Flawless Evans, Gabrielle (ebook smartphone .txt) 📖

The gesture might have been considered rude to some, but Kieran shrugged it off. If there was one thing he’d learned since joining the coven, it was that everyone there had a story.

“Hello,” Lynk said quietly, offering a trembling hand.

Xander took the hand gently, clasping it in both massive paws as he smiled reassuringly. “It’s nice to meet you, Lynk. My mate, Braxton, speaks very highly of you.” He spoke quietly and held Lynk’s hand for only a moment before releasing it and giving Kieran a nod, respecting the unwritten boundaries of a mated pair.

“Braxton is your mate?” Lynk’s eyes lit up, and the corners of his lips turned up in a half smile. “I met him and Keeton before the meeting last night. They were trying to talk Stavion into building an indoor pool. They’re an interesting pair.” Xander chuckled and shook his head. “Separately, they’re a handful. Together, they’re trouble with a capital T. They’ve already corrupted Malakai, and I have a feeling they’ll get Jory and his friends before long. God help us all.”

Happy looked good on Lynk, and Kieran loved the way his brown eyes sparkled. From what he’d witnessed, his mate mostly kept to himself, but maybe some new friends were just what he needed to draw him out of his shell. “Maybe Braxton could take Lynk into town 40 Gabrielle

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when we get back. He needs some new clothes, a coat, and a decent pair of snow boots before winter sets in.” Lynk opened his mouth to argue, but Xander spoke before he could get a word out. “That’s more Keeton’s area, but I know Braxton wouldn’t miss an opportunity to go into town.” Lynk was starting to shake, obviously uncomfortable. Kieran didn’t want to sound like an asshole, nor did he want to embarrass his mate by pointing out his edginess, but he needed to do something before Lynk had a panic attack.

Luckily, Xander came to the rescue, doing it with tact and subtly.

“I think Aslan said something about Wren outgrowing most of the clothes they have for him. I think he’s a little nervous about going into town alone, and Torren can’t take time away from The Council right now.”

Hearing not only a familiar name, but someone he apparently considered a friend, Lynk relaxed and the trembling subsided. Kieran had an idea a lot of it had to do with Wren as well. He didn’t know a single person who could resist the raven-haired pixie. The little boy could charm the birds right from the trees with only a smile.

“Torren would want me to look after his mate,” Lynk said after a quiet moment. “If Braxton could drive, I’d be happy to help Aslan and Wren. If that’s okay,” he added, looking up at Kieran through his eyelashes.

“I know Aslan would appreciate the help.” Kieran wound his arm around Lynk’s waist and dipped his head at Xander in gratitude for his intervention. “Is Torren here?”

“In the kitchen watching Jory and Wren devour waffles.” Varik jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “I never thought I’d meet anyone who loves waffles as much as Jory, but I think Wren has him beat.” Kieran laughed and gave Lynk a little push between his shoulder blades. “You haven’t eaten anything since last night. Go get some waffles before they’re gone. I’ll be there in a minute.” Flawless 41

Lynk looked startled but bobbed his head and hurried off to find his brother, leaving Kieran alone with the other men. “I thought you were an elder now,” he said to Xander. “How did you get roped into going on this little adventure?”

“Nope.” Xander shook his head. “I turned them down. I have no desire to be in charge of anything. I was sworn in as an Enforcer about an hour ago.”

“And you, Alpha Thatcher?” Kieran asked Ridley, who was still perched on the sofa, staring off into space. “I know Xander is more alpha by proxy, but you have an entire pack to govern.” Maybe it wasn’t his place to ask, but that wasn’t going to stop him. “Surely your whole pack didn’t consent to move to Haven, so why are you here?”

“As of an hour ago, it’s Enforcer Thatcher.” He shifted around to look at Kieran. “It’s only me, my former beta, and two other Enforcers,” Ridley answered calmly, though even Kieran could admit that his questioning had been a bit hostile. “The Trinity Pack already has a new alpha, a man I’d trust with my life. They’ll be safe and well governed. My reasons for being here are my own, however. As for the other members of my former pack and why they’re here, you’ll have to ask them.”

“Fair enough.” Kieran was still curious but understood he wouldn’t get more from the shifter just then, so he returned his attention to Xander. “I plan to accompany my mate to Snake River.”

“And you’d prefer that I didn’t.” Xander didn’t appear angry. He actually sounded like he’d been expecting the announcement. “I get it, and I hope that you’ll eventually come to trust me. I have a mate who I would do anything for, though, so I know where you’re coming from. I’ll talk to Stavion.” Then he strode away, apparently in search of the coven leader.

“He’s a good guy,” Varik chastised Kieran. “You don’t have to be such an insufferable prick.”

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Kieran respected the friendship Varik had with Xander, but the vampire didn’t have a mate of his own, couldn’t understand the lengths Kieran would go to in order to protect Lynk. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

The kicker was that he actually liked Xander. It was just his status as a Moonlighter that was a little harder to reconcile. Since it was looking like the man was going to be a permanent fixture around Haven, Kieran supposed he’d have plenty of time to get to know