Iron Master – Jennifer Ashley Page 0,16

they were in true danger, Peigi knew, and she wouldn’t let him. No matter how much his departure might hurt her, she could never force him to make that choice.

Kendrick’s ranch lay in a fold of dry land that hid it from all roads. Dimitri turned in at a white gate that lined the highway and drove slowly over a low hill.

The hill’s crest showed Reid a sprawling single-story ranch house at the bottom of another hill and a scattering of smaller houses behind it, culminating in a barn at the top of the next rise. Cubs, in both human and animal form, ran between the large house and the smaller ones, or up to the barn, outside of which a horse patiently grazed.

Contentment, Reid decided. It looks like this.

Kendrick had established a safe place for his un-Collared Shifters, and they were thriving. They had to hide out, true, which meant the cubs were home schooled, and venturing far was dangerous. But within Kendrick’s territory, the Shifters were safe and happy, free to live their lives.

Dimitri drove around the big house, waving at Shifters and cubs in passing. He maneuvered the truck to a halt in front of what Reid knew was these days called a “tiny house”—a compact but clean-lined home with a door and a window on the ground floor, and a window above suggesting a loft or small second floor.

A loft, Reid saw as he ushered Peigi inside, following Dimitri and Jaycee. While the interior was incredibly small, it had been filled with comfortable chairs, a table under the window, and a niche kitchen. An open door behind the kitchen revealed a minute bathroom. A ladder-stair in the corner led to the loft, likely the bedroom.

The interior was painted a soft white, making the space airy, with brightly upholstered chairs, pillows, and throws plus gleaming appliances in the kitchen lending color.

“This is lovely,” Peigi said in delight.

Jaycee flushed, modest, but pleased at the same time. “Had to do something with Dimitri’s bachelor pad. He didn’t even have sheets when I moved in.”

“Now it’s a department store,” Dimitri growled, but Reid could see he didn’t mind very much.

“When the cub comes, we’re building on,” Jaycee said firmly. “The house is cute, but we constantly run into each other.”

“Not that it’s a b-bad thing.” Dimitri winked at her.

“Cubs need a lot of room,” Peigi said, her tone feeling. “Trust me on this.”

“I do,” Jaycee said. “It’s an ongoing debate between Dimitri and me. Again, he just doesn’t want to do the work.”

Dimitri’s spirits wouldn’t dampen. “Red wolves were made to laze in the sun. Speaking of—let’s have that brew and chat, Reid. We’ll go outside so the ladies can t-talk about us behind our backs.”

He moved to the refrigerator and drew out two long-neck bottles, motioning Reid to follow him out the back door. Reid glanced at Peigi, who was busy admiring the little house, her expression longing.

Maybe Reid could convince Eric to let him build on to the house in Las Vegas—Reid would offer the funds. He knew Peigi didn’t have the hidden riches other Shifters did, DX Security did well, and Reid’s salary wasn’t bad. Getting around regulations about Shifter houses wasn’t easy, but Eric could manage it—his mate’s family owned a home construction company.

Stuart left Peigi with reluctance, but the two women were already chattering about kitchen towels, for some reason. Peigi returned Stuart’s glance and smiled. He wrapped the smile around him and followed Dimitri outside.

The afternoon was warm. While South Texas could have cold snaps, it lay on a latitude that let the temperatures stay in the 70s and even 80s in the dead of winter, the sunshine nice. Dimitri led Reid to a pair of lawn chairs set up in a sunny patch of grass, dropped into one, and popped open his beer.

“Just out of Shifter hearing range from my neighbors,” Dimitri said, handing Reid the second bottle.

Reid twisted off the cap and sipped the beer he’d learned to like as he lived in the human world, and contemplated the spread of land. The Shiftertown in Las Vegas was crowded, the houses close together. In turn, that Shiftertown was surrounded by city, which encroached into the desert a little farther every year. This ranch allowed plenty of space between the small homes, acres in which Shifters could run without restraint.

“Nice place.” Reid took another sip. Human beer tasted a little like dokk alfar ale, giving him a nostalgic feeling.

“It’s home.” Dimitri lounged back