Page 85 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

Crank snorted. “Does itlooklike we’re hiding?” The others filed outside until every seat was occupied, with some of them sitting on the low circular wall that surrounded the fire. The sun had set, and the sky was shades of pink and purple, reflecting on the calm surface of the lake.

“I should get going,” Milo murmured before taking a drink from his bottle.

Saul arched his eyebrows. “And go where? We still have a lot to talk about.”

“There’s a spare bed in the basement,” Dellan remarked. “You’re welcome to stay.”

“He can have my old room,” Hashtag announced. He grinned. “Seeing as I’m now sharing with this lummox.” He nudged Roadkill with his elbow.

Roadkill gave him a mock glare. “Come out with more comments like that and you’ll regret it.”

“Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do about it?”

Crank was used to their banter, but now it had a different quality, an intimacy that laced their words.

“It isn’t a case of what I’ll do—it’s what Iwon’tdo.” Roadkill’s eyes gleamed. “If you get my meaning.”

Hashtag froze. “I’m gonna shut up now.”

Eve laughed. “Very wise.”

“But heisright,” Roadkill added. “It’s a better room than the one downstairs.”

“If you’re sure.”

Crank got the feeling Milo was the one who wasn’t sure, and a wave of guilt swept through him.

I haven’t exactly made him welcome, have I?

Saul put his arm around Crank’s waist.Andthatis why I love you.

Crank gave a mental chuckle.I noticed you kept that thought between us.

To his surprise, Saul put his bottle on the wall, took Crank’s hands in his, and then glanced at their friends—their family. “I love this guy. And this is me putting it out there in case anyone was wondering.”

Roadkill snickered. “Okay, we got the memo. So long as we don’t have to watch you putting out. There are some things you can never unsee, you know?” That earned him a ripple of laughter.

“Can we be serious for a minute?”

Part of Crank wanted to tell Horvan no, they couldn’t. “Can’t we sink a few beers and leave it at that?” There had been enough tension that day, and all he wanted was to kick back and enjoy the canopy of stars over their heads.

Wow. That last part was beautiful.

Crank narrowed his gaze.Tell anyone, and you’re a dead man.

“Afewbeers?” Eve stared at them in mock horror. “Oh gods, please tell me my mates aren’t lightweights.”

“She drinks, she fights, and she looks amazing.” Hashtag beamed, his chest puffed out. “We are lucky dudes.”

Roadkill gave a soft chuckle. “Preach.”

Crank sighed. “Sure, we can be serious.”

Horvan leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his gaze fixed on Milo. “Tell us about the camps.”

“What do you want to know?”

“What all those shifters did to end up in them, for one thing,” Saul commented.

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