Page 22 of Moonlit Alexandrite

“What happened? Why did she call in an SOS if she’s okay? Where is she now?”

“Woah, woah! Slow your roll, big guy. Let me get through the door.”

She was definitely enjoying the suspense. Dropping her bag behind me, she wandered over to where we had Newt set up with paints and canvas.

“That’s beautiful, kid. Couple of lessons from Lex, and we’ll be able to showcase you here.”

Newt ducked his head, a smile of quiet pleasure spreading across his face. He had come a long way in the last couple of years, from the boy who was terrified of females. He definitely liked Colbie and was halfway in love with Lex, which was a good thing since she was apparently my mate... and Tase’s, and Dion’s, if he pulled his head out of his ass. A part of me didn’t want to share her, but the bigger part, who was wise with experience, recognized that this was the best possible outcome. Lex would never try to tear us apart. Dion would come around, and the five of us could be a unit. How we were going to adjust to a polygamous relationship with a five-year-old around would definitely be a challenge, though. I watched Colbie thoughtfully for a moment.

“You’re good with kids,” I said, hoping it came off as a casual observation.

“You’d better be forthcoming with the bribes, if you want to palm him off, so you can ‘get to know’ my roomie.” Colbie threw air quotes at me with a sassy hip pop.

“What’s your currency?” I countered, folding my arms and hoping Newt didn’t think I was trying to get rid of him. He was my son, and I loved him, but I also wanted to ‘get to know’ my new mate, as Colbie had put it.

“Cherry suckers.”

“Sucker? Do you mean lollipop?”

“I said what I said, and now I’m not feeling so chatty.” She flicked her mass of curls over her shoulder and bent back to Newt’s work while I tried to suppress a growl.

“Colbie, my mate, who I discovered all of a couple of hours ago, sent you an SOS message. I stayed here to mind your gallery while you, not I, went to help her, and I still have no fu — I mean — freaking idea what happened. I know you have no reason to trust me here, but I’m going nuts. Please, tell me.” It hurt to be that candid because, honestly, I didn’t know much about her either, except for the fact my mate trusted her. It was a risk I was willing to take for the information, though.

She sighed and turned back toward me with a look that said I had passed some unnamed test.

“Someone vandalized her new shopfront. They painted...” She cast a quick glance to Newt before spelling the word out for me.

“She was pretty shaken up, but Tase is looking after her.”

I nodded, carefully concealing the temper that wanted to explode. Someone had targeted my mate, and I would not have it.

“What’d Stone say about the vandal?”

“Not much, said it could have been some kids who come into town from the camp. Random act of destruction is his working theory.”

So Stone wasn’t taking it seriously. I was. No one hurt one of mine. My prized horde wasn’t trinkets and jewels like a dragon. I coveted them, yeah, but my real treasure was the people that I loved. My family. My herd. Alexandrite was now my most valuable possession. I could acknowledge she probably wouldn’t appreciate me telling her this, but there was little that could be done now. She was mine as much as my idiot friends were.

“You know what? I think you all will be good for her,” Colbie said, watching me carefully over Newt’s head as she poured more paint for him.

“Of course, if even one of you hurt her again, I will shift and you can deal with my meaner side.”

I couldn’t guess what her animal might be. I could usually get a sense, and she didn’t quite seem like a predator, but it wasn’t difficult to be larger than a salamander.

The point was moot, though, because I would never hurt my mate. When I told Colbie so, she grunted and glared for another moment before turning back to my son.

My cell buzzed in my pocket, and as much as I wanted to ignore it, Dion was still MIA. Speaking of...

“Where are you?” We both spoke at once as I connected the call.

“At the art gallery,” I said. “How’s Mama Fo?”

“She’s good. Hey, listen, I really need to talk to you. Something strange happened... Wait. How did you know where I was?”

I glanced at Colbie and Newt, then moved further away, lowering my voice as I answered, “Because shit got real today, and you ran, as usual, to the only place you ever do when life gets difficult.”

I could feel the temperature drop through the phone line. I knew I was being hard on him, but all I could think of was the look on her face when we first arrived. Not the one when she saw Tase inmysweatpants,you’re welcome, fucker, but when she told us about her date with Dion.

“You have no idea —”

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