Wicked Burn (Realm Enforcers #3)(105)

So Cara needed to keep herself safe, damn it.

She murmured and cuddled closer to his side, her eyes closing. He tucked her into his body, holding her close, providing safety and warmth.

Terrent ignited the engine and drove over several bumps. “Sorry.”

“It’s all right. She’s out,” Talen said softly.

Somber brown eyes met his in the rearview mirror. “Demon mind attack?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t she run?” Terrent asked, his eyebrows drawing down.

Talen shook his head. “She stayed and fought with the gun.”

“Did you tell her to run? We would’ve caught up with her quickly and then helped you.”

“Of course I told her to run,” Talen snapped.

Terrent grinned. “How’d she do?”

Talen’s lips twitched. “She was magnificent. Kicked ass, actually.” He didn’t bother to keep the pride from his voice. “Though my heart almost stopped.”

Terrent chuckled. “My mate never listens, either.”

No. Maggie Malone Vilks was one stubborn little wolf, and Talen knew, because he’d helped to train her years ago. “Is Maggie still as clumsy as ever?”

Terrent’s eyes sparkled as he nodded. “I swear she tripped over air the other day. She claims there was something in her way, but, Talen? It was just air.”

Talen grinned. “I’ve seen her in action.”

“Oh, and we’re having the wedding next spring,” Terrent said with a sigh.

Only Maggie would want a real human wedding. She and Terrent had been planning it for years, but the war had kept intruding. “Can’t wait,” Talen said, biting back another smile.

“Shut up.” Terrent shook his head. “She’s not even human. I mean, she was never human. The woman is a wolf, for Pete’s sake.”

And yet, the tough Alpha was going through with a wedding to make her happy. Talen breathed out, his body finally calming after the fight. “Sometimes they want weddings. Cara and I had one.”

“Yeah, but not with the white dress, flowers, and all the music,” Terrent rumbled, speeding up until trees flew by outside.

“Sometimes they don’t make any damn sense,” Talen whispered.

Terrent scratched his chin. “You and your mate aren’t gonna fight at my place, are you? Because then the women will be on her side, the men on yours, and then I have a bunch of pissed-off wolves to deal with. Including my mate, who has a mean streak.”

“Sucks being Alpha.”

Terrent sighed. “Well, at least you didn’t bring your youngest with you.”

Talen winced. “Um.”

“Um, what?”

“When the demons started following us, I’m sure Dage gave Garrett a call. He’s in Seattle working with the witch Enforcers, and his mama would like to see him.” Talen leaned back and rested his head. “He’ll behave.”

“I’m more worried about a couple of young wolf shifters, crazy cheerleaders, I have to keep a constant eye on,” Terrent ground out.

“Then I should probably warn you that Garrett’s best friend, Logan Kyllwood, will more than likely be with him if they visit.” Talen didn’t have time to worry about female wolves.

Terrent tapped impatient fingers against the steering wheel. “Great. Twenty-year-old vampire and demon, two horny kids you sent to work in Seattle because they kept getting in trouble, and they’re coming here.”

Well, since he put it like that. “I give you my word they will both behave and not deflower anybody.”

“Hell.”

Yeah, the boys could be a little wild, but they’d be on their best behavior with Cara there. Truth be told, Talen missed both of them and pretty much would jump at the chance to meet up at the wolf headquarters. The work they were doing was important and good training, but his home was kind of quiet without them. Although his kitchen was stocked for once. “I hope you have a lot of food on hand.”

“Plenty.” Terrent relaxed as the fires dissipated around them. “Also, we’re safe. The land around our headquarters is well protected from the fires.”

“Good. Cara was having problems breathing.” Yet another reason the woman should’ve listened to him and gotten out of the line of fire.

“It’s weird, right?” Terrent asked.

“What?”

“Life without the war. Trying to have normal lives when we’ve been fighting for so long. It’s like everybody is trying on new skin that doesn’t quite fit.” The Alpha wolf rubbed his chin, his tone thoughtful. “Although, it’s nice to have peace.”

“Those of us who’ve lived centuries know that peace is temporary. It’s always just temporary, my friend.” Talen shrugged. “It’s not just that. My instincts are flaring and sharp . . . and I don’t know why. Danger is near, and I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

“Living through peace is sometimes the hardest part,” Terrent murmured.

Amen to that. Talen looked down at his sleeping mate. Her dark lashes lay against too-pale skin, and even now a dot of blood marred her upper lip. They had to find some sort of way to allow her the freedom she craved without putting her at risk. “The bigger problem is that when peace ends, it’s often at the price of losing those we love.”