Midnight Lies (Shifter Island #2) - Raye Wagner Page 0,53

her.

“That is a very good idea, too.” Rage slid his arm around my waist and kissed my temple.

Elaine looked at me oddly but nodded.

I snuggled closer to Rage, resting my head on his chest. His heart rate slowed, becoming a steady thump-thump that lulled me with a false sense of security. Having him here, knowing he was safe and we were still alive, wasn’t something I could take for granted.

“I don’t think it’s the right time to be celebrating,” Justice told his brother. “We’re not out of the woods yet.”

I shook my head, but my gaze darted to the selkies before I stopped myself from spilling my secret. “It’s for later.”

Justice shook his head, but I’d take his censure now over having all of the selkies know my secret. Freaky hive mind. Besides, Rage could probably use their bond to speak to his mind.

“Are you coming with us or going back to King Ozark?” Rage asked the selkies who stood a few feet away.

My gaze bounced from my mate to Harp and Gray. Both selkies, like the rest of us, were splattered with blood and gore, but their armor had apparently protected them from serious injury. Like their matching attire, both men wore serious expressions.

“We’ll return to King Ozark now,” Gray said with a nod to Rage before facing me. “And my liege wishes to remind you that if you have need of us—the selkie warriors—you have but to ask.”

Mother Mage, I hope it doesn’t come to that.

Rage nodded. “Thank you. Tell your king I’ll keep my promise.”

Silence descended over the group as I was the only one who knew what the promise was.

Without further conversation, the two selkies climbed onto the railing and then dove into the dark water.

“I’ll miss the fanny packs,” Kaja said, watching them swim away and causing me and Fiona to fall into laughter. She then dragged me away from Rage and pulled me into a hug, squeezing me tightly. “Please don’t ever run away again without me,” she whispered into my ear.

I nodded, too choked up to answer.

“Well, they may not have the best fashion choices, but they were badass fighters,” Fiona remarked, coming to stand beside her sister. Kaja and I broke apart, and Fiona leaned close to us, “Maybe we should get some fanny packs?”

We all burst into laughter, something I felt I hadn’t done in years. The Harvest girls had that effect on me. “I kinda want one,” I said.

Kaja shook her head, raising her eyebrows at me in mock chagrin. “Well, that is just not fair. You get a fated mate and a fanny pack? Come on, Nai, spread the wealth a little.”

We chuckled, and then things turned more serious. I started to fill Fiona in on all the craziness that had happened since the night Honor died, but she cut me off.

“Kaja told me on our way from the infirmary,” Fiona said, shaking her head. “And I thought classes being canceled and the rumors of Declan’s breeding companions was a lot. Girl, you know how to shake things up.”

Kaja leaned against me, resting her head on my shoulder. “I knew from the moment you called Rage an asshole that you’d keep life interesting.”

Interesting seemed like such an understatement.

Elaine returned holding the bottle of mage wine and wearing a frown.

“Nai, you wanted this,” she said, extending the bottle to me.

I opened my mouth to explain, and Rage grabbed my hand.

‘Not here. Wait until we’re off the boat.’ Then, his gaze darted to the mage who drove it.

Clearly, you couldn’t trust people who could be paid off. Heard that loud and clear.

My gaze darted to his mom before returning to him. ‘Pretty sure your mom thinks I’m a lush right now.’

“That’s for me,” Rage said, taking the bottle from her. With a tight smile, he strode toward the SUVs to put it away.

Elaine shook her head as she watched Rage walk away. “At some point, I hope one of you will fill me in.” Then, she looked at me. “I know that’s not for Rage. He’s too much like his father, who almost never drank. Too much of a control freak.”

Good to know.

Once we docked, we quickly left Bert the mage on the boat and drove off. Elaine said Bert would delay his return to Alpha Island only until he was sent for. “Anything more would force him to choose sides—and Declan has the support of the High Mage Council.”

It was easy to infer the rest: Bert didn’t want to draw