“Good thing,” he agreed, already drowsing, the combination of the long stakeout and spectacular sex catching up with him.

  But before he let sleep claim him, Liam made himself a promise. They’d stop Mrs. E, and then he’d spend the rest of his life making sure Lina never regretted choosing him. She was his mate, his partner, his everything.

  And he was never letting her go.

  Lina woke slowly, drifting up from sleep in layers. She was warm, comfortable, and wrapped around something solid and male that smelled absolutely divine. For a moment, she didn’t open her eyes, just let herself luxuriate in the sensation of being held, of strong arms encircling her, of a steady heartbeat beneath her ear.

  Then memory rushed back. Liam. The stakeout that lasted most of the night and then coming back here and claiming her mate in the wee hours of the morning.

  Her eyes flew open, and she found herself draped across his chest like a blanket, one leg thrown over his thighs, her hand resting possessively over his heart. Deep afternoon light filtered through the window, painting his skin gold. He was still asleep, his face relaxed in a way she’d never seen when he was awake. He looked younger, a little softer, and breathtakingly handsome.

  The mate bond hummed between them, a constant presence in the back of her mind. She could feel him even in sleep. She felt his deep contentment and satisfaction. His emotions echoed her own. It was strange and wonderful and slightly overwhelming all at once.

  Her lynx purred with smug satisfaction. Told you so, her inner cat seemed to say. Told you he was ours.

  Lina couldn’t argue with that assessment. Everything about this felt right. The way their bodies fit together, the way she could sense him through the bond, and the absolute certainty that she was exactly where she belonged told her they were true mates. Never to be parted.

  She’d never been a morning-after person before. In her previous relationships, which had been few and far between, she’d always been the one to slip out early and keep things casual. The thought of lingering in bed with a lover with the possibility of awkward post-sex conversation had always made her uncomfortable.

  But this wasn’t awkward. This was...perfect.

  She shifted slightly, pressing a kiss to his chest, right over his heart. His arms tightened around her in response, even though he didn’t wake. He was protective, even in sleep. Her lynx approved immensely.

  Her practical side tried to remind her about their mission. They still had Mrs. E to deal with. They couldn’t spend all day in bed, no matter how appealing that sounded. But they had a little time, yet. The surveillance was still in place, and Rich and Billy were monitoring the feeds. Mike’s team was maintaining their watch. They’d done everything they could for the moment. A few more minutes of basking wouldn’t hurt anything.

  Liam stirred beneath her, his hand sliding up her spine in a lazy caress. “You’re awake,” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.

  “So are you.” She tilted her head to look up at him.

  His gaze was warm, sleepy, and utterly content. “I was awake for a bit earlier. Didn’t want to disturb you.”

  “Were you watching me sleep? That’s not creepy at all.” She was smiling, unable to help herself.

  “Says the woman currently draped over me like a living blanket.” His hand continued its path up and down her back, sending pleasant shivers through her. “Not that I’m complaining. You can use me as a mattress anytime.”

  “Generous of you.” She stretched against him, enjoying the way his eyes darkened at the movement. “How do you feel?”

  “Like I got hit by a truck. The best possible truck.” He caught her hand and brought it to his lips. “How about you? Any regrets?”

  “Not even one.” And she meant it. Whatever happened with Mrs. E, whatever challenges lay ahead, she wouldn’t regret this. “Though I should probably feel guilty about prioritizing this over the mission.”

  “The mission is ongoing. We’re still on it.” His fingers traced patterns on her shoulder blade. “And being bonded makes us stronger as a team. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.”

  “Your lion is very convenient with its rationalizations.”

  “My lion is very smart.” He tugged her up until she was eye level with him, then kissed her thoroughly. When they finally broke apart, they were both breathing harder. “And my lion says we should stay in this bed for at least another hour.”

  “Just an hour?” She raised an eyebrow. “That’s surprisingly restrained.”

  “I’m being realistic. We do have a witch to catch.” His expression sobered slightly. “Tonight or tomorrow night, she’s going to show. And when she does, we need to be ready.”

  “I know.” Lina settled back against his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart. “But right now, in this moment, I just want to be here. With you. Before everything gets complicated again.”

  “It’s already complicated.” But his arms tightened around her. “And I wouldn’t change a damn thing.”

  They lay there in comfortable silence. She’d spent her entire adult life being independent and self-sufficient, never needing anyone. The idea of being someone’s mate and being bound to another person so completely should have terrified her. Instead, it felt like coming home.

  “We should probably get up,” she said eventually, though she made no move to actually do so.

  “Probably,” Liam agreed, also not moving. “I should check in with Rich and review the surveillance footage. We need to go over the plans for tonight.”

  “We should also eat and shower.” She paused. “Maybe we should shower together, to conserve water.”

  She felt his chest rumble with laughter beneath her. “Very environmentally conscious of you.”

  “I’m a giver.” She laughed and pushed herself up to straddle him, enjoying the immediate flare of heat in his eyes. “But first, since we have a little time...”

  “Yeah?” His hands settled on her hips, thumbs stroking the sensitive skin there.

  “I think we should test this mate bond thing. Make sure it’s working properly.” She leaned down until her lips were almost touching his. “Thoroughly.”

  “I like the way you think, Agent Goodwell.” He pulled her down into a kiss that quickly escalated into something more.

  The mission could wait another hour. Right now, all that mattered was the man beneath her, the bond between them, and the absolute certainty that whatever came next, they’d face it together.

  Chapter 19

  They eventually made it out of bed after what Lina could only describe as a very thorough exploration of the mate bond’s effects on their physical chemistry. Her body was pleasantly sore, her lynx was smugly satisfied, and she couldn’t stop smiling.

  She stood in the shower alone, since their attempt at showering together had resulted in them barely making it out of the bedroom the first time. She let the hot water soothe her muscles while her mind began to turn over more practical matters.

  She was mated to Liam Kinkaid. The bond was permanent, unbreakable, and as fundamental as breathing. Her lynx had no doubts whatsoever. But her human side, the FBI agent who’d built her entire adult life around independence and career had questions that needed answering.

  How exactly were they going to make this work?

  Liam was a Navy SEAL. She was an FBI agent. Both careers demanded travel, irregular hours, dangerous assignments. Neither job was known for being all that accommodating to personal relationships. And now they were mated. The mate bond meant they would need to be together, or at least close enough to maintain the connection without it causing psychological strain.

  The logistics were daunting.

  Would one of them have to give up their career? The thought made her chest tight. She loved her work and was damn good at it. She had sacrificed a lot to get where she was, but Liam was equally committed to the SEAL teams. She couldn’t ask him to walk away from that either. She couldn’t imagine him being happy doing anything else.

  Maybe there was a compromise. They’d have to find a way to make this work. The FBI had positions that worked with military units in liaison roles, joint task forces, and specialized units that handled cases involving both federal jurisdiction and military personnel. Maybe they could arrange something like that for Lina with Liam’s Spec Ops unit. She’d have to talk to Liam about this in detail, but that could probably wait until after their showdown with Mrs. E.

  Besides, Liam’s father, Lester, was in charge of all troops magical and different in the US Armed Forces. That had to mean something. He’d probably be able to open doors neither she nor Liam had thought about yet.

  Her lynx made an impatient sound in the back of her mind, reminding her to stop worrying about details when there were more important things to do. Her mate was here now, and they were on an important hunt. That’s what mattered most.

  The cat had a point. They’d figure it out. They had to. The alternative wasn’t an option either of them would accept. The mate bond wasn’t something you could just ignore or work around. It was fundamental and as essential as air and water.

  Lina turned off the shower and wrapped herself in a towel, her mind still churning. She could hear Liam moving around in the kitchen downstairs, probably starting to prepare lunch. The domestic normalcy of it made her smile, despite her concerns.

  One thing at a time. First, they’d deal with Mrs. E. Then they’d sit down and have the practical conversation about their future together. As partners. As mates.

  Her lynx settled with that decision, content to let the human side handle the logistics as long as the outcome was being with their mate.

  Lina dressed quickly in clean jeans and a soft sweater that was both comfortable and practical, and headed downstairs. The smell of coffee drew her to the kitchen. Liam was once again at the stove, scrambling eggs with one hand and texting with the other.

  “Multitasking,” she observed, sliding her arms around his waist from behind and pressing her cheek against his back.

  “Rich sent an update. No activity overnight at Wardenclyffe. All cameras and sensors still functioning normally.” He set down the phone and covered one of her hands with his free one. “Mike’s team did a perimeter check at dawn. No signs of Mrs. E or any magical disturbances.”

  “So tonight’s the night.” Lina felt a mix of anticipation and apprehension. “Or possibly tomorrow, but my gut says tonight.”

  “Mine too.” Liam plated the eggs and turned in her arms, dropping a kiss on her forehead. “Which means we need to fuel up, gear up, and be ready to move by nightfall.”

  They ate lunch standing at the counter, discussing logistics and tactics. It felt natural and easy, like they’d been doing this for years instead of days. The mate bond hummed contentedly between them, a constant awareness of each other’s presence and emotions.

  After lunch, Liam called Mike for a more detailed check-in. Lina listened to his side of the conversation, noting his easy command presence, and the way his team clearly respected him. She’d always known he was competent—one didn’t become a SEAL without being exceptional—but seeing him in action, coordinating a complex operation, made her appreciate his skills on a whole new level.

  Her lynx purred approval. He was a strong mate and a good leader. He had Alpha tendencies that he’d tamped down a bit in order to serve in the military, but considering he answered to his own father, it probably hadn’t been that hard. Good families stuck together, even when an Alpha male fathered another Alpha. If the son chose to work for his father, he was choosing to follow his father’s lead while learning how to be the best Alpha possible in preparation for a time when he’d go out on his own. Liam was still doing that, and Lina had to admit, Lester Kinkaid was one of the best examples of a competent Alpha male his son could have.

  Liam ended the call and turned to her with a slight frown. “Mike’s bringing in two more team members for tonight. He wants tighter coverage. Also, Uncle Nate is going to oversee the operation personally.”

  “Your legendary Uncle Nathan wants to see what all the fuss is about?” Lina raised an eyebrow.

  “Something like that, but I think he’s probably curious about you, too.” Liam’s expression turned wry. “Apparently, word has gotten around that I’ve been spending a whole lot of time with a certain FBI lynx lady. The shifter grapevine moves at light speed.”

  “How do you feel about that?” Lina asked carefully. She knew for a fact that shifter families like Liam’s could be pretty intense about matings.

  “I feel like I want this mission over so we can have a normal conversation about our future without a demonic threat hanging over our heads.” He pulled her close, resting his chin on top of her head. “But I also know we need to talk about the practical stuff, like how we’re going to make this work with two demanding careers in different organizations.”

  So she wasn’t the only one thinking about it. Lina relaxed slightly into his embrace. “I was wondering about that myself. In the shower. Before the water went cold.”

  “And what did you conclude?”

  “That we’ll figure it out.” She pulled back to look up at him. “Neither of us is going to walk away from what we do, but there have to be options. There have to be some kind of liaison positions, or joint task forces, or something that lets us do the work we love without being separated for months at a time.”

  “My dad might have some ideas.” Liam’s expression was thoughtful. “He’s got a network of shifter operatives across all branches of the military and other organizations. There might be an opportunity for a little cross-agency collaboration.”

  “We should talk to him. After tonight.” Lina managed a smile. “See? We’re already compromising, already planning. We’ll make it work because the alternative isn’t an option.”

  “Damn right it isn’t.” Liam kissed her, slow and thorough, until her knees went weak. When he finally pulled back, his eyes were warm. “You’re stuck with me now, Goodwell. For better or worse.”

  “I can live with that, Kinkaid.”

  They spent the next few hours in focused preparation. Lina reviewed all the surveillance footage from the previous night, looking for any patterns or anomalies they might have missed. Everything looked clear. As the others had said, there were no unexpected visitors and nothing to suggest Mrs. E had been anywhere near the property.

  Liam checked and rechecked their gear, making sure they had everything they’d need for tonight. He’d added backup communication devices and first-aid supplies to his already packed duffel. He worked with methodical efficiency, the soldier in him taking over.

  Around four in the afternoon, Lina’s phone rang. It was Rich.

  “Hey,” she answered. “Everything okay?”

  “All quiet on our end. Billy and I have been trading off on monitor duty. Meg wanted me to ask if you two need anything for tonight.”

  Lina glanced at Liam. “I think we’re good. We’ve got food, gear, and a solid plan.”

  “Good. Because Mrs. P called earlier. She wanted to remind you that tonight’s the optimal time. The full moon peaks around midnight, high tide is at eleven forty-seven PM. If Mrs. E is going to make her move, it’ll be in that window.”

  “We’ll be ready.” Lina made a note of the times. “Thanks for keeping watch, Rich.”

  “Happy to help. That witch tried to kill my mate. I’m invested in seeing her stopped.” His voice hardened slightly. “You two be careful out there.”

  “Will do.” Lina ended the call and relayed the information to Liam.

  He nodded, his expression grim. “Midnight it is, then. We should head to the site by ten, get into position early. I want to be there well before she arrives, not scrambling to catch up.”

  “Agreed.”

  They ate an early dinner together, and Lina found herself watching Liam as he moved around the kitchen, marveling at how comfortable this felt. How right. Twenty-four hours ago, they’d been merely partners on a mission. Now they were mates, bonded for life, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world.

  “What?” Liam asked, catching her staring.

  “Just thinking about how much has changed in such a short time.” She took the plates he handed her, setting them on the table. “A week ago, I didn’t think I’d ever be blessed with a mate. Now I can’t imagine my life without you.”

  His expression softened. “Same. My lion knew you were special from the moment we met, but it took my human side a little longer to catch up.”

  “Stubborn human side,” Lina teased, sitting down.

  “Says the woman who kept insisting on professional boundaries.” But he was smiling as he joined her at the table.

  They ate in comfortable silence, both aware that this might be their last quiet moment before everything escalated. Lina savored the simple domesticity, and the sense of being exactly where she belonged.

  After dinner, they cleaned up together, another small domestic ritual that felt significant in its ordinariness. Then Liam pulled her into the living room, onto the couch, tucking her against his side.

  “We’ve got a couple hours before we need to leave,” he said quietly. “Let’s just...be. For a little while.”

  Lina settled against him, listening to the steady beat of his heart. Through the mate bond, she could feel his emotions. He exuded determination mixed with concern, love mixed with protectiveness, and underneath it all, an absolute certainty that they’d face whatever came next together.

  “I’m glad it’s you,” she said softly. “My mate. My partner. I’m glad it’s you.”

  His arms tightened around her. “There’s no one else I’d rather have at my back. Or in my arms.”

  They stayed like that as the afternoon faded into evening, as the sun sank lower in the sky, as the moment of truth drew closer. Neither spoke much. There wasn’t much left to say. They both knew what was coming and what they’d have to do. Tonight, they would face down evil, and there was no other alternative than to come out the victors.