Chapter 30

They walked down the slope into the trees. Deva was good with being out of sight before shifting.

“Your Alliance has many places.”

She nodded. “I don’t know the ins and outs of that part of it, but I guess they do have many resources.”

“It is I that has to find a safe place for people I help.”

She hadn’t thought of that part of what he did. “You’re good at it. I know you’ve gotten a few over for Deacon and Gia’s clan.”

“Ah, the tall fox.” He nodded. “There are more. My man tells me this. We have to go slow, and no make the authorities know what we do.”

“There’s more to come over?”

“Many. Not just the tall fox peoples, but many more kinds.”

She touched his arm so he’d stop and look at her. “That’s amazing. You know what you do is amazing, right?”

He searched her face. “I do what needs to be.” He shrugged. “I do it before deal with king and will no stop until all are free.”

Deva sucked in a breath slowly. “We’ve all—those working for the Alliance teams, have said the same, but we had no idea it was so far spread…”

“You will still do it?”

She gave him a surprised look. “Oh, yeah. I’m in it until it’s done.” She nodded. “What I meant was we have all the resources available to us, and you—and your men, you’ve been doing it on your own. It’s amazing.”

He gave her a lopsided grin. “I like this amazing word when it come from you.” He reached and took her hand and started walking. “I no do any of it to be amazing; I do it for it be the right thing.”

“I know. That’s the part that makes you amazing, Taggart.” Her heart jerked in her chest. She may not be sure what the next steps were to the whole mating process, but she did know that Taggart was a very honorable man. He was a very brave man as well—that part had her wary because she knew he didn’t stop to think about the consequences when he jumped into things.

“You think very deep.”

She glanced to see he was watching her. “Deep thoughts are my thing.”

He stopped walking pulled the run pack over his head and lowered it to the ground. “I think you are my thing.” He winked at her and then motioned to the large tree beside her. “You have privacy. I wait here.”

He even thought about that. “Thanks.” She went over behind it. Once there, she leaned back against it and stared at the space in front of her. Her cat stirred, reminding her that she was here to go for a run. They both needed one. Pulling her run pack over her head, she made fast work of stripping down.

Picking up the pack, she put it over her head and arm through it. Adjusting how it would be once she shifted, she knelt down. A run would help to burn off the never-ending thoughts. Blowing out a breath, she dropped her head down and let her animal take over.

~

Deva jumped over the rock and then took a sharp turn to avoid colliding with Taggart. He was faster than her, but her more petite body allowed her to maneuver in a way he couldn’t. It had been at least six months since she’d run with her own clan, and this was so much better than going for a run with animals that couldn’t do what she could. The only one on the team that she didn’t mind running with was Gia. The others were powerhouses or masters of speed that left her feeling out of place. Being with Taggart reminded her of the joy of racing through the trees and bounding over obstacles.

She skid to a halt when he came rushing out of the trees a few feet in front of her. The best part was that he wasn’t holding back and giving her the lead. She looked ahead and saw a tree that had fallen but was leaning on another that had stopped it from reaching the ground. Giving her animal the all-go, she knew she could do this—had done it many times in her adult life. She ran up the tree, not even having to hesitate for footing. When she saw the fur beneath her, she stretched her stride and used her powerful back legs to jump. Hitting the ground was nothing. Her body was built to absorb the impact. With a twist, she spun just before she hit the ground. Taggart slid sideways and landed on his side.

Getting to his feet, he shook his head and then stood there staring her down. She could see the humor in his animal’s eyes and knew she had succeeded in surprising him. He looked over his shoulder and then back to her. Issuing a blunt bark, he turned his body. Basically, it equated to ‘they had to go back.’ He was right. There were many others who wanted to go stretch their animal side.

With a soft bark, she took off in the direction they had come. The pace back wasn’t as rushed, she didn’t want to be half-starved when they got back, but she also wanted just a few more moments to think. Taggart was honorable and brave; that part wasn’t a question in her mind. The one that she kept avoiding seriously thinking about was practically a flashing neon sign right now. Would Taggart stop doing what he did? After Tomas and his associates were dealt with—and any ambassadors that needed it, were removed—would he stop continent hopping and taking all the risks? How did she find out the answer to this? She may not have been all dreamy and wanting of the happily-ever-mated life, but if she was going there, she wanted the mate to live a long life with her. Having witnessed how hollow a person was that lost their mate, she knew she didn’t want to go there.

Scenting her clothes, she turned and headed to the tree they’d started at. She was going to have to talk to him. After they got everyone back to their assigned location—before the next op or set up of one, she needed to find the time to talk to him and see if, despite being happy with finding his mate, did he want to change his life to accommodate one.

Dressing quickly, she picked up her run pack and stepped around the tree. He stood there, his back to her, looking into the trees. “That was fun.”

He turned around a playful look in his eyes. “You are a tricky one.” He smiled. “My mate is no just a beauty. She is a speedy cat.”

Deva laughed. “I don’t know about that. I don’t feel very speedy when I run against Jesse or Asher.”

He shrugged. “You have to outthink the fast one.” He nodded. “Is easy when you find the secret to their—ah, style, I think is word.” He held out his hand.

Taking it, she glanced at him. “You’re saying you can outrun one of the faster animals.”

“Maybe no outrun, but outthink, ja.”

“Kinda like what I did with that fallen tree?”

“Ja.” He smiled at her. “Kinda like that.” He motioned to the hill. “House is other side.”

She nodded. “Do you think we have time to eat before we go get the other vehicles?”

“We eat. I cook some food for you.”

“You cook?” She grinned. “I’m good with a man that cooks.”

“For you, my beauty Deva, I do what you need me to.” He winked at her. He stopped quickly and gently jerked her hand, so she back stepped and was facing him. “You have deep thought and questions.”

She took a deep breath and then nodded. “I do. How did you know?”

“I see questions in your eyes when you see me. You ask, and I try to answer.” He searched her face.

Her mind went blank. It was like she was in grade school all over again. Knowing the answer until the teacher called your name unexpectedly. “Uh—I know this isn’t the most convenient time to meet a mate…”

“No, is no best time.” He cocked his head to the side. “I no think there is a best time in this.”

“It’s just with everything going on right now…”

“I have learned a thing.” He paused and looked at her for a moment. “No matter what is, ah, goings on—” He nodded. “I see so much bad and ugly…”

“I know.” Ghosts were in his eyes when he said it. She placed her hand on his chest, just wanting to offer a bit of comfort.

He put his hand over hers. “What I learn is no matter how ugly a time is, there is always beauty.” She must have given away her confusion because his mouth moved to grin for a second. “This time I go to help village that they-they burn?” He looked at her to make sure she understood. She nodded. “Is all black and smoking—” He shook his head, a look of disgust on his face. “—is no thing left. No one.” He inhaled slowly. “Then I turn to go and find the path of where they go, and I see it.” His eyes rounded. “In all the sad of black and smoke is flower. Just one perfect red flower still grows in all the ugly.” He watched her for a moment. “Is how life is. You stop to look for beauty when is bad. You understand?”

She blinked because she wanted to cry and didn’t know if it was because of what he’d just described or if it was his outlook that she had never stopped to think about. “I do.”

“Good.” He gave her a small smile. “We need to be back, I think.” He nodded. “So, I no try to rush you more.” He patted her hand on his chest and then sucked in a breath slowly. “Ja, we must be back now.” He winked at her and then stepped back and took her hand again.

Deva walked beside him, looking more at him than at the ground in front of her. Her animal was quiet, and she was sure she was trying to process what he’d said as well. “Thank you.” She said quietly.

He gave her a curious look.

“For sharing things you do with me. About what you’ve seen or done.”

“I tell you all when there is time we can stop.” He glanced at her briefly. “Is no time now. I know this no fair for us, but is how life goes.”

She smiled. “It is.” She stopped at the top of the hill. “But that’s okay. We got everyone off the island, and we’re going to get them back to a safe place, and then we’ll plan for the next part to save our kind.” She shrugged. “There’s time to get to know each other.”

“There is.” He nodded. “Maybe no as fast as I like.” He grinned. “I learn to wait.” He frowned. “I no have word for that.”

“Patient. You’ll be patient.”

He looked at her for a moment and then nodded. “If that is what you need, my Deva, I be it.”

She raised an eyebrow at him.

“What is this?” He started walking again. “You no believe me? You see, I do it.” He smiled at her and tugged her hand so she slid down the slope. When they reached the bottom, he tugged her hand again, and she was right in front of him. “You will see.” He kissed her mouth briefly and then released her hand. “I go cook us foods now.” Turning, he started walking to the house.

Calla was standing a few feet away. “You look happy.”

Deva gave her a quick look and then watched Taggart go into the house. “He’s —” She waved her hand around. “Not like anyone I’ve ever met.”

“That is a good thing.” Calla smiled at her. “Think about the men you’ve met.”

Deva blinked. “I see your point.”

“Someday, I’m going to find my mate, and he’s going to be strong inside but gentle and smart.” She rolled her eyes. “Not one of those huge brutes without a thought in their head.”

“I didn’t know you were looking?”

Calla shrugged. “I’m not really. No one dreams about it now, not with how things are and so many shifters gone.” She turned around and looked at the house. “But if he happens to fall at my feet, I’m not going to complain.”

“I’m still processing. We come from two completely different lifestyles.” She rolled her eyes. “And I don’t mean that in a snobby way—I mean he’s had to live with fear every second of his life. Me? The scariest thing I’ve experienced before these ops was breaking up a bar fight.”

“I get it.” She looked at the house again and then smiled. “My run partners. Finally.”

Deva turned to see Asher and Journee walking toward them.

“I’ll talk to you later.” Calla started walking up the hill.

Deva watched the couple come in her direction. They looked so happy. Even with everything going on, they found happiness. Amari and Tripp came down the hill. She glanced at them to see them smiling at each other.

Blowing out a breath, she headed in the direction of the house. Look for the beauty, she thought. If it were only that easy.