Page 27 of The Monster's Mate

Halfway home, we run into a couple of males who agree to take our meat home so we can visit the communication cave. They mention attending dinner in Bronan’s cave—apparently, he and Isabel have finally mated and have been holed up in bed the entire time I’ve been gone to Earth.

By the time we get to the communication cave, we fire up the equipment and put out a call for Mikhail. He doesn’t answer, which usually means he’s busy. Sometimes another of the Brits will respond for him, but not this time. We wait a few minutes to reach out again, but then he does.

With a swipe of a finger on the sphere, his hologram appears.

“Mikhail. Is everything going okay with Lucy?”

“She is fine. Would you like to make another visit?” He sounds very neutral, but I don’t expect anything less of him. And of course, my memories of Lucy’s white face, the acrid taste of her skin, makes me shake my head. I can’t subject her to more of my clumsy failings.

Mejak clears his throat. “We thought perhaps Kal and I could go this time.”

Mikhail pauses for a few minutes, pondering the offer. I think he has connections in his brain that can map out what may happen in the future. He’s usually right with whatever he comes up with.

“That’s a good idea,” Mikhail says slowly. “But Lucy is skittish around strangers. I think I would rather see if her cousin, Samantha, could put up with you two for a week or two. Samantha’s parents just left today for a cruise with her uncle, which gives her some free time and a sense of freedom from being watched. However, that freedom is misleading. It could cause her to drop her reservations, perhaps not be as careful when she visits Lucy, and he may have an unknown tail on her. You two could help protect Lucy from afar and teach Samantha that now is as critical a time as any with the upcoming campaign.”

Mejak nods. “When would you like us to come?”

“Tomorrow. Head to the Adroki beach portal at dawn. The portal will be at the highest power at noon. I’ll have someone reach out to Samantha and tell her you’re arriving and to sneak you inside.”

Kalrian clasps his hand onto Mejak’s shoulder. “It will be done.”

I scowl because it’s my mate… and I can’t be there to protect her. But this is the least I can do for her. Keep my clumsy attentions away from her. Protect her from afar.

The walk home is long and quiet.

“I don’t want Bronan and Tiran to know,” I say suddenly. “Not only will the females panic over Lucy, but my brothers will want to bust in and fix things for their mates. You know that’s the last thing Mikhail needs. He’ll shut down the traveling back and forth if he has to deal with that.”

“Hmm.” Mejak grunts. “I won’t mention it. I’ve seen how Tiran gets with River.”

“And Bronan with his mate?” Kalrian rolls his eyes. “She doesn’t even know they’re mated.”

I wince. “That one isn’t going to go over well when she finds out.”

“This cousin of Lucy’s—Samantha. I think she should know that we’re there because Lucy was angry with you for not mating her. She should know how things are with you and Lucy.”

I consider that, but it only takes a moment. Lucy would trust Samantha with the information. “You’re right. I don’t want to keep our relationship quiet. Being secretive doesn’t work well for Bronan. Tell her what you want.”

However, I’m not sharing anything with my fool brothers. Neither one thinks I can handle things on my own because each one is always willing to jump in and protect me.

Neither one realizes that I’ve been protecting them from our patron for years. Bronan and Tiran would be mortal enemies if it wasn’t for me fixing arguments between them that our patron caused.

“Bronan may wonder where we’ve gone,” Kalrian says.

“Unless he’s too wrapped up in Isabel’s arms,” Mejak snorts.

But Kal has a point.

“Why don’t you stop at the Adroki’s since you’re near the beach? Ask a Tiiblet if anyone wants an escort here to visit. Tell them it’s for overnight. Then, we’ll have another excuse to take them home.”

Mejak is staring at me with wide eyes. “I think we underestimated you. You were quite the manipulative little brother growing up, weren’t you?”

“My maman’s favorite,” I agree, which makes both males chuckle because each of my brothers have claimed her favoritism at some point.

Chapter Eight

Lucy:

Lucifer’s Daughter:

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