Page 79 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

“What was he doing in a lab?” Not that Eve didn’t have her own ideas.

She just didn’t like them.

“They were doing experiments on him, injecting him with the DNA of other shifters in an attempt to make him viable for… something. And don’t ask me what, because they didn’t say. One report said he should be culled, but another argued he could be useful.”

“Useful.” Hashtag’s tone was bitter. “They’re talking about a little boy.”

“In the end, they kept him and subjected him to horrific things. It seems they took his DNA and tried to splice it with the DNA from shifters who exhibited psychic powers. I can only assume they wanted to know if it could be done, and I have no idea if they were successful or not. I didn’t think psychic powers could be passed down through the genes, but what do I know?”

“Oh, you’d be amazed by what they’ve accomplished.” Eve shivered. “Except ‘horrified’ is probably closer to the mark.”

Hashtag jerked his head in Roadkill’s direction. “You don’t think they used Seth or Jake, do you?”

Roadkill frowned. “I don’t know how many other psychic shifters they had, so maybe?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Eve said flatly. “In fact, the only thing that matters isthislittle guy needs help.” She crossed the yard and stopped at the tree. The red panda didn’t so much as glance at her.

Eve wasn’t going to be put off.

“Hey, sweetheart. How are you? My name is Eve.” She gestured to the guys, who came over to join her. “And these are Donal and Hiroshi, my mates.”

“Hey, big guy.” Hashtag kept his voice low and soothing. “It’s good to meet you.” He reached up and scratched the tiny ears. “Can we call you Logan? You seem like a Logan to me. I love that name.”

The little panda shuddered. Hashtag sat at the foot of the tree. “You know, I bet I’m way more comfortable than that branch.” He patted his lap. “Why not come down and see if I’m right? You can sit here with us.”

Logan gazed at them, almost as if he was trying to judge the sincerity of their words. Finally he stepped gingerly across the branches until he reached the trunk, then moved down the tree head first and dropped onto the ground.

“That a boy,” Hashtag said, smiling. “Come on over.”

Instead, Logan turned and rushed toward Eve, who swooped him into her arms and held him close. His warm soft fur smelled amazing, but the way he clung to her?

That felt… right.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I swear, it’ll be okay.” She gazed at her mates, her heart hammering.I want to help him.

Roadkill smiled.Then that’s what we’ll do.

Eve blinked.You don’t think it’s too soon for us to be adding a child to our practically new relationship?

No, sweetheart. We know we’re bound by fate. Maybe that’s why we found this little one now. Fate has more in store for us.

She glanced at Mary. Before Eve could get a word out, she beamed. “All of these children are available for adoption, you know.”

See?Hashtag teased.Fate brought us here for a reason.

He’s right. Roadkill smiled.And that reason is sleeping in your arms.

Eve glanced at Logan. Sure enough, he’d fallen asleep, still clutching his tail.

She knew one thing for certain. Fate knew exactly what it was doing when it brought her to Horvan’s team.

And speaking of Horvan, he was lumbering over to them, a little boy on his back, his tiny fingers clutching the brown fur around Horvan’s neck.

“Way to go…, Mama Bear,” she murmured.

That was the first time she’d ever seen a bear roll its eyes.

Eve squared her shoulders and turned to Mary. “Who do we talk to about adoption?”

---