Iron Master – Jennifer Ashley Page 0,14

Reid thought. Still a soldier at heart, he felt exposed and vulnerable in this plane, a target. He chafed with impatience as Marlo shut everything down and wrestled with the catch on the door. Finally the door creaked back, falling heavily against the fuselage.

“Stairs don’t always work.” Marlo stomped on the arm that kept the steps up, to no avail.

“I don’t care.” Peigi pushed past Reid, dropped her overnight bag on the dirt and dried grass, and leapt gracefully down after it. “Need some exercise after the long ride anyway.”

Marlo quickly climbed down and took her arm, steadying her on the uneven ground. Stuart tried not to kill him as he jumped out and landed next to the two.

Peigi shaded her eyes and scanned the horizon. “I hope they don’t expect us to walk all the way. I don’t want that much exercise.”

Marlo chuckled. “Kendrick said he was coming, and he will. Tell everyone I said hi.”

“You’re leaving?” Panic edged Peigi’s question.

“Can’t sit out here for long without someone investigating,” Marlo said. “You call me when you need a ride. I won’t go far.”

Reid stepped closer to Peigi, gripping the handle of his small duffel bag. “I do this all the time. Kendrick, or one of his seconds, will show.”

“Easy for you,” Peigi said, her voice too light. “You can just teleport.”

“Don’t say easy and teleport in the same breath.” Reid kept his tone light. “Means you have no idea how exhausting it is. Tell you what, if Kendrick leaves us too long, I’ll take us to a B&B that isn’t far—you’ll like it.”

“Sure, because the owners won’t freak out if we just pop in.”

“I’ll find a rental car place, and we can drive the last part of the way.”

Peigi’s eyes danced. “Then we have to worry about the rental car agent falling over when you suddenly appear in his office.”

“I planned to be a little more subtle.” Reid was pleased to see her relaxing. Peigi didn’t like to feel trapped, and being stranded was a close second. She never had to be trapped again, he wanted to tell her.

“Shouldn’t have to worry.” Marlo jerked his chin at a line of dust rising into the pale blue sky. “Someone’s coming.”

Reid came alert. Could be Kendrick, could be highway patrol. Peigi caught his tension, but she calmed before he did, sniffing the air. “Shifters,” she announced.

Chapter Five

Peigi had met Dimitri and Jaycee before, at Shifter gatherings, but she didn’t know the two well. They’d had their mating ceremony not long ago, and Jaycee was carrying her first cub.

Jaycee was curvy and didn’t hide those curves in her form-fitting jacket, leather pants, and motorcycle boots. Her body didn’t show her pregnancy much yet, but to Peigi, it was obvious—her scent was different, as was the sparkle in her eyes, and the careful way she moved, though she retained the litheness of her leopard.

Behind her came Dimitri in jeans and a sweatshirt with a beer logo on it. He had red hair, a graceful athleticism, and wore a wide grin.

“Reid. How’s life t-treating you?” Dimitri came at Stuart, arms open, ready for a Shifter hug of greeting.

Stuart hesitated, then Peigi saw him decide to allow it. Dimitri, at the last minute, lowered his arms abruptly, laughed, and reached out a hand instead.

“Just kidding.” Dimitri and Stuart clasped forearms, another form of Shifter greeting. “I know you aren’t a touchy-f-feely kind of dude. But Peigi is. Except for being a dude.”

Dimitri let go of Stuart and went to Peigi, open-armed once more. Dimitri could hug almost as well as bears did, lifting Peigi and spinning her around.

Dimitri released Peigi, and before she could catch her breath, Jaycee came in for a hug of her own. Jaycee’s warm, lush body enfolded her, and Peigi again scented the cub inside her, the life she and Dimitri had created.

Behind them, Marlo shouted both a greeting and good-bye and started up the plane. The roar of the engines precluded further discussion.

Dimitri beckoned them to the pickup resting in the dried grass, opened the doors, and ushered them inside. Stuart went first, Shifter style, and helped Peigi into the back seat. Jaycee jumped into front in a single bound while Dimitri took the driver’s seat.

“A bear, a Feline, a Lupine, and a Fae got into a pickup.” Dimitri started the truck and bumped it around toward the dirt road. “How will this joke end?”

“You tell me,” Stuart said. “A dokk alfar instructed me to talk to you.”

“Yeah?” Dimitri’s eyes