Wildfire Griffin (Fire & Rescue Shifters: Wildfire Crew #1)(62)

“Yes, he told me. Everything. He kind of had to, what with the thunder-monster and the demon-bear and everything.”

Buck stared at her. Then he turned his attention to the sky.

“One day,” he announced, apparently to the clouds, “I am going to permanently staple a radio to that boy’s forehead. Maybe then he’ll remember to actually report things.”

Edith! She jumped as Rory’s voice crashed through her mind. His concern washed over her like a bucket of ice water dumped on her head. Are you okay? I’m coming, don’t worry!

“You’re the one who’s worrying, not me,” she said out loud. She twitched, struggling to separate his emotions from hers. “And there’s no need for you to be concerned. I’m perfectly fine.”

Buck muttered a curse. “And now she’s talking to thin air too. Since when is telepathy a damn STD?”

Edith made an apologetic gesture at him, mouthing sorry as if she was on an invisible phone. She turned away a little, concentrating on her inner sense of Rory. She could feel him tearing around, throwing on clothes in a mad panic.

I’ll be right there, he said in her head. I can’t believe you left her alone again!

She was pretty sure that last bit had been addressed to Fenrir, not herself. She could feel him in her mind too, a kind of hazy mental picture of drooping ears and shamed tail.

“Don’t yell at Fenrir,” she said, a little annoyed. It wasn’t like she’d left the base again, after all. What could happen to her in the midst of the crew? “And I’m not alone. Buck’s here.”

This seemed to be the opposite of reassuring, as far as Rory was concerned.

“It’s all right,” she added quickly. “He’s not mad.”

“Buck is very mad,” Buck corrected her. “Buck is just very good at suppressing his emotions, for which everyone should be heartily grateful. Is Buck going to continue to have this conversation in the third person and through a third party, or might a certain squad boss deign to put in an appearance sometime before noon?”

“Um.” Edith eyed the chief. “On second thought, Rory, maybe you’d better hurry up.”

Rory turned up in person less than thirty seconds later. He had his shirt on back-to-front, and had forgone his boots entirely. But despite his obvious haste, he looked at her first, not the fuming chief. A small, wondering smile curved his lips.

“Hi,” he said softly.

The mate bond filled her with light.

“Hi,” she said, smiling back.

“Don’t mind me,” Buck said loudly. “I mean, I’m just your boss. No one important.”

Rory ripped himself away from her, straightening into something that wasn’t far off a military salute. “I’m sorry I didn’t report to you earlier, chief.”

Buck gave him a level look. “Didn’t have time?”

Rory colored under his tan. “It was, uh, a very busy night.”

“Well, I hope you found time in your packed schedule for some actual sleep, because it’s going to be a busier day.” Buck shook his grizzled head. “Much as I’m dying to hear this semi-mythical report, it’ll have to wait a few more hours. Come on, lovebirds. All-crew meeting, right now.”

Edith’s heart missed a beat. “You mean…?”

“Yep.” He turned away. “We’ve got a wildfire.”





Chapter 30





Fire crowned the mountain. Liquid rivers of orange light trickled down the sides, dividing and multiplying as the blaze found more fuel. With no rain in the area for weeks, the forest was tinder-dry. The fire perched on the peak like a hungry dragon, eying the houses in the valley below.

And he’d brought his mate here.

His mate. Just thinking the words made his heart fill with awe and pride, even through his worry. He felt the mate bond glowing in his soul, twice as bright as the raging wildfire.

Rory snuck another glance at Edith, unable to stop herself. She was helping the rest of the squad set up the rough camp that would be their home while they fought the blaze. Even at this distance, her excitement was obvious. When she wasn’t carrying equipment, her hands swooped and darted in constant motion, wordlessly speaking her joy.

This was her dream. It was the same as his own—to protect people from the wildest forces in nature. To be the thin line between destruction and civilization.

She was going to march up there, into the very fires of hell, armed with nothing more than hand tools and dogged determination.

And he would lead her.

She’ll be fine, he tried to tell himself. She was far safer on his squad than any other wildfire crew. If the worst came to the worst, he could always snatch her up and fly her to safety. He could protect her.

But still, unease crawled down his spine.

He was so caught up in his inner turmoil, he almost didn’t react in time. Only shifter reflexes saved him. A flicker of motion, a sudden surge from his griffin—and he found himself holding a pinecone.

“That’s the closest I’ve ever got to hitting you.” Buck had his arm half-cocked, another missile ready to launch. “You want to pay attention while I explain how we’re all going to avoid becoming deep fried chicken bits today, or have you got better things to do?”