Page 100 of Dash

“It’s true.” No need to deny what everyone knew. “I needed a breather.”

“I can only imagine.” A commiserating sigh blustered over the speaker. “What are you doing for your birthday? I have a little gift for you, a family keepsake, if you will. Perhaps I could run it over when you get a moment?”

“That would be lovely.” I smiled. “Thanks for thinking of me, but please, don’t part with your family heirlooms. I’d much prefer a visit from you than a gift.”

“Then let’s make it happen, both the visit and the gift,” he suggested happily. “It’s been a long time since we were both on the same continent at the same time. Should we do it?”

“We should.” I agreed. “Let me take a look at my schedule—”

A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the entire house, chilling my insides.

“I need to go,” I mumbled in a rush. “I’ll call you back.”

I clicked off the call and ran in the direction of the shrieks. As I turned the corner, came to a dead stop, and found the source of the commotion. Illuminated by a downpour of sunlight in the center of the great hall, Mina sat on Trev’s lap. Her arms wrapped around his neck to the point I feared she might choke him.

No danger of that.

He was laughing. He wrapped his strapping arms around her, hugging her to his chest even as she continued to utter loud, sharp yelps—expressions of thrill and joy instead of danger.

The guys stood at the library’s door, witnessing the passionate reunion, smiling. The lovers didn’t hold back. They embraced and kissed, freely showing their affection for each other. You’d think they’d been apart for centuries instead of days.

Across the hall, Dash smiled as well. When our gazes met,his grin widened. The affection beaming in his eyes told me that if he’d been mad at my suggestion before, it was all forgotten and forgiven now. He and I understood the joy of Mina and Trev’s reunion better than anyone else in the house. In that moment, our bodies demanded an immediate reunion as well.

“Mwah, mwah, mwah.” Mina pressed kisses all over Trev’s smiling face, laughing and crying at the same time. “It’s been ages. Are you okay?”

“I’m better than okay right now.” He managed to plant a kiss on her lips and cupped her face between his hands. “You’re with me. You’re glowing. You look more beautiful than ever.”

“Oh, shucks, you nailed that like Romeo nailed Juliet.” She paused for three seconds to inspect him and his wheelchair before she produced another avalanche of kisses. “I missed you like a squirrel misses her nuts and my cakes miss my coffee. Oh. Speaking of cakes. They’ve got tiny ones with giant flavors here. I’m going to cover you in frosting and eat you for tea.”

“Love the idea.” Trev knocked his head toward the guys. “Hate the spectators.”

“Don’t mind them blockheads,” she muttered between kisses. “They’re used to witnessing heavy petting around here.”

By now, I’d moved toward Dash as surely as he’d moved toward me. Standing together, he settled an arm over my shoulder and pulled me to him. I went soft against his body, celebrating the love swirling in the house. I liked how the place felt right now, warm, light filled, and, at last, blessed instead of cursed.

“Did you know Trev was coming?” I asked at a whisper.

“You know Druid,” Dash said. “If he doesn’t want people to know where he is, they won’t. But if he’s here without warning, if he didn’t even take the time to tell his woman he was coming, he must have a good reason for it.”

My heart plummeted. “Bad news?”

Dash tightened his hold on me.

The chill spread from my belly outward. Whatever news Trev carried, it must be especially bad, given he had elected to deliver it in person.

Chapter Twenty-eight

Dash

“Just tell me,” Thena pleaded, sitting across from Druid in one of the library’s leather sofas, strangling my fingers in her hand, her face a mask of agony. “Is one of my sisters dead? Are they all dead?”

The desperation in Thena’s voice knotted my guts. The pain glittering in her eyes killed me. Her hand was ice cold gripping mine. I knew her fears, felt them as strongly as she did, dreaded them because I loved the women as well, and I worried that, if her sisters were gone, Thena would be next.

“Thena, sweetheart, I don’t have any new information on your sisters.” Trev’s gaze was full of kindness. “That’s Mina’s department.”

“Okay. All right.” All the air rushed out of Thena’s lungs. She slumped against me and buried her face in my shoulder. I gathered her in my arms.

“I’m sorry,” she choked out faintly. “For a moment, I imagined the worst.”

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