even I couldn’t break up.”
Clearborn turned to the table beside him, where six swords were waiting. Rafe and Lex were already wearing their Council’s Own sabres. Rafe looked grouchy and miserable as ever—he hated being on stage—but Lex couldn’t hide his grin of pride.
“Madeline Northsea,” Clearborn said, turning to offer me the sword.
As I took it from him, he added, more quietly, “You made a good show of things for a woman and a witch, didn’t you?”
I just smiled back at him. Clearborn winked at me, then turned and drew the next sword. “Jensen McCauley.”
He gave swords to Penn, Tyson and Chase, then said, “Silas Zip.”
I half expected to hear a rumble of disagreement from the crowd, but no one dared. Silas stepped up and took the sword from Clearborn.
“Congratulations to our newest team to join the Alpha’s Own,” Clearborn said.
The cheers of our fellow students washed over us as we headed back down the steps—back to solid ground.
Penn rested his elbow on my shoulder. “Spin it any way you want, we still have three more years of classes and ass-kickings when we aren’t actually fighting for our lives.”
“Are you complaining?” I teased him.
He flashed me a grin. “Nah.”
Part of our new deal was that we could live in Chase’s house full-time, with Rafe, Lex, and Chase’s siblings. For safety’s sake, though, Clearborn had suggested we take over one of the guest houses on campus. That way, Blake and Skyla were safe when we were all gone on a mission—and the world was safe from them as they came to terms with their wolves.
The houses were already built to house a pack, but we were being allowed to give it a renovation to make sure it was perfect for our harem of eight—and our two younger siblings.
And to add a hot tub.
This wouldn’t be my happy ending, after all, if there wasn’t still a hot tub of iniquity.
Piper smiled at me from the sidelines, carrying Cole. It was hard to believe that he and Scarlett would be a year old soon.
All of our packs had been welcomed to come see us announced as a patrol. Rafe’s parents had wanted to come, but he’d declined. Lia had come, though, and baby Charlotte was currently toddling around the campus as she chased after her. I knew how much it meant to Rafe that he still had a relationship with his sister, even though he was giving up on his parents.
Rosemary came over and gave Lex a hug. “I hate you for this, you know,” she said, adjusting her academy tie.
I could see Rafe bristle—he still felt protective of Lex—but Lex just smiled. “You’ll get used to it.”
“Will I?” she asked lightly, but I had a feeling she meant it. “I feel like I’ve got awfully big shoes to fill, coming in as the second Kierney cadet in six years.”
“You’ll be amazing,” Lex promised her, and she smiled reluctantly.
Then my own sister popped up beside me, distracting me from my eavesdropping. Piper was smiling, and she had Cole propped up on the round swell of her belly. Those ridiculous brothers of mine had already knocked Piper up again.
“Piper,” I said, giving her a big hug. Then, as always, I made grabby hands, at the same time as Cole reached for me. I grinned, because I always worried Scarlett and Cole would forget me, since I wasn’t around all the time. But that wasn’t the way family was after all. It didn’t matter if life—and our missions—pulled us in different directions. We were still family.
My men and Piper’s men mixed together, congratulating each other as the assembly was dismissed. Students headed off to their various classes. It made me happy to see the guys all getting along, talking to each other. Piper’s men were still my family too.
“We’re lucky to have a very big family,” I mused.
“Yes, we are,” Piper said. “When the two of us were young, just trying to survive, I never could have imagined we’d wind up here.”
She hugged me again, then took Cole back. “We’d better get out of your hair. You’ve got class.”
I groaned. “Save the world, but don’t be late to school.”
“I’m coming for a visit next month to see the new house,” Piper said.
“I can’t wait,” I told her.
Rafe came over then, and Piper squeezed his arm and said goodbye before she headed out. Rafe still seemed vaguely star-struck around her, because of the way they’d met, and that struck me as sweet. Sooner or later, though,