He met her gaze, no hesitation left. “Yeah, Lina. We are. No question about it.”

  Something hard and tight inside her seemed to let go then. She leaned into him again, resting her head against his shoulder while his hand traced slow, comforting circles along her back.

  “Tomorrow, we’ll have to deal with the debrief, and probably meet with half a dozen people,” she said softly. “But for the rest of tonight, I just want to remember that we survived. That we stopped her. I just want to be with you and forget everything else.”

  “Then that’s what we’ll do,” he promised.

  They stayed in each other’s arms a little longer, letting the warmth of their embrace soothe what battle had left behind. When they finally stepped out of the shower and toweled off, everything felt quieter, as if the world itself had exhaled and found peace.

  Later, as they sat side by side on the bed, Liam laced his fingers through hers. “Whatever comes next,” he said, “we face it together. That’s how this works now.”

  Lina squeezed his hand, eyes glinting with tired affection. “Together,” she echoed.

  And when she leaned her head on his shoulder, he knew it wasn’t just the battle that had ended tonight. It was the long, lonely part of both their lives. They had each other now, and mates were forever.

  Chapter 24

  The soft cotton sheets felt like heaven after the long night. Liam stretched out beside her, one arm behind his head, the other draped lightly over Lina’s waist.

  For a while, neither of them spoke. Then Lina turned her head toward him, her voice low and a little rough from fatigue.

  “So, your family’s going to make a big deal out of our mating, huh?”

  Liam cracked one eye open, a slow grin spreading across his face. “The mating party?”

  She smiled faintly. “Yeah, that. I’ve heard about Kinkaid Clan celebrations. I can only imagine what they’ll do when they find out their golden boy has found his mate.”

  He chuckled softly. “There’ll definitely be a party. Or two. Or five.”

  Her laugh was tired, but genuine. “Of course there will be. And I’m guessing your mother, cousins, uncles, and assorted Clan members will all want to attend.”

  “Pretty much,” he admitted. “It’s tradition. Big bonfire, lots of food, music, dancing. You’ll like it. I promise. It’s not all pomp and ceremony like it is in some Clans. For us, it’s just the family getting together to celebrate.”

  Lina’s gaze softened. “Family,” she repeated, almost to herself. Then, quieter, “I don’t really have anyone to invite. My parents are gone, and I haven’t been close to anyone else in a long time. It’s just me.”

  Liam rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow so he could see her better. The way she said it, so matter-of-fact but tinged with quiet sorrow, twisted something in his chest. He reached out, brushing a lock of hair from her face.

  “Don’t worry about that, sweetheart,” he said gently. “I’ve got enough family for both of us. And a lot of them already love you, whether they’ve said it or not.”

  She blinked, surprised. “They do?”

  He nodded. “Meg and Rich have been rooting for us since they first met you. Sam’s been impressed with you from the start, and Uncle Nate told me tonight that you’re the kind of woman who could keep me in line, which, coming from him, is the highest praise possible.”

  That earned him a small smile. “He said that?”

  “More or less,” he said with a shrug. “The point is, you’re perfect for me, and they already see it, Lina. The rest of my family is going to love having you join the Clan.”

  She stared at him for a moment, her expression softening until her eyes shimmered in the low light. “You really think so?”

  He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. “I know so.”

  Lina nestled closer, resting her head against his chest, the steady thump of his heart grounding her in the quiet aftermath of everything they’d survived.

  “I don’t know what I did to deserve you,” she murmured.

  Liam tightened his arm around her, his voice a low rumble against her hair. “Pretty sure I’m the one who got lucky, sweetheart.”

  Lina felt completely safe and loved, in a way she hadn’t experienced in a very long time. She felt like she was home. From now on, wherever Liam was, that was her home.

  Tomorrow would bring logistics, debriefings, and whatever came next. But for what remained of this night, there was only peace, the man beside her, and the promise of a future neither of them had dared hope for.

  *

  The first blush of dawn crept through the curtains, gilding the edges of everything it touched—the rumpled sheets, the line of Liam’s shoulder, the quiet strength in his profile as he stirred beside her.

  Lina watched him for a long moment, her heart full to bursting. He looked so peaceful now, the tension of the past days washed away in the soft light. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt this safe and loved.

  When his eyes opened, that molten gold gaze found her instantly, and his slow smile made her chest tighten.

  “I didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispered.

  “You didn’t,” he murmured, voice still rough with sleep. “Though I could feel you watching me.”

  Caught, she smiled faintly. “Guess I got distracted.”

  “Good,” he said simply, his hand sliding up to trace the curve of her shoulder. “I like being your distraction.”

  His fingers brushed over her skin, gentle and reverent, sending warmth through her in slow, widening circles. There was no urgency between them, no edge of battle left. Just the quiet pull of something deeper.

  Lina reached up to touch his face, her palm fitting perfectly against the roughness of his jaw. “I still really can’t believe this is real. That you’re real.”

  He leaned into her touch, eyes darkening with emotion. “It’s real, Lina. Every bit of it.”

  When he kissed her, it was soft at first. It was the kind of kiss that said everything words couldn’t. She melted into him, the world narrowing to warmth and breath.

  His hands mapped the lines of her back, each touch a reassurance that they were alive, whole, and together. She answered in kind, her fingers tracing old scars, solid muscles, and feeling the strength in him that had carried them both through fire and fear.

  The moment deepened, became something wordless and elemental. Love, gratitude, and belonging all tangled together in a rhythm as natural as breathing.

  He kissed his way over her body, lingering on the soft parts that made her squirm with yearning. His tongue played with her nipples, as did his fingers, and when he moved lower, she ran her hands over his hair, not sure if she wanted to push him away because the feelings were too intense or draw him closer to make her come harder than she ever had before.

  The latter scenario won out, and she screamed his name as she came against his mouth and exceptionally talented tongue. Not giving her too much time to recover, he built her back up until she was desperate for him again, and when he joined with her for the first time that night, he was on top, their position nothing novel, but altogether satisfying. He pumped into her, bringing her to orgasm once more before joining her in a spectacular release that had them both groaning in pleasure.

  The rumble of his lion sounded through his chest, and she thought she’d never heard or felt anything sexier in her life. How had she been so blessed as to have this amazing man as her mate? She sent up a quick thank you to the Mother of All for bringing Liam into her life and giving them the chance to discover what could be between them.

  She didn’t know what the immediate future would hold. They hadn’t talked about how they’d make their relationship work in detail yet, but she knew they would do their best to be together and arrange things so that they could both be happy with their work, their location and their love for each other.

  The second time they came together, she climbed on top to show him how much she enjoyed his body and his love. He really was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen in either of his forms.

  “If I didn’t say it before,” she whispered against his chest as she licked her way up to his jaw, “my cat thought your cat was incredible. We wanted to rub up against you and see if your mane was as soft and silky as it looked.”

  The rumble that went through his chest sounded like pure, feline satisfaction. “You’re welcome to do so anytime, sweetheart.” The smile on his face was devilish when she straightened a little to meet his gaze.

  “I bet you say that to all the girls,” she teased, feeling a little pang of jealousy at the thought of all those other women who’d enjoyed his body in the past. There would be none in the future, she knew, because first, he was her mate, and mates never strayed, but second, her lynx would claw the shit out of any female who dared go too close to her mate.

  “No, Lina. Only you. My cat never wanted to pounce and claim any other woman but you, so he never allowed anyone else to touch him. Only you, my love,” he promised, and the love she read in his heartfelt gaze made her melt.

  And then, she purred. In her human form, she actually purred, surprising herself as his smile grew. If she hadn’t known before that he was her mate, there was the actual proof. Among feline shifters, only true love could make a mate purr in their human form. The answering rumble of a deep bass purr from his chest made her eyes widen, then her smile bloomed as understanding dawned.

  They made each other purr. A first in her lifetime and something she would never ever forget or tire of hearing. She leaned forward and matched her lips to his.

  “I love you with all my heart, Liam,” she whispered against his mouth.

  “Love you too, Lina, my beautiful wildcat.”

  They kissed deep and hard for a long, long time before she joined her body to his and rode him into the oblivion of bliss that they could only find with each other.

  *

  When the full strong sunlight of morning finally spilled across them, Lina lay with her head on his chest, their fingers still twined together. The silence that followed wasn’t empty. It was full of everything they’d just shared.

  Liam brushed his thumb over her knuckles. “If I’d known surviving this mission meant finding you…”

  She smiled against his skin. “You would’ve volunteered to work with me sooner?”

  His laugh rumbled low and warm beneath her ear. “Something like that.”

  For a while, they just breathed together, letting the morning light grow around them. Eventually, duty would call, and they’d have to face the world again. They had to answer questions about their actions the night before, but for now, she allowed herself this rare, stolen peace.

  This was what home felt like. Not a place, but a person. And she knew, deep down, that no matter what came next, they’d face it side by side.

  After a while, she sighed softly. “We should probably get up.”

  Liam made a low sound in response, somewhere between a hum and a protest. “Five more minutes.”

  She smiled. “You said that half an hour ago.”

  He cracked one eye open, a lazy grin tugging at his lips. “Did I? I must’ve been distracted.”

  “By what?” she teased, propping herself up on one elbow.

  He reached out, catching a stray curl that had escaped her messy braid, and wound it gently around his finger. “By you, obviously.”

  Her laugh was quiet, but it felt good. Healing. “Smooth, real smooth.”

  “I try,” he said, eyes glinting. Then, more seriously, “We do need to move. Nate’s probably already got coffee brewing and a list of questions that’ll make your head spin.”

  That pulled a groan out of her as she grinned. “I was hoping that it was all just a bad dream.”

  “Nope,” Liam said, sitting up and reaching for his T-shirt. “Welcome to my glamorous life.”

  She slid out of bed and began gathering her clothes, still smiling. “You make it sound so appealing.”

  He shot her a look over his shoulder, the grin back. “Only when you’re part of it.”

  She tossed a pillow at him. “Flattery’s not going to get me to answer all the questions.”

  “It was worth a try,” he said, catching the pillow easily. “I’ll keep the coffee flowing, you smile at Uncle Nate. He’s a sucker for a pretty girl. Then we face the firing squad, aka my Uncle Nate, together.”

  “Deal,” she said, stepping into the bathroom. She paused in the doorway, watching him for a heartbeat. She was barefoot, her hair still tousled, and something warm settled deep in her chest.

  This was new. Uncharted. But it felt right.

  “Liam?”

  He looked up. “Yeah?”

  She smiled softly. “I love you.”

  The answering warmth in his eyes made her heart skip. “Love you too, sweetheart. Now hurry up, or my uncle’s going to come looking for us, and I’d rather not explain why we’re late.”

  Her laughter followed her into the bathroom, light and real. The darkness of the past night felt distant now, the weight of it replaced by something more hopeful.

  By the time they were dressed and ready to go downstairs, the sun was fully up, the day bright and clear. Lina slipped her hand into his as they stepped out of the bedroom. They had a long day ahead, but together, they could handle anything.

  Chapter 25

  The smell of fresh coffee hit Lina the moment they walked into the kitchen where Nate was already waiting for them. It smelled rich, dark, and strong enough to wake the dead, which was exactly what she needed after the night they’d had and the morning they’d spent wrapped up in each other.

  Nathan sat at the kitchen table, a mug in one hand and a tablet in the other, looking far too alert for someone who’d probably been up all night coordinating the cleanup. He glanced up as they entered, and one eyebrow arched ever so slightly as he took in Lina’s still-damp hair and the way Liam’s hand rested protectively at the small of Lina’s back.

  “Morning,” Nate said, his tone neutral but his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Glad you two could finally join me.”

  Liam had the grace to look slightly sheepish. “We got cleaned up and rested, like you said.”

  “Uh-huh.” Nate’s lips twitched. “Took you a while.”

  Lina felt heat creep up her neck, but she met Nate’s gaze steadily. “It was a rough night. We needed the time.”

  Something in Nate’s expression softened. “That you did,” he agreed, gesturing to the counter where a full pot of coffee waited alongside a stack of mugs. “Help yourselves. We’ve got a lot to cover.”

  Liam poured coffee for both of them, adding cream to Lina’s just the way she liked it without having to ask. She accepted the mug gratefully and settled into the chair beside him, their shoulders brushing in a way that felt natural and necessary.

  Nate set down his tablet and leaned back in his chair, studying them both with the assessing gaze of someone who’d spent decades in the field. “First things first. You two did exceptional work last night. Mrs. E was a legitimate threat, not just to the coven but to this entire region, if not the world. The fact that you took her down without civilian casualties or collateral damage is nothing short of remarkable.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Liam said formally, though his hand found Lina’s under the table and squeezed gently.

  “Don’t sir me, nephew. I’m not in the service anymore.” Nate’s smile was brief. “But I am coordinating the aftermath of this mess, so let’s get to it. I need your full report on what went down at the tower site.”

  For the next half hour, they walked Nate through the events of the previous night in detail. Liam described the approach, the positioning, and the moment Mrs. E, along with her three colleagues, were attempting to do the summoning. Lina filled in the parts about the young mage, Letisha, and her observations about the woman’s obvious fear and reluctance.

  She also described her shot taking out one of the male mages and Liam’s lion taking on the other male mage. She filled in how she’d been able to help by winging the second male mage before Mrs. E blasted her location for a second time. Then she explained her flying leap at Mrs. E and how Liam had saved her by coming in from the side.

  Liam took over at that point, explaining the choreography of how they’d taken Mrs. E down together. Lina still felt the satisfaction of her lynx at the righteous kill and its admiration of the big strong lion who was her mate.

  Nate listened without interrupting, occasionally making notes on his tablet. When they finished, he was quiet for a long moment, his expression thoughtful.

  “Mrs. Peabody checked in and reiterated her thanks. The entire coven is buzzing at the close call, apparently. A few of the elders have looked more closely at the grimoire page in preparation for destroying it, and they believe Mrs. E was attempting to summon what the old texts call a Hunger Demon. Though that’s not a really good translation, she tells me. It’s a creature from one of the most deadly of the demon realms. Apparently, it’s the same place that leviathan came from that gave everyone in Grizzly Cove such trouble. This Hunger Demon feeds on both magical energy and flesh. If she’d succeeded in summoning it…” He shook his head. “Let’s just say we got very lucky you two were there to stop her.”

  Lina’s stomach turned at the thought. “And Letisha was meant to be its first meal?”

  “That’s Mrs. P’s assessment, and I’m inclined to agree.” Nate’s jaw tightened. “The Portnoy family has a long, dark history with blood magic. Apparently, Letisha was a disappointment to a family that values cunning and a thirst for power above all else. They’ve been using her as little more than an indentured servant for years.”

  “That’s despicable,” Lina said, her cat growling low in her chest at the thought of such cruelty.

  “It is,” Nate agreed. “But it also means she’s cooperating fully with us. She’s been on the island since last night, and she’s already given us names, locations, and details about other Venifucus operations her family is involved in. Mike’s been sitting in on the questioning, and he says she’s genuinely relieved to be away from them.”