Page 231 of The Cruelest Undead

“When you want, Jolie, you can leave it open, and when you want it closed, it will be. When you’re in the lair, you’ll be close to the family.”

She headed toward Death and hugged him. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her.

“Thank you, Mate. I wish you could be with us,” she admitted.

He did too.

“Twenty years. It’s only twenty years,” he said, grateful that they stayed with him more often than not.

They weren’t sure who he was trying to convince—himself or her.

Flynn pulled Rinnon back down, and he morphed back into his normal form.

“Well, now, it looks like Percy doesn’t have to worry about us not being here. We’re technically here. Does this make you feel better about heading to that society? Because you know Jolie. She’s going to tell them she’s back, andNew Orleansis about to be chaotic again.”

She laughed.

“I think someone wants to be lectured.”

He winked at her.

Flynn loved it when she lectured them. It normally ended up with her beneath them being taken in some wild romp.

Later, my mate. I’ll thank you for the gift.

That worked for him.

Since they asked him a question, he’d answer. Percy nodded and was curious.

“So you’re really back?” he asked. “Because carrying a family is exhausting, and I’m not going to pretend I won’t be relieved.”

She laughed.

Jolie looked over at Flynn and Jacques. When they both nodded, she grinned.

“I’m back! If they give you a hard time, I’ll kick ass. Word will travel as I show my face around the city.”

Yes, yes, it would.

As for work, Jolie was jazzed.

“Let’s go shake down a family of relic hiding vampyres!”

Flynn laughed.

“Well, that’s predictable,” he said, but didn’t get to finish.

Uh-oh.

“We have a problem,” Kiera warned, her eyes going black as coals, and the Irish lilt getting deeper.

They all looked over at her.

And that’s when they felt it.

The whole house shook as it was bombarded with energy.

“What the…?” Flynn asked.

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