road.
Dimitri said he had to run the idea past Kendrick and get his okay, and he dashed out with wolf swiftness to the main house, leaving Reid at a loose end while the two women packed what seemed like a lot of food and clothing for a short trip.
Reid stepped off the porch and made phone calls. First to Eric to let him know what was going on, then to Diego, explaining he’d need a little more time off from work. Then Nell, who told him he worried too much—she and Cormac, with Brody and Shane to assist, could take care of the cubs just fine. He heard the cubs making a hell of a racket in the background, and he resisted asking what they were up to. Probably better not to know.
Last he called the current caretaker of the New Orleans house, leaving a voice mail when he didn’t answer.
By the time his calls were done, Dimitri had returned. “Kendrick says we’re to lend you whatever you need, including more backup if necessary.” He gave Reid a look of respect. “Which means you’ve made a big impression on him.”
“Or on Dylan,” Peigi pointed out. “Dylan regards Stuart as a secret weapon, and Shifter leaders take their cue from Dylan.”
She sounded disapproving. Reid knew she didn’t like how he often had to drop everything and teleport off to help Dylan, or Dylan’s sons, or Eric, or whatever Shiftertown leader in any part of the country, with their problems.
Reid readily assisted, because he owed Shifters—they and Diego had saved his life. Ironic, because the death of a Shifter was supposed to have been inevitable in Reid’s quest to return home. One Shifter had died, though not by Reid’s hand, and he still felt horrible about it. Assisting Eric, and through him, Dylan and others, was the least he could do to make up for it.
“Can I ask the obvious?” Jaycee said. “There’s a ley line in the Austin Shiftertown, with a Fae sympathetic to Shifters guarding it. Why not just go there?”
She meant Fionn Cillian, a Fae warrior who had fathered the mate of Sean Morrissey, Andrea, who was half Shifter, half Fae. Fionn camped just inside the ley line so he could see Andrea and his grandson whenever he liked as well as to keep other Fae from pouring through and killing Shifters.
“Dimitri already asked me the same question,” Reid answered. “And I said no. It’s one thing for Fionn to help Shifters, but dokk alfar are another matter. Fionn might be the most angelic hoch alfar ever born, but I can’t trust him with dokk alfar secrets. Or that Cian wouldn’t try to kill Fionn on sight. Safer if I meet Cian alone.”
Jaycee nodded, conceding. “I see your point.”
Reid noticed Peigi sag relief. It was still hard for her to be among large groups of Shifters she didn’t know. Better for them to do this with only Dimitri and Jaycee.
Dimitri studied the group stuffed into the small house, Jaycee with bags packed and ready to go, Peigi with two large coolers and her own bag.
“Think we’re taking enough?” Dimitri asked. “Want to shove in the stove, or maybe the kitchen sink?”
Jaycee hoisted one of the duffel bags. “When you’re yelling, why the hell didn’t I bring a change of underwear? You’ll thank me.”
Dimitri flushed. “It was only the one time.”
“Which is why I started packing for you. Can we do this?”
Reid watched Peigi smother a smile as Dimitri sighed and ushered them out the front door. He didn’t lock up behind them, because no Shifter would invade his territory, as small as it was.
Dimitri led them out past his pickup to the barn and a black semi-truck cab that rested behind it, out of sight.
Peigi eyed the semi doubtfully as they approached it. “You can drive that?” she asked Dimitri.
“Sure. Can’t you?”
“Ignore him,” Jaycee said as she opened the passenger door. “He’s very proud.”
She and Dimitri tossed in bags, which he and Jaycee arranged under seats and the storage area behind the curtain in the back. That area also contained a bed, Reid saw as Dimitri stuffed the luggage back there.
When he finished Peigi climbed in and settled on the back bench seat and Reid hoisted himself up beside her. His instinct was to slide close to her where he could touch her, but he suppressed this and made sure there was a foot of space between them. No need to tempt fate.
“Sweet,” Dimitri said as he leapt into