Chapter 34
The battle was over. Ashley and Rachelle began opening gateways at the top of the ridge, ready to lead the army of shifters back to the Silverlake territory.
The hellhounds had been turned to ash, and the red dragons had fled.
Miraculously, there were no casualties on the shifter side. Healers were tending to those who had been badly wounded, but everyone was expected to be okay.
Kira stood and watched her brother and sister fly back toward the castle. She hated seeing them stay in this cursed place, but it was the only home they’d ever known, and they’d refused to leave.
They’d been through so much. She didn’t know if they would ever completely recover. At least it was relatively safe for them here, in this bubble between worlds. Other dragon clans didn’t know about it, and if Mayah and Emon sealed up the interior gateways Gen-X had been using to come there from Earth, they would be safe from them too.
Or maybe they would leave the gates open, and eat any Gen-X operatives who came through. As far as Kira was concerned, that was a viable option too. Anybody who’d do this to shifters—to anyone—deserved what they got.
Mayah and Emon had flat-out refused to give the shifters any of Ragnor’s notes or formulas, a decision which Kira supported wholeheartedly.
Nobody needed to know the secret to that dragon poison. And if Ragnor had information on the origin of the House of Al-Maddeiri’s special powers, it was best that it stayed with the last of the House.
At least they’d agreed to let her come and visit. Maybe, eventually, they could make up for the lost years.
Kira walked back to where the Bad Blood Crew was waiting for her. They surrounded her, hugging, cat-kissing, or just touching her, as if to reassure themselves that she was okay. It was strange, being the recipient of that much affection, but she was starting to like it.
She had two families now.
Flynn wrapped one arm around her, cradling her neck in the crook of his elbow. “Hey, Princess,” he said, pulling her in for a long kiss.
The crew cheered and catcalled. Flynn gave them the finger, not breaking the kiss.
She felt the tingle of power going through her. They were bonded now, and she was Unbound. Her power had gone back to the draken of the House of Al-Maddeiri, the way it was supposed to.
And some of it had gone into Flynn. She wondered how much it had changed him.
“Everyone’s headed to Silverlake,” Xander said. “They’re hosting a big-ass victory barbecue, with lots of beer and sentimental speeches. It’s going to be awesome.”
“Fuck,” Flynn said. “Do you think they’ll notice if we don’t go?”
Kira grinned. So far, no changes.
“Yes,” she said, poking him. “Seeing as every shifter you ever met risked their lives so they could ride in like the cavalry and save our asses, the least we can do is go drink beer with them. And since they’re your friends, you’re going to have to make a thank-you speech.”
“They’re not my friends,” Flynn muttered. “I don’t have friends.”
Nope. No changes at all.
“At least he has pants on,” Brody said. “Even if they don’t fit.”
“I borrowed them from a dead guard.”
“Which means you lost all your stuff,” Xander said. “I bet you lost my favorite knife, too.”
“Because saving your knife would have been more important than saving my ass?”
“No, wait,” Kira said. “I have it.” It was the one she’d grabbed off the floor in the lab, when she was fighting Ragnor. She pulled it from the sheath. “Here.” She tossed it to Xander.
He huffed as he caught the knife. “At least some people respect other people’s property.” He pried open the end of the pommel, revealing a cavity inside. He shook something out of it, about the size of a nickel.
“What’s that?” Kira asked.
“Magical tracker,” Xander said. “How did you think we found you?”
Flynn stopped dead, glaring. “You planted a magical tracker on me?”
Xander smirked. “And you thought you’d taught me nothing.”
Laughing, Kira crested the ridge with her crew and ripped a hole in the air. “Come on,” she said. “I could use a beer.”
When they got to the Silverlake territory, it was full of people, and the grills were already firing up. Lissa ran up and threw herself into Tank’s arms, smothering his face with kisses.
“You’re back! You’re okay!”
Behind her came a boy of about five, yelling “Mr. Roary Lion! Mr. Tank!” He was followed closely by Brandon, who flung himself on Xander and Jenny. To Kira’s surprise, Flynn scooped up the other little boy and swung him around.
“Hi, Mr. Roary Lion! I met Lissa! She said you went to rescue dragons! Did you bring them back with you?”
Flynn laughed. “Only one,” he said. He drew Kira forward. “This is Kira, my mate. Kira, this is Brock Wells. His parents were with the…rescue party.”
“I’m Brock Reilly,” Brock told him proudly. “Noah Gray Wolf married my mom and me and now he’s my dad and I’m Brock Reilly.”
Brock turned to Kira, twisting in Flynn’s arms. “Mr. Roary Lion saved my life one time. Me and Mommy and Noah. He’s very good at that. And I stayed with him and his crew and he made me pancakes. He’s very good at that too.”
Kira smiled. “Yeah, he is.” Flynn ruffled Brock’s hair.
Brock reached out to hug Tank, who he also seemed to be good friends with, and then turned to Xander, who was holding Brandon.
“Hi, Mr. Grumpy Panther,” he said. Kira smothered a snort. “You have a little boy too! I just found out today.”
“Yep,” Xander said. “Did you meet each other?”
Brock nodded. “We played together while you were gone. Brandon was a panther and I was a woof and we played chase but he climbs up trees so I can’t catch him. Sometimes he forgets to take his clothes off before he Changes, but it’s okay because I help him after. He only scratched me a little.”
Half the crew had to turn away coughing to smother their laughter.
Brandon grinned. “Bock!” he said. “Can’t catch me!”
Jenny just shook her head. “Thank you for looking after him,” she said to Brock. “I’m sure he had a good time.”
Brock nodded. “It was fun because my other friend Michelangela is only a little baby and she doesn’t really play very good yet.”
Kira murmured, “Michelangela?”
Flynn shook his head. “Don’t ask.”
After that they were inundated with people. The leaders of the Silverlake pack, Jace and Emma Monroe. Jesse Travis, pack Negotiator, and his mate Sophia. Kane Colton, the Silverlake Enforcer, and his mate Rachelle, the flying serpent-horse Kira had seen at the battle. Brock’s parents, Noah and Mina Reilly. A tall, thin wolf with long blond hair named Tristan, who was greeted by the whole Bad Blood Crew like a long-lost brother. His sister Terin and her mate Rafe, who turned out to be the parents of baby Michelangela, a chubby and imperious six-month-old.
Everyone wanted to talk to Flynn. To clap him on the back, to tell him he rocked or he kicked ass or they were glad he was okay.
Kira knew that shifters in general avoided Flynn and feared him. She’d never realized so many people had a genuine respect for him—even loved him.
Kira found it overwhelming, and she could see Flynn did too. They managed to find a semi-quiet corner during dinner, while everyone ate and drank, and Xander and Rafe Connors entertained a group of Enforcers with a dirty joke competition. Which was eventually declared a tie.
When everyone was full and just a little bit drunk, Xander stood up and whistled sharply to get everyone to quiet down.
He stood up in front of the crowd of shifters and said, “Hey everybody. I know I’m not the official anything of the Bad Blood Crew, but I’m the one who called you all out last night. And you came—all of you—which is mind-blowing and more than any of us ever expected. So thanks. And I know Flynn thanks you too, but he doesn’t talk to people, so—”
Flynn rolled his eyes and heaved himself to his feet. “For fuck’s sake, Xander, sit down and shut the hell up before my lion bites you. I know how to fucking talk.”
Xander sat down, smirking.
He did that on purpose, Kira realized. Our crazy panther knows Flynn a lot better than anyone thinks, and he knew exactly how to make him get up there.
Flynn walked up to where Xander had stood. Despite his assurances, he suddenly seemed at a loss for words. Kira rose from her chair and went to stand next to him, shoulder to shoulder.
They both owed these people their lives.
Flynn ran his hand through his hair, looking at the sea of faces. “Ah, shit. I guess I really don’t know what to say. I thought Sloan was bringing in some backup. I never expected everybody I ever fucking met. You saved our asses, and I appreciate it. Even though I don’t know why the hell half of you did it.”
Xander rolled his eyes. “Of course you don’t.” He turned to the crowd. “Who here has had their lives saved by Flynn?”
Kira watched the hands go up. All the Bad Bloods. All their mates. Jesse and Sophia, Rafe, Terin and Tristan, Noah and Mina. Brock put his hand up, using the other to hold up Michelangela’s chubby little one. “She was in Auntie Terin’s belly,” he whispered to Xander. “But it counts.” Xander held up Brandon’s hand.
Jesse Travis had both his hands up. “What?” he said, looking around at the questioning faces. “He did it twice.”
“Okay,” Xander said. “Who here has had Flynn save the life of someone they care about a whole fucking lot?”
At least half the hands in the crowd went up. The whole Silverlake pack, and some of Donnie’s. Donnie had his hand halfway up, and Noah Reilly jabbed him in the ribs. “Come on,” he said. “The dude saved my life. You like me. Put your hand all the way up.”
Donnie said, “I don’t like you that much.” Noah flipped him off, and Donnie, grinning, raised his hand the rest of the way.
Xander nodded with satisfaction. “That’s why they did it,” he said to Flynn.
Flynn looked a little stunned.
Kira felt tears sting her eyes. Flynn only ever thought about the ways that he’d failed, the people he hadn’t saved. It weighed on his mind, weighed down his soul.
He never thought about all the people he had saved. They didn’t forget. And when Xander called, they’d rallied around him, putting their lives on the line because Flynn needed them.
Flynn ran his hands through his dreads, looking uncomfortable. “I suck at this,” he admitted. “And I don’t thank people, because I always say I don’t fucking need help. I know I’m supposed to give some fancy speech about how awesome and heroic you fuckers are, and I suck at that too.”
He looked out at the faces of the shifters. “But my crew means everything to me. My mate means everything to me. You all risked your lives for me, for her and her family. You stopped an evil sorcerer and his fucking hellhounds. You did a good thing. A brave thing. And I—” He broke off.
Xander called out, “I can finish it for you, if you’re going to cry.”
Flynn flipped him off. “And, thank you. Everybody, thank you.” He paused, then added to Xander, “And savor that shit, because it’s going to be a long damn time before you hear it again.”
The crowd broke out in cheers and whistles. Flynn headed back to his seat, shaking his head.
Xander winked at Kira, and she blew him a kiss.