He’d watched her list at the same time, which he suspected had something to do with his mastyr mating scent. The rest had been a small miracle and one of the best experiences of his life.
What a surprise she’d proved to be, this woman, this blood rose. Game, strong, passionate, good-hearted. She was with him, really with him. He loved it.
For a moment, he’d almost thought he could have a different sort of life.
For a moment.
Reality had set in, of course. They were chasing Invictus-makers again, some bad guys in the form of Cruce and Lanarae. Who the hell knew how much power these two had going on. The Nine Realms were no safer right now than when Margetta had been using her hiding mist and building her army.
Seemed Cruce had been doing likewise.
Different asshole. Same stinking piece of garbage.
“You two ready?”
“Hell, yeah.” Oregis drew close and perched on Rez’s shoulder. He grabbed a fist of Rez’s hair and held on.
Rez glanced at him. “You probably won’t need to do that.”
“It’s a precaution. Remember, you’ve never been my size. Hell, you probably came out of your mama’s honey-glide bigger than me.”
Holly turned away from them both. At first, he thought she was offended. Instead, her shoulders started to shake then he heard a chuckle or two escape.
He gave her a moment.
Holly pathed. Honey-glide?
I know. He’s hopeless.
When she faced him once more, her cheeks might have been red, but she’d composed herself. “Are you ready, Mistress Holly?”
She positioned herself beside him. Sorry. I kind of lost it. She was smiling. But I really don’t want to encourage him.
Believe me, I get it.
He took her hand and when she met his gaze he saw her eyes still glimmered with amusement. He couldn’t help saying, I’m glad you’re with me.
Me, too. You ready to rumble? She asked.
Let’s do it.
She shifted her gaze forward and he felt her time-pathing vibrations light on fire. “Oregis?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to move us into the time-path. Ready?”
“Take us in.”
Holly slid the three of them within the continuum. Oregis said. “Hey. The trees outside aren’t blowing in the breeze anymore. They look frozen. Everything does.”
Rez asked Holly to explain the nature of things before they took off. Oregis listened then responded. “Okey-dokey. Let’s hit it.”
Rez pressed Holly’s hand. “Hold just a minute, Holly.” He angled his head in Oregis’s direction. He was incredibly light on his shoulder. “I haven’t been to the black market in a few days. Has anything changed? Anything new we should know about? Same shifters guarding everything and growling?” The black market was located behind Tricksey’s, an old country bar not far from the U.S. access point and at the foot of the western reaches of the Tannisford Mountains. The bar itself served as a front.
“Same bad-asses throwing their weight around. As for merchandise, just a couple of stalls selling antique radios from the U.S. 1950s. Dull stuff.”
He squeezed Holly’s hand. “We’re good to go.”