Page 85 of Mysteries, Menace, and Mates

“Ansger… thinks I’m his brother?”

Gods, I want to understand what he’s saying.

Jake stilled and opened himself up to the universe.

Look, whoever You are who gave me this gift… if You’re the same power that brings mates together, that is showing me truths long since hidden, please… let me hear their words? Give me wisdom enough to interpret what I’m hearing? Because I believe there’s a reason I’m meant to see this… vision.

He could do no more.

Ansger spoke again, and judging by his tormented expression, whatever he was saying gave him pain to utter it. Then the image rippled, almost as though Jake was seeing it through water, and when all became still again, it was as before.

“Can you ever forgive me?” It was a deep voice, rich and slow.

Holiest of Holy Fucks.That was English. Ansger was suddenly speaking in English, except it was like one of those dubbed kung-fu movies, when the lips didn’t match the words.

“There is nothing to forgive, my brother.”

That was Ansfrid. His voice was higher than his brother’s, with a sweetness to it that was almost musical.

This is….Jake was beyond words. He couldn’t relay what he saw because he was too caught up in the magic of it.

Ansger clasped Ansfrid’s arm. “I was close to death, but I prayed to be spared. I had to see you, to tell you….”

Ansfrid cupped his brother’s cheek. “Hush. You are alive. And now you are not alone.” A pause. “I am right? He finds favor in your eyes?”

Ansger flushed. “You see much. You saw how there should be no divisions between us, and I did not. But you saw the truth.” He glanced to the right—at what, Jake couldn’t see, but Ansger’s smile lit up his handsome face. “And yes, Elric finds favor in my eyes.”

“Then he shall dwell with us.” Another pause. “Could he be your mate?”

Fuck. Jake’s heart went into overdrive.

Ansger shook his head. “I do not think that time is upon us yet. And if he were, I think I would know it.”

Ansfrid sighed. “So when will it come to pass? Shall we live to see it?”

Then the image rippled again, and Jake cried out, desperate to hold on to the vision for a little while longer, but he knew it was fading.

He was standing beside Orsini, theChroniclesstill beneath his fingertips, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“I was there. I was with them. I could smell roses, lilies, sage, rosemary…. Oh my God, the brothers…. They were so real, so solid. And I heard them. I understood them.” He wiped his eyes.

Orsini brought him a chair, and Jake sat, his legs weak as a newborn foal’s. Seth crouched next to him, his hand on Jake’s knee, and Brick handed him a tissue.

“What did they say?” Seth asked.

Jake took a moment to breathe, to calm his racing heart, before delivering word for word the conversation he’d been privy to.

Orsini gasped. “He spoke of mates? Truly?” He glanced at theChronicles. “Then give me time to read this. I would know more.” He was bristling with excitement. He patted Jake on the shoulder. “I can have food brought for us. None of us have eaten for hours.”

“Food would be good,” Jake admitted. He was also in a hurry to know what the document contained.

Seth opened his mouth to add something, but the only sound escaping him was the loud grumble of his stomach. Then Brick’s got in on the act, only louder.

Orsini chuckled, then picked up the phone to give instructions. When he was done, he replaced the handset. “It will be here shortly. Now, back to theChronicles.” And with that he took the slim sheaf of papers and sat in his armchair, a notepad at his side.

Jake’s head was still reeling.

“What you heard…. Let me know if I’ve got this straight.” Brick took a breath. “That was them making up after their disagreement, wasn’t it? Ansger admitting he was wrong that humans and shifters shouldn’t be together?”

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