with that Ramsey knew the three men were the investigators they needed.
Ramsey pulled Fane into his side and walked over to them. Ladon fell into step beside him. To his surprise, Garridan was the one to make the introductions.
“Rocky Lawson, Bandos, and Sully. Old friends of mine and the investigators we need.” He pointed to each one. “This is my Alpha, Ramsey and Ladon will take his place as soon as we find his mate. It’s one of the things we need your help with.”
Ladon looked at Garridan sharply and then over at Ramsey, but he couldn’t ask any questions because the three men bowed their heads to them both.
Shawn clapped his hands and got a look of glee on his face. “I get help. One of you knows how to do computer shit, right?”
Bandos raised his hand. “That would be me.”
“I feel like it’s Christmas.” Shawn waved his hand and started walking away. “Come on. I’ll show you the computer.”
Bandos looked at Ramsey and then Ladon. Ramsey nodded. “Guess we’re getting started right away.”
Chapter Nineteen
A chill hung on the breeze, but the night sky held stars and the moon and not much else. Ramsey sat in a chair with Fane on his lap, his back to Ramsey’s front. A blanket covered the front of them.
“Do you guys always sit out here in the middle of the night?” Tim stood next to Josh and Kristin. He eyed the three investigating bikers as if they were serial killers. Ramsey was pretty sure Tim thought they were dangerous and that was why he stuck around. They seemed harmless, and Garridan trusted them, but then Ramsey didn’t know them, so he appreciated the extra security.
“It’s ten thirty at night, Dad. Not everyone goes to bed when the chickens do.” Josh had his arms around Kristin, and he held her close.
Kristin looked over at Ramsey and smiled. Ramsey winked at her and smiled back. It seemed they were both content, maybe for the first time in their lives.
“You’ve gained a smart mouth since you mated.” Tim had a slight smile on his face which told Ramsey he wasn’t seriously angry.
“That’s because he’s been around us Somerset’s too long. We’re a whole family of smart mouths.” Vaughan wiggled around on the lounger. Ladon lay on it, and Vaughan sat beside him. Ladon nudged Vaughan with his leg, trying to get him to stop but Vaughan just got a wicked grin on his face and wiggled some more.
“I’m not giving you the lounger, so knock it off. And Josh is a Somerset now. He’s got to survive us all somehow.” Ladon pushed Vaughan in the shoulder when the wiggling got worse.
Vaughan chuckled. “You’re not as much fun since you shifted.” Yeah, Ramsey had to agree, although he wouldn’t have called Ladon’s pissy attitude fun. Still, Ladon had calmed down considerably.
“Thanks. I think.”
“Are you guys always like this?” Bandos had the green eyes all dragon shifters had only his eyes were such a light green they were almost spooky looking. He also looked young but wasn’t, not when Garridan knew Bando before. Bandos barely looked old enough to be out of high school, but he was at least sixty years old at the very minimum. He held himself as if he were much older though and the way he looked at everyone was a lot like Angel’s friend, Zadimus, who was also much older than he looked.
A chorus of yeses came all at the same time, but they were disjointed.
Bandos looked over at Vaughan. “You’re the worst one, aren’t you?”
Vaughan narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by worst?”
“He means the most annoying. And yes, he is.” Of course, Ladon had to say something. He might be calmer since shifting, but he was still the little brother and still young enough not to see the way Bandos and Vaughan looked at each other.
Vaughan grinned. “I’m definitely that.”
Bandos chuckled and winked at Vaughan. Ramsey could see those two were gonna cause all sorts of trouble together. Either that or they’d be all over one another inside of a week.
“So are we going to talk about the elephant in the room or not.” Ladon crossed his arms over his chest and met Ramsey gaze.
Ramsey just raised his eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”
“Jules. He’s not here. And neither is Magnus.”
“We’re looking for Magnus. When we find him, we’ll bring him home.”
“And Jules?”
“Ladon is right,” Owen said from where he stood next to Damien. Since they stood about a foot away from each other, Ramsey figured they were on the outs about something, although he didn’t want to know enough to ask. “One of us should go get Jules. He doesn’t want to be with his mates.”
Owen refused to look at Damien, and he crossed his arms over his chest.
“I went to heal Jules. He’s physically fine. Just really pissed off,” Lucas explained.
“What Jules is telling himself and what he truly wants aren’t the same things. Jules is right where he needs to be. He’s not in danger. In fact, Hacen would give his life for both his mates.” Fane had a way of speaking that made his audience think sometimes.
Ramsey kissed Fane on his temple. “My thoughts exactly.”
“I’ll go to him tomorrow so we can continue his training. If he’s not safe, I’ll bring him home.” Fane told the group.
“Wait. We still have to train?” Lucas looked a little panicked at just the thought.
Ramsey chuckled.
“Learning never stops, Lucas.” Fane took one of Ramsey’s hands, and he brought it up to his lips, exposing it to the elements for one brief moment before letting Ramsey have the warmth of the blanket again.
Lucas groaned and turned. He wrapped his arms around a laughing Bennett.
Ramsey decided to c
hange the subject. He looked over at Forrest. “When are you two heading out?”
“In the next couple of weeks.”
Ramsey nodded. “Makes me worry less when you're home.”
“You and me both,” Mom whispered. She probably felt the worry worse than he did. The parental instinct was far stronger than any other.
Forrest looked at Fane and seemed to be studying him. “Did your Sensei have any family, Fane?”
Fane shrugged. “Just me.” He seemed to shrink into Ramsey even more.
Ramsey tightened his hold. “Are you okay, sweet?”
Fane nodded. “I miss him.”
“Do you want to talk about?”
Fane shook his head. “No.”
“Okay, but if you change your mind, I’m here if you need it.”
“I’ll meditate sometime tomorrow.”
“Do you mind if I do it with you?” Ramsey could use some of whatever kept Fane’s mind quiet.
“You should do it with me every day, Monster. It will help you with your control.”
“You want me to control all my primitive urges or just some of them?”
Fane giggled and tilted his head up. He kissed Ramsey under his jaw. “I like most of them.”
Ramsey chuckled. “I’ll show you all the fun ones later.”
If you would like to hear more about new releases and other book news, sign up for her newsletter. Please visit her website at http://www.authoraprilkelley.com/
About the Author
Living in Southwest Michigan, April resides with her husband and two kids. She has been an avid reader for several years. Ever since she wrote her first story at the age of ten, the characters in her head still won't stop telling their stories. If April isn't reading or writing, she can be found outside playing with the animals or taking a long walk in the woods.
Email her at [email protected]. She would love to hear from you.
Books by April Kelley
Saint Lakes
Leave It All
Running Out of Moonlight
Right Side Up
Where We Are
Wingspan
New Addiction
A Cautious Valentine
Roguefalls
Human Instincts
Resistance
Wrong Place, Right Time
Good Things
Lakehouse Security Series
Sudden Love
Hostage Love
Silent Love
Locke’s Love
Persistent Love
Repeating Love
Demon Elite Series
Crash
Wolf
Cosmo
Tanner & Shade
Ashley
Germ
Max
Credo
Webb
Pickleville Series
Whispers of Home
The Sum of Everything
Fixing What’s Bent
A Tarnished Strength
Getting Back To Good
Still Wishing
Places Like Home
Unrelenting Feelings
Coming Back Home
Single Titles
Being Neighborly
The Journey of Jimini Renn
Elfing Around
