“Yeah,” she confirmed, feeling lighter than she had in years. “I want to meet your family. I want to see where you grew up. And honestly? I could use a break from the FBI grind. It’s been nonstop for longer than I want to admit.”

  “You deserve a break,” he said softly. “You deserve to be spoiled and celebrated and loved on by a whole Clan of lions and selkies who are going to be thrilled to welcome you.”

  The image made her smile. “I’m a little nervous about meeting everyone.”

  “Don’t be. They’re going to love you.” His thumb traced circles on the back of her hand. “My dad’s going to be happy. He already respects your record, and I think he was speculating about how to get you into the Clan because he covets your sniper skills.”

  “You’re kidding.” Lina’s brows rose in surprise.

  “Not at all. Papa Lester admires sharpshooters and wants them all under his command,” he teased with a grin. Then, more seriously, “But really, Lina. Thank you for being willing to take this leap with me. For trusting that we’ll figure it out together.”

  “That’s what mates do, right?” She squeezed his hand. “We figure it out together.”

  “Together,” he echoed, and the word felt like a promise.

  They finished their meal in a much lighter mood, talking about everything and nothing. He described his family in more detail. She couldn’t believe they were throwing a mating celebration in their honor, and she had to figure out the logistics of packing up her things—her custom sniper rifle included—for an extended trip. By the time Margie brought the check, Lina felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

  They had a plan. It wasn’t a perfect plan or a permanent plan, but it was a plan that gave them both what they needed most—time together without the pressure of impossible choices.

  As they walked back to the SUV, Liam’s arm around her shoulders, Lina looked out at the water and felt something settle deep in her chest. It felt like peace. And hope. It was the bone-deep certainty that whatever came next, they would face it together.

  “Ready to head back?” Liam asked, pressing a kiss to her temple.

  She looked up at him, this man who’d become her whole world. “Yeah,” she said softly. “Let’s go home.”

  *

  The drive back to the house was quiet, but it was the comfortable kind of quiet that came from being with someone who understood you to your soul. Liam’s hand rested on her thigh as he drove, his thumb moving in slow, absent circles that made warmth pool low in her belly.

  By the time they pulled into the driveway, the afternoon sun was slanting through the trees, painting everything in shades of gold. Lina felt the shift in the air between them as they got out of the SUV. The conversation at lunch had been necessary and good, but now that they’d sorted out their immediate future, there was nothing stopping them from enjoying the present.

  Liam’s eyes met hers over the hood of the vehicle, molten gold and full of heat. “You okay?” he asked, but she could hear the edge in his voice, the barely restrained need.

  “More than okay,” she said, her own voice coming out husky. “But I think we should probably get inside.”

  His answering smile was pure predator. “Good idea.”

  They made it through the front door and locked it behind them before Liam’s hands were on her, pulling her close and claiming her mouth in a kiss that made her knees weak. She melted into him, her hands fisting in his shirt as she kissed him back with all the emotion that had been building since the debrief, and since lunch, and probably since the moment they’d woken up together that morning.

  “Bedroom,” she managed against his mouth.

  “Too far,” he murmured, but he was already moving them in that direction, walking her backward down the hall without breaking the kiss.

  They left a trail of clothing behind them. His shirt, her sweater, his shoes, and her jeans all got tossed aside without a care. By the time they made it to the bedroom, they were both breathless and half-naked, hands roaming over each other’s skin with a desperation that had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with the need to affirm what they’d almost lost in battle with evil. Their wounds had healed thanks to their superior shifter metabolisms, but the memories of the close calls remained. Liam lowered her onto the bed with a gentleness that made her heart ache, his body covering hers as he kissed her slow and deep.

  “I love you,” he whispered against her lips. “So damn much.”

  “Love you too,” she breathed, arching into his touch as his hands mapped the curves of her body.

  The emotions between them ran high and hot. There was relief that they’d survived, gratitude that they’d found each other, and the deep, unshakeable certainty of the mate bond. Every touch was a promise, every kiss a vow.

  When Liam finally joined their bodies, Lina gasped at the rightness of it, the way they fit together like two pieces of the same puzzle. He moved inside her with long, deep strokes that made her see stars, his forehead pressed against hers as they moved together in perfect rhythm.

  “Mine,” he growled, his lion’s voice rumbling through the word.

  “Yours,” she agreed, her lynx purring in contentment. “Always yours.”

  The pleasure built between them like a wave, cresting higher and higher until they both tumbled over the edge together, crying out each other’s names as the world shattered around them.

  Afterward, they lay tangled together in the sheets, hearts pounding and skin slick with sweat. Liam pressed lazy kisses to her shoulder, her neck, her jaw, while she ran her fingers through his hair.

  “That was...” she started, then trailed off with a soft laugh.

  “Yeah,” he agreed, understanding perfectly. “It really was.”

  They dozed for a while, bodies still intertwined, basking in the afterglow and the quiet certainty of what they’d found. The future was still uncertain in some ways, but in the ways that mattered most, it had never been clearer.

  They had each other. They had time. And they had the promise of forever stretching out before them, full of possibility and hope.

  For now, that was more than enough.

  Epilogue

  Two weeks later, Lina found herself standing in the executive offices of Kinkaid Industries in Houston, Texas, looking out over the city skyline and trying not to be intimidated by the sheer opulence of her surroundings.

  “It’s a bit much, isn’t it?” Liam murmured in her ear, his hand warm on the small of her back.

  She turned to give him a wry smile. “Just a bit. Does your cousin really need a corner office this big?”

  “Sam likes to make an impression, and it’s sort of expected,” Liam said with a chuckle. “But underneath all the billionaire swagger, he’s a good guy. You’ll like him.”

  Before she could respond, the double doors opened, and Sam Kinkaid himself strode in, and Lina had to admit that Liam’s cousin certainly knew how to make an entrance. Tall, broad-shouldered, with the same golden eyes as Liam, and a smile that probably made investors throw money at him, Sam looked every inch the successful businessman the media made him out to be.

  But there was something else there too. He had a hardness around his edges, a tension in his shoulders that spoke of burdens carried and battles yet to be fought.

  “Liam!” Sam’s face lit up as he crossed the room to pull his cousin into a back-slapping hug. “About damn time you brought your mate to meet me. I was starting to think you were hiding her.”

  “Just wanted to keep her to myself for a little while,” Liam said with a grin, then turned to Lina. “Sam, this is Lina. Lina, my cousin Sam. Alpha of the Kinkaid Clan and the reason we all have to hear about stock prices at family dinners.”

  Sam laughed and extended his hand to Lina, his grip firm but not overwhelming. “It’s wonderful to meet you, Lina. Welcome to the family. I’ve heard nothing but good things about you from Uncle Nate.”

  “It’s nice to meet you too,” Lina said, genuinely warming to him, despite the intimidating surroundings. “Thank you for seeing us.”

  “Of course. I always have time for family.” Sam gestured to the sitting area near the windows where comfortable leather chairs were arranged around a coffee table. “Please, sit. Can I get you anything? Mineral water? Coffee? Tea? Something stronger?”

  “We’re good, thanks,” Liam said as they settled into the chairs.

  Sam took the chair across from them, his expression turning more serious. “I wanted to meet you both before the celebration tonight. Partly to welcome you properly to the Clan, Lina, but also...” He paused, his jaw tightening slightly. “I wanted to thank you both personally for what you did on Long Island. Taking down Mrs. E was a major victory, and I know it wasn’t easy.”

  “We were glad to help,” Lina said softly.

  “The real thorn in my paw now is Abdul Kettering,” Sam continued, his eyes hardening. “That bastard has caused our Clan significant harm.”

  Liam leaned forward slightly. “We want to help with that. Whatever you need, Sam.”

  Sam’s expression softened with gratitude. “I appreciate that, cousin. I really do. And I’ll probably take you up on it once I get closer to making my move.”

  Lina cleared her throat, drawing both men’s attention. “I know I’m new to the Clan, but I want you to know that I’m offering my support as well. I still have access to FBI databases, and I’m very good at research and digging up information that people would rather keep hidden. If you need intelligence on Kettering’s businesses, his associates, his movements, or anything else, I can help with that.”

  Sam studied her for a long moment, something like respect flickering in his gaze. “That’s a generous offer, Lina. And one I just might take you up on sooner rather than later.”

  “Please do,” she said firmly. “Kettering is an escalating threat, and I want to see him brought down as much as you do.”

  A slow smile spread across Sam’s face. “Liam, I do believe you found yourself one hell of a mate.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Liam said, squeezing her hand.

  They talked for a little while longer, the conversation shifting to lighter topics. Sam asked about Lina’s first impressions of Texas, the Clan’s various business ventures, and some not-so-subtle questions about where they might want to settle down and build their family. By the time they left the office, Lina felt like she’d passed some kind of test, though Sam had been nothing but welcoming.

  “That went well,” Liam said as they drove toward the Clan’s neighborhood on the outskirts of Houston.

  “He’s very intense,” Lina observed.

  “He has to be. Being Alpha of a Clan this size isn’t easy, especially with threats from the Venifucus and people like Kettering out there gunning for us all. Plus, there’s the whole lion king thing.” Liam glanced at her with a smile.

  “Wait. I’ve heard the rumors, but is it really true? Is he the White Lion? King of all lion shifters? Lina asked in low tones.

  “Yeah, he is. After wars in Africa took out all the white lions there, he was the only one left to lead. The African lions actually came here and asked him if he would take up the mantle of kingship. He wasn’t too pleased about it, but he’s taken his role seriously, though he lives mostly in the States. He’s been quietly rebuilding the African part of the Clan and setting them all up in business ventures so they can be self-sustaining, though for now, he’s still subsidizing them a lot through Kinkaid Industries,” Liam explained.

  “I’ve heard legends about how the Kinkaid selkies ended up with lions in their families, but what really happened? Are the stories of an African lion princess falling in love with a traveling Kinkaid selkie true?” Lina asked.

  “They are. That was many generations ago, but all of the Kinkaid lions and quite a few of the selkies in our Clan can trace their lineage back to that couple. They were the ones that first came to America and settled here. They were trailblazers, and out of their love grew the Clan you see today. The Clan you’re now part of, sweetheart,” Liam told her, squeezing her close for a quick moment. “The princess had white fur in her lion form and was part of the royal family. Their children were a mix of selkies and lions. They had a lot of kids for a shifter couple, but only a few had the white fur in lion form. From there, it showed up every now and again in subsequent generations, but Sam is the first white lion in a long time. They say the Goddess chooses which of the lions will have white fur, and that is Her blessing and sign that they are fit to lead all lions. I understand the tigers have something similar, and it’s a white tiger that leads the Tigre d’Or as their king.”

  “I’ve heard that too. In fact, I met him once, well before he became king of the tigers. Nice guy and very skilled in hand-to-hand combat. We were taking a master class together from one of the tiger royal guards. They let me in as a special favor because of my FBI connections,” Lina explained.

  “You have a wide network, don’t you?” Liam said, looking at her with wonder in his eyes.

  “It pays to know people when you’re an investigator,” she said, only half-joking.

  “Hell, I’m glad you’re on our side,” Liam quipped, then sobered a bit. “And I think Sam is, too. He liked you. I could tell.”

  “Good,” she said, settling back in her seat. “Because I meant what I said about helping with Kettering.”

  “I know you did.” His hand found hers, their fingers intertwining in a gesture that had become as natural as breathing. “That’s one of the many reasons I love you.”

  *

  The Kinkaid Clan’s secure neighborhood was unlike anything Lina had ever seen. Nestled on several acres of land outside the city, it was a self-contained community of houses ranging from modest family homes to sprawling estates, all connected by winding streets and dotted open spaces and common areas. Tonight, every inch of it seemed to be dedicated to celebrating.

  Multiple barbecues had been set up at various houses, smoke rising into the evening air and carrying the mouthwatering scent of grilled meat. Children ran through the streets in laughing packs, their shifter energy evident in their speed and grace. Adults congregated in clusters, talking and laughing, while music played from speakers set up throughout the neighborhood.

  As Liam pulled into the driveway of his cousin Gavin’s house, Lina’s stomach fluttered with nerves. She’d already met quite a few of the Clan privately here and there, but being surrounded by what looked like hundreds of Kinkaids and their mates was downright intimidating.

  “You okay?” Liam asked softly, turning off the engine.

  “Just a little overwhelmed,” she admitted. “There are so many people.”

  “They’re all here for us,” he reminded her gently. “To celebrate what we’ve found together. And I promise, every single one of them is going to love you. I’m just sorry Dad couldn’t get away to come to the party.”

  “That’s okay. I know he’s doing important work setting up a new base for all the shifter soldiers who had to leave Plum Island. The more delay on that project, the more time the enemy has to run amok without our people being ready to stop them. We’ll go meet him when he has time.”

  Liam leaned over and kissed her temple. “I’m so glad you understand. He feels really bad about the whole thing, but he just couldn’t get away.”

  “I know.” She gave him a soft smile. Then, she took a deep breath and nodded, as if making up her mind. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

  The moment they stepped out of the car, they were surrounded. Liam’s kin. A veritable parade of cousins, aunts, uncles, and extended family members were all eager to meet the woman who’d finally captured Liam’s heart.

  Uncle Nate appeared with a beer for Liam and a glass of wine for Lina, his eyes twinkling with amusement at the chaos. He’d made the trip down from New York specially, to be part of the celebration.

  For the next several hours, Lina was passed from group to group, welcomed and congratulated by more people than she could keep track of. Everyone wanted to hear the story of how they’d met and how they’d realized they were mates. They also wanted the details about how they’d taken out Mrs. Entwistle together, since that woman had caused trouble here a few short weeks ago.

  They told Lina the tale of how a Demon War had been averted and the evil Rollins family of mages almost destroyed in the fight. She listened attentively, though she’d heard the bare bones of the situation in the briefings she’d had before taking on the mission to find Mrs. E. Still, it was good to hear it from the people who’d lived through it. The Kinkaid Clan was warm and boisterous, their beast-halves evident in their larger-than-life personalities and easy affection. Most were lions, but she thought she recognized a few selkies and even a few shifters of different species that had married into the Clan.

  As the sun began to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, someone started shooting off fireworks. The teenagers had taken charge of the display, setting them off in the large common area at the center of the neighborhood while everyone gathered to watch.

  Liam found Lina in the crowd and pulled her away from a group of his cousins, leading her to a quiet spot on the grass at the edge of the gathering. They sat side-by-side, his arm coming around her shoulders as she leaned into his warmth.

  The fireworks burst overhead in brilliant colors. Gold, silver, red, green, and blue reflected in the eyes of all the Kinkaids gathered around them. Children squealed with delight, adults cheered, and the whole neighborhood seemed to pulse with joy and celebration.

  Lina watched it all with a growing tightness in her chest. The laughter, the love, the sense of belonging that permeated every inch of this place. It was everything she’d never known she was missing. For so long, she’d been alone, focused on her career and telling herself that was enough. But this...this was what family looked like. This was what home felt like.

  “Hey,” Liam murmured, tilting her chin up to look at him. “Don’t cry.”