Rhett was pacing his living room while Brownie jumped around his feet, trying to get him to play. He bent and flipped the little guy onto his back and rubbed his belly. The puppy wiggled out of his grasp and ran to grab his favorite pillow. Rhett gently played tug of war with the dog, but his heart wasn't in it. He was too nervous.

Joseline could be here at any moment, or she might not show up at all. She hadn't texted or called him this morning. It was already after eleven, and he had been sure she would get here at eight or nine. She was an early riser. She'd even said she wasn't a night person. She probably didn't want to see him anymore.

He didn't blame her, not after what he'd told her. He wasn't trustworthy. There was no way to win in this situation. If he'd been honest right away, she never would have come home with him. If she hadn't trusted him then, the dragons would have taken her to Abbott and hurt her. Either way, they never would have gotten to know each other. His human side had needed the extra few days to know she was his mate.

Mate.

Rhett let go of the pillow, and Brownie fell back on his behind. That was his last-ditch effort. There was still one thing left to tell her. She didn't know the whole truth—she didn't know that she was his mate. It might not change her mind, but it was worth a try.

As if on cue, there was a knock at the front door. Brownie ran over and barked. Rhett steadied himself and opened the door.

"What the hell do you want?" he scowled. It was Hayes, one of the last people he wanted to see right now. "Actually, don't tell me. I have plans. Whatever it is, it can wait until this evening."

"No, it can't. We haven't been able to reach Magnus for the last two days. We think he might have gone rogue."

Rhett's heart fell. "You think he's in Lake Magnolia?"

Hayes shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. We wanted to alert you, since at last contact, he was tailing you and the human woman."

"Thank you."

Rhett went inside and put Brownie in his kennel. He had to find Joseline. He tried calling her but got no answer. He would have to go to her apartment. He put in a call to the Keep and let Beau know what was going on, and asked him to keep his eyes peeled for Magnus or anything out of place.

"You should go to the diner and get Joseline, then," Beau told him. "I don't think it's safe for her to be out and about alone."

"Why the diner?" Rhett asked.

"That's where I saw her last. Maybe a half-hour ago. She was talking to Lydia. I assume she's still there. You know how Lydia can keep people talking."

Rhett ripped off his clothes and locked his front door. His tiger's paws hit the pavement the moment the lock had turned. Nudity was frowned upon in public, even in the shifter town. People didn't like shifters like him letting their animals run in the daytime, either, but it couldn't be helped. He wouldn't have been able to keep his saber-tooth in check, and he didn't want to. She was in town, and she was in danger. He had to get to his mate.

He covered the distance between his house and the diner in record time. His animal wasn't even winded when he got there. He shifted and stepped inside. People gasped, and Sheridan hurried over before he could take two steps past the door.

"Can I get you a coat?" She reached under the hostess stand for the Lost and Found box. "You know you can't be naked in here, Rhett."

"I'm looking for Joseline." He looked around the tables, but she wasn't at any of them. "I heard she was here with Lydia."

Sheridan nodded. "She was. She left about ten minutes ago. She's dropping Lydia off at the library, and then I think she's going to your place."

"Thanks."

Rhett was out the door and on all fours again. The library wasn't that far from the diner. He debated going to his place and trying to meet her, but his animal vetoed that idea. When he neared the library, he saw that was the best choice.

Joseline was leaning on her car in the library parking lot. Across from her, Magnus was speaking. That bastard.

Rhett roared and charged forward, and they both looked over at him. Magus didn't make a move toward his mate. Rhett was able to hit the Pegasus before he had a chance to shift.

Joseline screamed as he bit at Magnus's arms. "Stop! Rhett, stop it!"

His animal wasn't going to quit. He had to make sure the threat was neutralized. He was going to have to kill Magnus.

"I don't want to have to hurt you." Magnus had his hands inside Rhett's mouth. His blood was sliding down Rhett's throat. "I won't shift unless you make me. Look how close we are to your mate. Do you want to fight me here?"

That got Rhett's attention. Magnus was right. If they fought, Joseline would get caught up in it, and that was the last thing he wanted.

He backed off. He let Magnus go and retreated to stand in front of his mate.

"Could you shift back?" Magnus asked, then surveyed his hands. They were covered in blood, and a few of his fingers were cut down to the bone. He didn't know how lucky he was to still have fingers. Rhett should have been able to sever his hands easily. Magnus had moved fast, and he was quite strong. Even in human form, the Pegasus shifter was a formidable foe.

"You have the wrong idea." Joseline was shaking. She moved to go to Magnus, but the saber-toothed tiger stopped her.

Rhett shifted back to human form. "He's rogue, Joseline. He hasn't been in contact with the dragons for days. They want to tell him to stand down, but he didn't get the memo."

"I got the memo," Magnus said. "I'm not here to hurt your mate, you idiot. Next time, maybe get all the information before you attack someone. God, I can't believe you're a Keeper."

"Nice try," Rhett spat. "I talked to Hayes. He told me you were going rogue."

"I'm sure he told you that." Magnus licked at his hands. As he licked, the wounds started to disappear. "But I didn't go rogue. I wanted to speak with Joseline myself to hear her version of what happened. She's the only witness I haven't gotten to talk to. I like to be thorough before I conclude my investigation."

"Since when do you investigate?" Rhett didn't believe a word Magnus was saying.

"When I think my employers are lying to me."

Joseline put her hand on his arm. "I believe him. He didn't try to hurt me. He's been standing far away and has only been asking me questions."

Rhett cupped her face in his hands. "You're too trusting. You don't know this guy. He's bad news."

"Maybe he used to be, but people change." Her eyes filled with tears. "You should give him a second chance."

He nodded. "For you. I'm not going to let him get too close, and he's got to leave town after this."

"Of course. I don't want to stay in this hovel, anyway." That was the Magnus he knew. "I've had all my questions answered. I have the full story. Your attack was unwarranted, but I'm glad to catch you here. Now I don't have to go searching for you."

"I'm sorry," Rhett said. "I thought you were going to hurt her."

Magnus cut his apology short. "Be careful whom you trust from Abbott. Tucker is out of the loop, as am I, but the others have something going on among them. This whole Murry thing has them spooked."

"Do you think they did this?" Rhett asked.

"I don't. But they know more than they're letting on. They have their secrets locked down tight over there. You should keep an eye on your people, too."

"Are they dangerous?" Joseline asked. "To humans, I mean. Like, if I were here, would I be in danger? Would they try to wipe my mind again?"

Magnus shrugged. "Not as long as you're with the Keeper. Their plans are bigger than one silly human woman. I wouldn't go out for a nighttime walk by myself if I were you, but you should be safe during the day. I don't know what's going on here, but I'm going to find out. Murry is fine, but I have a feeling there's something else going on."

Rhett knew the feeling. "Let me know if you find anything. I've closed the case on my end, but I'm curious about all of this, too."

Magnus nodded. "Sure. I'll see you around. Thanks for talking to me, Joseline. You're okay for a human."

"Thanks." She put her arm around Rhett's waist. "You sure you're not going feral or rogue?"

"I am not." He kissed her forehead. "Can we go back to my house? I'd like to talk with you."

"I'd love to."

No more secrets. He was going to tell her everything. If she still wanted to leave, that was fine. But he couldn't risk losing her again without having told her the full story.