Top Gun Tiger (Protection, Inc 7)

“He already got attacked by a two velociraptors, a T-Rex, a pterodactyl, a hell pig, miscellaneous monsters, and a five-headed hydra,” Rafa said. “I think he’s been hazed enough.”

“Point,” said Justin. “He hasn’t been attacked by a Cerberus pup yet, though. Lick him, Trio!”

As his team once again broke into laughter, Ethan knew that though he was still flying above the middle of nowhere, he’d finally come home.

Epilogue

Destiny

I could get used to this, Destiny thought contentedly, lying back in Ethan’s arms. She was filled with delicious satisfaction after making love with Ethan the night before, and again first thing in the morning. Then, reconsidering, she thought, I hope I never get used to it. I hope I always appreciate it like it was the first time.

She knew that she always would.

“What’re you grinning about, nerd girl?” Ethan inquired.

“Everything, nerd boy. You. Our life. The team. Our trip to India. The family we’re going to have.” She pointed at the wall across from their bed, where his sword and her tiger claws were hung in a place of honor. “My waghnakh.”

He chuckled. “And after all your angst about accidentally stealing them.”

They’d been so excited about seeing Haley and Elliot, and all the wonderful changes in their lives, that it had been weeks before they’d gotten around to unpacking their backpacks. Only then had Destiny discovered that they’d flown back to the US with priceless Indian antiques that they had no easy way to return.

She’d telephoned Mataji, who had been their point person in the plan for Indian shifters to dispose of the dinosaurs and “discover” the Golden City. As it turned out, Mataji had been about to call her to give her an update. She informed Destiny that the dinosaurs had been given a decent burial (a thousand feet deep, Destiny hoped), and that her mongoose shifter niece and her elephant shifter girlfriend had been recruited to discover the city “on a camping trip.” The Indian archaeological society had been so delighted that they’d offered the finders a pair of swords from the city. As they were neither history nor weapons nerds, they’d declined with thanks.

“Considering that, you should consider the weapons yours,” Mataji said. “They’re going to start letting tourists visit once they reconstruct the tower they think collapsed in an earthquake. You two should come then.” The old woman laughed. “Though I don’t expect they’ll let you sleep in the palace.”

“We’ll survive roughing it in a hotel,” Destiny said, and ordered a pair of brackets to mount their souvenirs.

Gazing at her wagnakh, she had to admit that the joy it gave her was undeniable proof that she was the biggest history nerd ever. It was the cherry on the cake of her happiness. She had everything she’d ever wanted.

Except for a winged kitten.

But she had almost everything she’d ever wanted. And she could play with Carol and Shadow whenever she—

There was a scratch at their front door. She and Ethan sat bolt upright, then threw on bathrobes and went to investigate. A fluffy white furball sat on the doorstep, wagging its cotton puff of a tail. It had very pale gray-blue eyes, the color of a frozen sea, which instantly fixed on Ethan. With a joyous yelp, the puppy leaped into his arms and started licking his face.

“It likes you,” Destiny said.

“I can—yecch.” Ethan wiped his mouth. Holding the puppy at arm’s length, he said, “I can tell.”

The puppy, deprived of a face to lick, yelped indignantly. The front of Ethan’s bathrobe went white with frost.

“What the—” Ethan put down the puppy and prodded his robe. The front was frozen solid. “Brr. Did the puppy do that?”

It thumped its tail on the floor and yelped again. A sprinkle of snowflakes, each one perfect and beautiful and unique, fell out of the air and landed on the rug.

“Guess we know where you came from,” Ethan said to the puppy. To Destiny, he said, “But how in world did it get here?”

“Lucas said one of the magical animals could open portals. I guess it was this little guy.”

Ethan was grinning so wide it nearly cracked his cheeks. “Hey there, Snowy. Wanna make some snowballs for us to play catch with?” Then he caught sight of Destiny’s face and put his arm around her. “He’s not just my dog, you know. He’s ours.”

“No, I think he’s really yours.” As if to underline her words, Snowy curled up on Ethan’s bare feet and fell asleep. “It’s okay, jarhead. I’ll survive not having a magical pet of my very—”

A winged kitten landed on her shoulder.

Destiny jumped in surprise. It dug in its pinprick claws to keep its grip, spreading out its wings for balance. She craned her neck to get a better look at it. The kitten butted its head into her cheek and purred enthusiastically. It was smaller than Carol and Shadow, small enough to fit into the palm of her hand. Its fur was fluffy and white, like Snowy’s, but its wings were feathered and blue as a jay’s.

“It’s beautiful,” Destiny breathed.