“Do you know the High Priestess?” Sunny had to ask.

  “We know of her,” her mother admitted. “She is said to be one of the ancient powers. There are those who claim she is an immortal.”

  “Well, Sally seems to think she’s really nice and willing to give us advice on how to help our ancestor.” Sunny figured it was about time to call in Den and introduce him to her parents. She waved over at him. “Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Den.”

  He moved into the frame, sitting beside her on the edge of the bed. Sunny had dragged the side table over and set up her laptop on it for exactly this reason. This way, they could both talk to her folks at the same time.

  Den exchanged greetings with her stunned parents. He was both polite and patient with them, which touched her heart. She knew them so well. She knew that they were having a hard time dealing with all the changes coming so quickly. Den gave them space and seemed to understand their surprise.

  “The thing is,” Den explained to them, “judging by what I saw of the enemy’s abilities, it’s probably not safe for you to return to your property just yet. We have an operative watching the place, and he’s reported some enemy activity on your land since the fall of the ward.”

  Sunny’s father looked grim. “That’s not good. What kind of operative do you have watching the place? Who are your people?”

  “Sir, I’ll answer that because I’m involved with your daughter, but you have to understand these are not questions most shifters will answer.” Den sounded patient, but it was clear he was indulging them because of her. “My birth Clan is Redstone. As you probably know, Redstone Construction has had a crew working in your area for the past few months. I’m not part of that crew, but my sister is mated to the foreman, and my mentor has been overseeing security for them. He’s the one watching your property, and I know no one better skilled at surveillance than him. He’s literally had centuries of experience.”

  “Then, you’re a shifter?” her mother asked.

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m actually a cougar, though that’s another question most shifters will not answer. I’m guessing you two never had much experience with my kind?” Den phrased his question in a friendly manner and gave them a small smile to put them at ease.

  Sunny’s mother was shaking her head. “I’ve heard about shifters, of course, but we don’t mix with Others much. Hardly at all, in fact. We’re not exactly…at the head of our hierarchy. Our kind of magic isn’t really valued by our respective families. We founded our own school for those like us whose magic is expressed through art or other creative pursuits. It’s not popular—or even recognized by the great families—and we hardly have any students, but we keep it going as a safe haven for those like us, who aren’t really good with the combative arts. Our magic is protective. We’re good at talismans, wards, and crafting magical items that help protect or shield their owners or users. The wards on our property are linked to small sculptures and other items you’ll find around the perimeter, as an example. We’ve gotten better at it over the years, but our families didn’t support our training or our desires to do magic through art, so we were slow starters. We have the hang of things now though, and we help others like ourselves, who fly under the radar of the great magical families and their ridiculous expectations.”

  Sunny suddenly understood so much more about her parents. They were kindhearted souls who couldn’t hurt a fly. It was no wonder they had retreated to their ranch and made it a safe place for others like them. They were really good people.

  Den seemed to understand as well. “The Alpha is extending an invitation to you both, to come here, rather than return to Sacramento right away. You would be granted safe passage through Pack lands and given a place to stay, free of charge. Sunny is already bound to this Pack because of her relation to the Alpha female of the overall Pack and the Alpha female of the sub-group that exists within the larger Pack.” Den made a face and shook his head. “The structure of this group is a little complicated, but they’re all good people, sworn to the Light. As long as you’re on the right side of the old struggle between good and evil, you’ll be safe here.”

  “We are, of course,” her father answered. “I don’t like letting evil run amok at our home, but I don’t see a way we could oust them by ourselves. We don’t have any offensive magic.” He was frowning as he thought things through. “Marilisa and I need to talk this over, but I’m leaning toward taking the Alpha up on his offer. For one thing, I want to make sure Sunny is okay. I need to see you in person, sweetheart,” he said, directly to Sunny. “If we had known this was going to happen, we never would’ve left you on your own. I hope you believe that.”

  “Of course, Dad. I know that.”

  Sunny suspected he was feeling guilty about having left her at home on her own, despite the fact that she had urged them to go. They hadn’t left her side since the accident. They deserved a little time away. Or so she’d thought.

  “We’re about to have dinner,” Den told them. “I think it’s going to be a bit of a celebration to welcome Sunny to the Pack, so it should go on for a few hours. How about we call back after? Say, about eleven? I know the Alpha was working the phones when we came up here to make this call. By that time, he should have plans in place, and perhaps you’ll have made your decision.”

  Sunny’s parents were nodding. “That sounds fair. Thank you, Den. I’d like to meet you in person as well,” her father said, his tone not entirely friendly.

  He both sounded and looked suspicious when he glanced back and forth between Sunny and Den. Sunny tried not to squirm. Her father had given almost every one of her boyfriends a hard time when she was growing up and starting to date.

  “I look forward to it, sir,” Den replied, perfectly polite. “We’ll call you back at eleven then.” Den got up and left Sunny to say goodbye to her parents.

  Her mother had a few more questions about her safety and if she was sure about all this, but Sunny reassured her as best she could. She hoped they would come to Wyoming. It would be so much easier to explain all of this in person, where they could meet the people involved and judge for themselves. She said as much to them, and they seemed to take it well. They said goodbye with the promise to talk later, and then, the connection closed.

  Sunny sighed heavily and sat back. She closed the laptop but left it where it was. They would need it again in a few hours.

  “That went well,” Den said, standing by the foot of the bed, watching her.

  “Yeah,” she agreed. “I think it went as well as it could. I also think they’re probably going to take Jason up on his offer to come out here.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “I can’t believe they knew about magic all this time and never discussed it with me.” Sunny looked disgruntled, and Den came back to sit beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. “They didn’t lie to me, per se, but it still feels a little bit like a betrayal. I mean, they knew since I was a little kid that I could make flowers grow and bloom, but all they did was tell me not to tell the other kids in school about it. They made me hide my ability, which makes total sense, considering it’s not normal for a six-year-old to be making flowers bloom out of season, but they could’ve said something, you know?”

  “It’s obvious to me that they love you and thought they were doing what was best for you. I’ll be interested to learn the extent and nature of their magic. I know a little bit about the way human mage schools are set up, but I will put out some feelers and get more information. It sounds to me like their families lean more toward combat mages, which is a bit worrying, to be honest.” Den thought hard about what her parents had said. “It sounds like their magic comes through their art, somehow, though I’ve never heard of that before.”

  “They do a lot of commission work,” Sunny told him. “They’re not really famous or anything, but they have a very select clientele that pays pretty well for the work they produce. And from time to time, they’ll have guests staying at the ranch, some of them long-term. Students, they called them, but usually, their art was in different forms. There was one guy who sculpted out of stone. He made the most beautiful things but, like, super quick. He’d go into the barn—they’d set one of the smaller outbuildings aside just for him—with a big boulder, and the next day, he’d show off some new creation that was incredibly detailed. I always wondered how he managed to do all that work in just one day. Even if he worked through the night, it didn’t seem possible, but I was warned not to ask questions, and I was little, so I did as I was told.” Sunny shook her head. “They weren’t mean about it, and after a month or two, I never saw him again.”

  “What happened to his sculptures?” Den wondered if the magic went into their creation or were part of the artistic works, themselves. Was the power in the creating of it or in the object?

  “Someone always came for them. Different people. I did see one in front of someone’s house years later. It stood at the base of their front steps.” Sunny sounded speculative. “It was facing outward almost like it was protecting the house or something.”

  “I wonder. Maybe it was.” Den rubbed her upper arm in a soothing motion. “Do you remember any other students?”

  “Yeah, there was this one lady. Her name was Miriam. She made jewelry. Gorgeous handcrafted stuff, using gold wire and precious stones. It was absolutely stunning and so glittery. I was fascinated by it when I was little. She gave me a necklace before she left, and I wore it only for special occasions. From what I understand, her pieces go for thousands. She’s not exactly a household name, but she’s apparently well known in certain circles. At least, that’s what my mother always said.” Sunny shook her head once more and sighed. “We’d better go down to dinner before Sally sends a search party after us.”

  “Just prepare yourself,” Den warned with a wry chuckle. “It’s not just dinner. It’s a party. And if there’s one thing shifters know how to do, it’s throw a party. And you are the guest of honor. I suspect this is your Welcome to the Pack party.”

  “It is?” Sunny looked both apprehensive and joyful. She jumped up from the side of the bed and raced to her bag. “I’ve got to change! What am I going to wear?”

  Den watched her rummage through her bag, thoroughly amused. She was gorgeous no matter what she wore, but this little bit of feminine vanity made him want to hug her tight and never let go. His inner cat was urging him on. He was going to have to talk to her about this soon. She had to realize how special she was to him, and his inner fur ball wanted some kind of commitment. So did his human side. He didn’t want to go much longer without her knowing how important she was to him.

  But tonight, the party was in her honor. He wanted her to enjoy it and enjoy this time with her newfound family. They would have another party—probably more than one—to celebrate their mating, if she accepted him.

  Sunny got ready in a remarkably short period of time. She had a slinky black tunic dress in some kind of stretchy knit fabric that made her look like a million bucks. Dressed up with a brightly patterned scarf and a beautiful pendant around her neck, she was ready to party.

  Den was proud to walk down the staircase with her on his arm. She really was moving a lot better than she had been, but she still needed a little extra care on the steps. Whatever Maria had done had worked wonders. The little lines of pain that had shown around her mouth since they’d first met were now gone, as if they had never been. He hoped and prayed that Maria could work some more of her healing magic and bring about a full recovery for Sunny.

  He knew she wanted to dance again, and he wanted that for her. Movement and dance had been such a big part of her life, and he wanted that back so she could feel fulfilled. Even if she wanted to dance professionally again, he wouldn’t deter her from it. Whatever she wanted, whatever made her feel fulfilled and whole, that’s what he wanted for her. That’s what being a mate—a true mate—was all about.

  They entered the common room of the Pack house, and there were cheers and people waiting to welcome Sunny to the Pack. Jason made a little speech of official acceptance into the Pack and his family, and then, the women grabbed Sunny to introduce her around.

  A buffet dinner had been set up, but this was the mixer part of the evening. They’d eat in a bit, then there might be music and dancing after. The party would go on for hours, and Den prepared to settle in for a night of watching his mate enjoy herself and her new family.

  Den grabbed a beer and stood back, observing the proceedings. Tonight was Sunny’s night to shine. To meet her extended Pack family and be made a fuss over by them all. He would watch over her. If she needed him, he’d be here for her, but otherwise, he was hanging back, enjoying her enjoyment.

  “She’s a very nice woman, your Sunny,” Arlo commented, sidling up next to Den, a beer in his hand as well. “You did good bringing her here. She doesn’t know much about what she is or how the real world works, but her sister and cousin did a good job telling her a few things earlier today.”

  “Thanks for guarding them while they were out in the woods,” Den said. He knew Arlo from his days in the service and had always respected both the man and his skills.

  “My pleasure,” Arlo acknowledged. “I’ve got a soft spot for Sally and Maria. They’ve been really great additions to our Pack. They make us stronger, and they ground Jason and Jesse. It’s good to have stability at the top of the hierarchy.”

  “I know what you mean. The Redstone brothers were always solid guys, but the Clan has only gotten stronger with the addition of their mates. Those ladies really add something to the Clan,” Den agreed.

  “You still giving thought to leaving Redstone and joining the Wraiths?” Arlo asked.

  Den wasn’t sure how to answer. “I was. I still am, I guess. The thing is…”

  “Sunny,” Arlo said with finality. “I thought so. Congratulations, my friend. Does she know yet?” Arlo was grinning as he looked from where Sunny stood with the other women to Den and back again.

  “Not yet,” Den admitted, knowing some of his nerves about that were showing. “Jason and Jesse know, but nobody else. Except you now. I wanted to give her time to get used to the idea of us, but my inner wildcat wants to tell her immediately and doesn’t understand why we’re waiting to claim her.”

  “Tell her soon, and we can have another party here before you go back to tell your Redstone family,” Arlo mused. “That’s one thing about being part of this Pack. I really enjoy all the celebrations we’ve been having. It makes the Pack stronger and grounds those of us who haven’t yet found our mates.”

  “Honestly, I never expected to find a mate, much less a woman like Sunny. I’ve had to change my mind about fate. If it’s meant to be, it just happens, and all our thinking about it isn’t going to change it. I believe there’s someone out there for every one of us. We just have to be in the right place at the right time to find her,” Den told his friend.

  “I don’t know. Some of us have been waiting an awful long time,” Arlo replied, looking around at the happy people in the room. “Still, it’s good to see others keeping our kind going strong. Being a wolf, it’s all about the Pack for us. Is it that way for you?”

  “To some extent. I mean, I was happy for my sister when she found her mate. Our mother was pressuring all of us about giving her grandchildren.” Arlo guffawed at Den’s disgusted tone.

  Den laughed along with him, realizing only as he said the words that he didn’t dislike the idea of having children as much as he had before. In fact, he loved the idea…if Sunny was their mom. But keeping in mind what he’d just said about fate, he would wait and see what happened. First, he had to get Sunny to agree to be his. After that, they could talk about children and whatever else life together might bring.

  Den was gratified when Sunny sought him out as dinner was served. They sat next to each other at the table with the Alpha pairs. Conversation flowed, and they had a lovely meal before the music started up and most of the crowd started dancing.

  Den waited for a slow song before asking Sunny to join him on the dance floor. It was a strategic move that ended with them dancing close for song after song, regardless of what the tempo of the next songs turned out to be. They were in their own little world, holding each other close and just enjoying the moment.

  A little before eleven, Den and Sunny made their excuses and went upstairs to call her parents back. Den had received details of what Jason had arranged to get Sunny’s folks to Wyoming and would be able to pass them on once her parents indicated they would accept Jason’s invitation.

  Sunny was relieved that her parents would be coming to Wyoming. She hadn’t felt right about letting them go home to possible danger. This way, they could all be together, and her folks could meet her sister and cousin and the whole Pack. They’d made her feel so welcome tonight. She couldn’t imagine a nicer party than the one she’d just enjoyed.

  She chatted with her mother for a bit, telling her about the party and how nice everyone had been. Den gave her dad the flight details that Jason had set up. He also vouched personally for the pilot, intimating that they were old military colleagues and fellow cat shifters, though he claimed the pilot was a jaguar, not a mountain lion. He also cautioned them both against asking too many questions since most shifters wouldn’t take kindly to too much curiosity about themselves.

  He was gentle with them and kind. Sunny liked the way Den talked with her parents, as if they were already old and trusted friends. Her mother liked Den already, Sunny could tell. Her dad was thawing but holding a bit in reserve, which was typical of him. Sunny wanted them to get to know Den. They would love him as much as she did.

  Wait. She stopped herself in wonder at her own thoughts. Love?

  Sunny thought about that for a moment while Den passed on more details to her father for their flight. Did she love him? It didn’t seem possible, but there was a definite section of her heart that already had his name on it. He’d been so good to her. So helpful and kind. He’d saved her life and brought her to her blood kin. He’d given her the most incredible ecstasy she’d ever experienced. He’d been just…great. Superlative in every way.