Chapter 61
I bit my lip. “Only if you wear that sexy Highlander outfit I just pictured.”
Ash groaned. “This flight is too long for you two to start roleplaying.”
Jace raised a brow. “Speak for yourself. I want him in a kilt.”
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“Same,” said Taya.
“Jesus,” Dax muttered.
“Do they even have Jesus here?” Rylen added.
And that’s how we spent the next four hours: snacking, laughing, bullying each other with affection, and letting the tension finally bleed out after one hell of a whirlwind.
Home was calling. And we were returning stronger than ever.
Fourteen hours later…..
I was out. Like my mouth was hanging open, drooling on Lachlan’s shirt kind of out.
Wrapped between my literal three lovers, one leg draped over Ash’s thigh, my arm curled across Dax’s chest, and my cheek stuck to Lachlan’s bare collarbone, like a damn feral cuddle octopus.
We were all conked the fuck out in various positions of tangled limbs, blissful post–battle exhaustion, and zero shame.
And then……“WHERE IS SHE?!”
The sound of a very pissed off Alpha King exploding into the cabin at full volume nearly made me astral project. “FUCK!” I shrieked, sitting bolt upright and elbowing Ash right in the face.
Lachlan let out a confused Gaelic curse.
Dax snarled. “THE FUCK IS HAPPENING?”
Jace dove for something under his seat like he was ready to throw hands.
Taya screamed, “ARE WE CRASHING?!”
Rylen launched off his seat like someone had hit the eject button.
And Alpha Draven? Storming down the aisle like a pissed off wolf god in black tactical gear, his eyes glowing gold, his voice shaking the
windows.
“VAMPIRES? ON ALLIE LAND? NO ONE CALLED ME?!”
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Ash, blinking sleep from his eyes, grunted, “We handled it. Mostly. Magic innkeeper Isobel. Big boom shield, Jet got airborne. The ustial.”
“We were already in the fucking air,” 1 muttered, rubbing my eyes. “And also? Did you HAVE to scream like a banshee mid dream? I was dreaming about highland sex and breakfast.”
Lachlan grinned sleepily. “Aye, same dream, mo ghrá.”
Taya looked around blearily. “Are we… on the ground?”
“Yes,” Rylen grumbled, “and apparently the welcoming committee is trauma.”
Draven’s energy didn’t drop an inch. “You should’ve called. If one of you had been bitten..”
“None of us were,” Jace cut in. “Strike team handled it like pros. We got on the jet and peaced out while the innkeeper turned into a magical badass and banished the vamps with a Celtic exorcism or something.”
“Her chant slapped,” Ash agreed, still rubbing his bruised nose. “Ten outta ten would hire her again.”
Draven’s jaw clenched. “Still. If the Aegis Protocol opened a portal that close to one of our allies..”
“We know,” I said softly, meeting his eyes. “It’s a problem. We’ll debrief after caffeine.”
There was a long beat where he stared at all of us, wild haired and disheveled, wrapped in each other like a damn cuddle cult. And then he huffed, shoulders dropping. “Fine. I’m glad you’re back.”
“We’re glad to be back,” Dax muttered. “Now can we not get alpha screamed at during REM next time?”
Ash raised a hand. “Also, I’m hungry. And I think Elowen broke my nose.”
“I think your face broke my elbow,” I grumbled, stretching. “Where’s Luna Aelira? Does she have muffins?”
“Gods,” Taya groaned, flopping dramatically into Rylen’s lap again. “I need a bath, a bacon sandwich, and ten years of therapy.”
Jace snorted. “We’ll get to that after we tell the entire pack how we collected another mate on this trip.”
All eyes turned to Lachlan.
Who just grinned like the charming troublemaker he was and waved. “Ello. First time leavin‘ Scotland. Nearly died twice. Found my soulmate. This normal fer ye lot?”
“Yes,” we all said in chaotic unison.
Alpha Draven pinched the bridge of his nose. “I need
a drink.”
And with that, the doors opened, sunlight poured in, and we were finally…fucking finally…home.
But rest?
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Chapter 61
Yeah. That wasn’t coming anytime soon.
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