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Storm led Evalle to their waiting jet, feeling a thousand times better than when he’d first landed here. He held up two large shopping bags. “Sure you got everything?”
“Hey. If we can fly in private jets, then I can buy everyone gifts,” Evalle said, clutching another in her hand.
“You’re expensive, but so worth it,” he admired with a wolfish grin.
She blushed.
Having his badass warrior do that made his day.
Storm enjoyed every minute of Evalle shopping, something he’d never seen her do. He took her to visit the Native shops this evening before heading to the airport. She fawned over every handmade piece. The crafters and artists ate up her attention, then got even more excited when Storm suggested she hadn’t finished.
He pointed out she had yet to find something for Feenix.
A large shopping bag later, she moaned that she should get a gift for Adrianna, then Tzader, Quinn and ... the list went on and on.
He warned her to leave no one out or they’d have their feelings hurt. He could just see her good friends, Quinn and Tzader, rolling their eyes at that, but they would have enjoyed watching her, too.
Convincing her to buy for others had been so easy.
Did she find anything for herself? No.
That was okay. He had a gift just for her.
A different flight attendant met them at the top of the stairway. “Mr. and Mrs. Tso, your luggage has been stowed. Once you’re comfortable, please let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you,” Storm said, letting Evalle step ahead of him into the cabin.
He handed his bags to the flight attendant as a second closed the hatch. The two found places to stow the booty.
Storm headed to the center to join Evalle. He would never tire of her joy. He could feel excitement rolling off her as they prepared to fly this time where she’d been nervous as a cat in a rocking chair factory on the flight out.
Hell, even his energy surged now that they were bonded.
They’d be linked forever.
He could sleep at night now, well, as long as she was no more than an arm’s length away.
Evalle had dropped her things on the first chair she reached, then continued on to plop down on the sofa. She leaned over to take her boots off, saying, “This isn’t as fast as Air Daegan, but it’s much more fun and comfortable.”
“What is Air Daegan, Mrs. Tso?”
Evalle’s head swung up to face the flight attendant who had followed Storm as they began moving toward the runway.
Storm saved Evalle by explaining. “She’s talking about a friend who transports us from time to time.” He had to tell the truth in a way that covered her words, or he’d pay a price.
The woman smiled. “How nice. What can I get you?”
“We’ll wait for liftoff,” Storm told her. “We’ll be fine until then.”
She nodded and returned to the galley area where she pulled a privacy drape across the entrance, leaving them alone, just as he’d requested.
Evalle leaned forward. “I must’ve been zonked when we flew out. I don’t remember a curtain to close off the cabin.”
“They didn’t use it last time,” Storm replied then noticed Evalle’s knee bouncing.
He put his hand on her knee and she stilled. He asked, “What’s going on?”
For a moment she looked as if she wouldn’t tell him, then held her hand up in a way he’d seen when she heard telepathically from someone.
When her gaze shot to him, she said, “Trey’s voice blasted into my head. I think this bonding has dialed up the power of my telepathy.” She grinned at her new powers.
Storm laughed. “Our energy connection might take some getting used to.”
“Not. A. Problem,” she answered with glee.
“Why did Trey call you?”
She said, “Oh, shoot. That’s right. He said Daegan needs us in Atlanta. I told him we were on the way.”
Storm hated that she’d have to return to the streets to fight preternaturals so soon, but his mate could handle it and he’d be with her.
He lowered his voice and asked, “What’s the problem?”
She replied just as softly. “Some preternatural is amping up the problems with exposure to the humans.”
“They were doing that when we left.” Storm didn’t get the new urgency. “Loki torched one of the bounty hunters in a Tribunal meeting when the guy admitted to intentionally exposing us.” Before leaving today, Bidziil had told Storm how things were heating up in Atlanta and people were demanding the government find out what was going on.
Storm did his best to get Evalle packed without her seeing any videos. They had to face all that soon enough.
He figured if Daegan hadn’t sent Tristan to teleport them home immediately, then they had a window of time to fly back, which Storm needed.
He had to have this moment with Evalle first.
She argued, “Yes, but we didn’t know for sure the humans had enough information to believe the videos weren’t hoaxes. Evidently it’s getting bad and Daegan needs all of us. Trey says the dragon is running himself into the ground to handle this. Tristan told Trey he thinks Daegan is at risk if we don’t circle the wagons and come up with a plan.” She gave a sad sigh. “Sorry, sweetheart.”
Storm ran a hand down her cheek. “Don’t be. It was just a matter of time until this erupted.” He asked, “Is Trey through talking to you?”
“Yep. I told him I’d let him know as soon as we made it home, but there’s nothing we can do until then.”
Storm relaxed. “Good. This flight is ours, a little sliver of time we don’t have to share with anyone. First, back to what you were stressed about right before you heard from Trey?”
“I knew you wouldn’t forget,” she grumbled. After delaying another moment, she said, “Are people going to call me Mrs. Tso?”
He hadn’t expected that. He asked his carefully. “Do you want them to?”
“Not really.”
“Why not?” He cringed. That came out too quick.
She shrugged self-consciously. “Because we’re not married so it sounds like I’m pretending to be someone I’m not.”
“You’re right.” He drew a breath to tell her something else. “You should never pretend to be anyone else. There is no woman like you, which is why I want you to have this.” He lifted a wooden box from his pocket that had traveled with him a long time. A Dine geographic design had been inlaid on the lid with different colored wood. One of the few things he had of his father’s, but the gift inside had been crafted a month ago.
Shocked, Evalle opened the box with trembling hands and stared at the silver ring with a black jaguar and green-eyed gryphon intertwined.
With night outside, he pulled her glasses off so he could see her face. “You are my mate and our bond is eternal. We live in two worlds. Ours and that of humans. I want all in both to know you are mine. Will you marry me, sweetheart?”
She gave him a wobbly smile. “Yes. I don’t have a ring for you.”
“I’ll wear my father’s opal, if that’s okay with you.”
“Of course it is. That’s a great idea.” She blew out a breath and said, “We should’ve gotten married when I had the dress Bidziil loaned me. You may never see me in one again.”
“I don’t care if you ever wear another. You were beautiful last night. You’re beautiful in jeans, boots, and your BDU shirts. But you’re stunning in nothing at all.” He smoothed her hair and added, “We couldn’t have our marriage ceremony in Arizona.”
Her happiness dimmed. “Why not?”
“Feenix wasn’t there. This will be a family event with all of our friends.”
“Oh!” Evalle cried out and lunged at him. She wrapped her arms around Storm and whispered the sexy things she planned to do with her future husband when they got home.
Ever his hellion, she had another surprise coming.
Storm cupped her bottom and nipped her ear, then asked, “Have you ever heard of the Mile High Club, sweetheart?”
A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR:
Thank you for reading my books. If you enjoyed this story, please help other readers find this book by posting a review.
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The Belador series is an ongoing story line, so you may want to read the books in order. Available in ebook/print/audio.
Book 1: Blood Trinity
Book 2: Alterant
Book 3: The Curse
Book 4: Rise Of The Gryphon
Book 5: Demon Storm
Book 6: Witchlock
Book 7: Rogue Belador
Book 8: Dragon King Of Treoir
Book 9: Belador Cosaint
Book 10: Treoir Dragon Hoard
Book 10.5: Evalle and Storm
Tristan’s Escape: A Belador Novella
