“You sure you’re going to be okay?” Jax asked, taking a deep breath as the last of the travelers boarded the plane to California.

“I’ll be fine,” Violet said, not looking totally sure. “It’s my parents. They’ll forgive me. Right?”

Jax’s heart broke as she looked up at him with worried eyes. They were standing in front of the terminal and she only had a minute before she had to board the plane with Benjamin. He knew she was worried to go, but he also knew it would be okay. Once her parents saw the beautiful baby boy in her arms, they would forgive everything. It was impossible to be angry with that cute kid in the room.

“Just tell them the truth,” he said, pulling her in for a hug. “They’re just going to be happy to see you again. I promise.”

“How can you be so sure?” she asked.

“Because I know how I’d feel if I were them,” he said, squeezing her a little tighter. “And I would just be relieved to see you again.”

“Thanks, Jax,” she said, nuzzling her cheek into his chest. “I’m going to miss you.”

“Ma’am,” the stewardess said from behind the desk. “We’re going to need you to board now.”

“Okay,” she said, letting go. “I’ll be right there.”

“Have fun in Europe,” she said, swallowing hard and looking like she was fighting back tears. “Be careful please.”

“I will,” he answered. “It’s only going to be a couple of days.”

“Okay,” she whispered. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll fucking miss you,” Jax said, not wanting them to leave. “Both of you.”

After all these years, he had finally found his mate and after only a few days, they had to separate. It was torture.

He wanted to go with her to California, but he knew it was something she had to do on her own. Her parents would already be completely shocked to see her return with a kid after being missing for two years. Adding a huge intimidating shifter to the package would just add to the stress and confusion they’d be feeling.

He knew that he’d meet them someday, and he was even excited for it, but now just wasn’t the time.

And anyway, his crew needed his help.

“Ma’am,” the stewardess said impatiently. “Last call. If you want to go to California today, I suggest you move.”

“Okay,” she said, looking crushed. “I have to go.”

Jax leaned down and kissed his little Beast on the forehead and then kissed his mate on the lips. God, I’ll miss these lips.

She turned and hurried to the desk, handing the stewardess her ticket and passport.

With one last wave, she disappeared down the tunnel and all Jax could do was watch with an aching heart.

He walked to the large windows and watched with a fluttering in his stomach as the boarding bridge detached from the airplane.

It was strange. He felt sad to see them leave, but there was a happiness underneath it all. Jax had never loved someone so much to be sad when they left.

Those two really did a number on you.

He smiled as he watched the plane start rolling and kept his eye on it until it rushed down the runway and took off into the sky. He hoped that Benjamin wasn’t too upset or scared and that the change in altitude wasn’t hurting his little ears.

He’ll be fine. He’s a beast.

He exhaled long and hard as the tiny plane disappeared into the clouds and turned to walk back to where Zane and Axel were waiting by their gate.

They were heading to London in an hour. After facing Jarin and then Valerius, they knew that Draven, Gunner, and Aleida would need some back-up against the two remaining mated dragons and they were heading over to offer their services.

If only they knew where their alpha was.

We’ll find them. It shouldn’t be too hard to find fighting dragons.

“Is she off?” Zane asked when he arrived.

Jax plopped down onto the seat beside him in a huff. “She’s off.”

“I’m sorry, buddy,” Zane said, slapping his leg. “I know how you feel.”

Both Axel and Zane had also gone through a tearful goodbye with their mates before they went through security. All of them were already missing their mates.

“Sweet,” Axel said, pointing at the huge book in his hands. It was a tourist book of London. “We can go see The Lion King musical tonight. It’s only fifty quid. What the hell is a quid?”

Zane slapped the book out of his hand. “We’re not going there on vacation,” he said, rolling his eyes in frustration. “We have to look for Draven.”

“I know,” Axel said, picking up the book and stuffing it into his bag. “But if we can’t find him… I heard it’s really good.”

“No musicals,” Jax said, crossing his arms. “I may be a bit nicer now, but having to sit through a bloody musical will bring my old grumpy mood right back.”

Jax already felt it coming on.

“Fine,” Axel muttered, shaking his head as he looked straight ahead. “It’s only one of the biggest and most beloved theater shows of all time.”

They all stared at the TV in front of them in silence. It’s going to be a long trip.

The news came on and the three of them straightened in their seats when clips of wildfires in the north of England began playing.

“Hundreds flee as wildfires break out in Northern England,” the female news anchor said, looking serious.

The man beside her with the plastic hair was grinning. “But here’s the real burning question,” he said. “What’s causing them?”

The woman’s face dropped as she turned to the man with a glare. “Was that a pun? You promised you wouldn’t make any more puns.”

“I say a lot of things,” the man answered with a grin. “Most of it goes up in smoke.”

“Five years in journalism school and I get stuck with this guy,” she muttered as she dropped her head into her hands.

The news report cut off as a display of Technical Difficulties showed on the screen.

“Wildfires in northern England,” Zane said, rubbing his beard. He held his breath as he looked at Jax and Axel. “Are you guys thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Yeah,” Axel said with a nod. “We should get some of those donuts back there before we get on the plane.”

Jax smacked the back of the polar bear shifter’s head. “No, you dolt. Wildfires. Dragons. Put the two together.”

“Oh,” Axel said as it dawned on him. His face dropped as he sunk down into his chair. “We’ll never see The Lion King now,” he muttered to himself.

“We’ll see the Dragon King instead,” Jax whispered as his stomach hardened. “I just hope we get to walk out of the show.”