Page 27 of Moonlight's Mate
Merrilee grabbed car keys from the desk beside the door. “All right. Nally, you come with us and explain to Orson what he needs to tell the fae,assuming that is Vaile’s valley. Keisha, Peter, I want to be ready for a pack meeting at dawn. When the Lord of the Hunt comes back, I want some creative answers to his rude questions.”
As they headed out to her car, Beck murmured in her ear. “You don’t have to come. I can take Nally to town and see Orson off.”
She shrugged, pushing him away from her shoulder. “No. I’m not letting you do this by yourself.”
“Letting me?” He made his voice a low rumble.
She pointed the key at him. “Don’t.”
“Merrilee, does it ever occur to you that we have a rare opportunity here? Two strong packs, with all the assets that entails. We could make this anything we wanted.”
“Pack fusion is a risky proposition,” Nally noted from his place tagging along behind them. “At least when both Alphas are still alive. Two strong packs means two very strong personalities, and that can lead to…” He met Beck’s furious stare and clutched his satchel to his chest. “That can lead to very interesting things. And of course I believe in opening new pathways… Perhaps I should get in the car.”
“Do that.” Beck stared at Merrilee over the hood as the doctor slid into the back seat. “Did you notice how I didn’t take the keys out of your hand? I’m a very progressive Alpha male that way.”
She snorted. “Take my keys and I’ll bite you. I am a bitch that way.”
Their ride down the mountain was quick and mostly silent.
They found Orson melting iron in his backyard. Against the plaster and sand that insulated the steel garbage can of the homemade foundry, the liquid metal glowed lava-bright.
“Looks like an accident waiting to happen,” Nally opined.
Beck glanced at him. “You made mushrooms that unlock real magic.”
Nally pursed his lips.
They waited for Orson to complete his task, gingerly pouring the molten iron into a box of wet sand. Divots carved in the sand held the metal into pointed shapes.
When the bear-kind pulled off his welder’s mask, he grinned at them. “Iron spearheads. Gotta love the internet. I asked Claudia to hit up her pickers for any iron scraps they can find.” His grin faltered and a hunted look crossed his face. “Not sure what she’ll want for it all, though.”
“We have another task for you.” Beck quickly outlined their findings and the plan, and then let Nally take over the story. He stepped aside to where Merrilee was standing, staring at the black char in the grass; all that was left of the imp.
“Like a bad dream,” she murmured.
“Daylight’s almost here.”
“And then the fae lord returns after that.”
A weary note in her voice made him angle protectively closer. “When we finish up here, I’ll take you home. Nally can stay here.”
She shook her head. “He’s my responsibility.”
“How?” He tried to keep the growl out of his voice. “We both found him. The fae are threateningourvalley and maybe more besides. How is this only about you?”
“Because.”
He waited, but she fell silent. “That’s the weakest answer I’ve ever heard, Mer, and you are one of the strongest women I know.”
“Because I have to do it all,” she snapped. “That’s what an Alpha does.”
He straightened. “What? No. We donotdo it all.”
She waved a hand. “Maybe you don’t. Because you are better at this job than me.”
“That’s not what I—” Orson called his name, and Beck scowled at her. “Hold that thought.”
“I’ll add it to my list,” she muttered.
