“I had no idea he had this,” Dex said, brushing a finger over the smooth surface. Sloane covered his hand with his larger one.

  “May it bring us as much love and happiness as it brought your parents. I love you, Dex. We’ll talk to Sparks. If we’re going to do this, there are conditions, and I want certain assurances put into place. I also want to be married first.”

  Dex’s head shot up. “Are you sure? This isn’t all moving too quickly for you?”

  “Dex.” Sloane pulled his chair closer to Dex. “When you died, I didn’t know what I was going to do with myself. I kept thinking about all the things we wouldn’t get to do, and the first thought I had was about marrying you. Tony and Cael are your family, our family, but I want to be your husband. I want to be the one who takes care of you and the one who gets to decide what to do if something happens to you. Someday, I want to start a family with you.” Sloane cupped Dex’s face and looked into his eyes. There was nothing but adoration and certainty behind those pools of amber. “With everything that’s happened over the last two years, hell, over the last few months, I don’t want to waste any more time.”

  Dex couldn’t stop the stupid tears from falling. Man, he’d cried more in the last few weeks than he had most of his life. Something in the water. Had to be.

  “Okay,” Dex said with a nod and a smile stretching from ear to ear. “Let’s do it.”

  As Sloane pulled him into his embrace and kissed him, Dex couldn’t think of anywhere he’d rather be than right here in Sloane’s arms. If they became TIN, they’d likely be sent all over the world, but with Sloane at his side, he would always be home.

  EPILOGUE

  It was time.

  Dex turned his face up to the sky, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the sun’s warm rays against his skin. It was such a beautiful day. In the distance birds chirped, the sounds of the city so far away. It was peaceful, and for the first time in a long time, peace was what he felt. His senses were sharp, his body thrumming with new sensations, but he was okay with it. For now, at least. With a smile, he opened his eyes. He sat on the stone bench surrounded by lush greens, beautiful flowers, and a quiet breeze. Tears pooled in his eyes, but it was different this time.

  “Hey. I know it’s been a while,” Dex said softly. The flowers he’d brought were vibrant with color. They were displayed proudly in front of gleaming white marble. “So much has happened.” He stood, took a couple of steps forward, then crouched down. Placing his fingers to his lips, he kissed them before placing them on his mother’s headstone.

  “God, I miss you.” He blinked back the tears, his smile never faltering. Not wanting his dad to feel left out, he did the same to his dad’s headstone. “Of course, I miss you too, you troublemaker.”

  A tear rolled down his cheek, and he wiped it away. “I just wanted to let you guys know I’m not mad anymore. I know why you did what you did. Why you risked everything. I’m proud of you, and I hope that wherever you are, you’re proud of me too.” He looked down at his hands, and his heart swelled at the sight of the silver band on his finger. “Guess what?” He showed them his hand. “Look familiar?” He chuckled and shook his head. “I know, right? Someone’s finally going to make an honest man out of your boy.”

  It had taken a hell of a lot for Dex to be where he was. He’d never really believed in fate. He believed everyone was responsible for forging their own path. Whether changing his course would have altered the path he was on or ultimately led him back to where he was supposed to be was something he would never know. What he did know was who he was now, at this point in time. His parents had given their lives in a war against the likes of Shultzon and Moros. Humans and Therians whose prejudice, greed, and desire for power was so unhinged they’d let the world and its people burn to attain it. Not while Dex had breath in his body.

  Dex stood, his expression softening. “I promise I’ll visit more often.” A breeze ruffled his hair, and the sound of muffled footsteps made his heart swell. He smiled up at Sloane when he stopped beside Dex. Sloane didn’t say a word. He just smiled warmly at Dex, little creases forming at the corners of his amber eyes. How was it possible to love one man this much? Dex laced their fingers together before turning back to his mom’s grave, his heart filled with pride and adoration.

  “I found him, Mom. I found him.”

  THICK & THIN

  THICK & THIN

  In a matter of days, Dex has been kidnapped, tortured, killed, revived, become half-Therian, offered the chance to become a spy, and accepted a proposal to marry his jaguar Therian boyfriend, Sloane Brodie. It’s been a lot to take in, and although Dex is still trying to wrap his head around everything that’s happened, he knows he has to move forward. After the events of Smoke & Mirrors, Dex and Sloane find themselves in one of the most frightening situations of all: revealing the truth to their Destructive Delta family. When the dust settles, nothing will ever be the same, and it’s up to Dex to prove that in the face of change, the one thing that will always remain the same is family.

  ONE

  Breathe. Just breathe.

  Hadn’t he been here before?

  Dex leaned against the bathroom counter, studying himself in the mirror. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he’d stood in a bathroom not dissimilar to this one, staring at his reflection, wondering how his life had taken such a turn. So much had happened since then. A lot of bad, but a hell of a lot of good too. Much like that day at the courthouse, he now faced an uncertain future. The last few weeks had gone by in a blur—a whirlwind of chaos, heartache, and pain—like he’d been swept up in a tornado of what-the-fuckery only to be spit out abruptly into an alternate universe. His existence was sharper. Images, colors, sounds, and sensations were brighter, louder, and more profound.

  On the outside, he looked like any other Human. His eyes were still blue, the same pale shade they’d always been. On the inside, however, he was anything but Human. He stared down at his hands, the same hands he’d used to kill Moros. Actually, they weren’t. He sucked in a sharp breath at the pain of unsheathing his claws. Fuck. He had claws. Jaguar Therian claws, to be exact, and they were razor-sharp, capable of shredding through Human flesh with ease.

  It had been days since his transformation. Since he’d… died. He hadn’t been able to process that before his dad was shot and Moros gutted. Now here Dex stood in a hospital bathroom, trying to find the courage to explain something to his family he had yet to wrap his head around. Then his eyes caught the silver band around his ring finger. He was getting married.

  Dex’s heart swelled, and he couldn’t help his stupidly wide grin. That news would be much easier to share with his family, though Tony was obviously aware, considering he’d given Sloane the ring to give to Dex. His dad’s ring.

  “You okay?” Sloane stood by the door, looking worried.

  Man, how long had Dex been in here?

  “Yeah.” The moment the word left his mouth, he shook his head and dropped his gaze to the sink. “No. No, I’m not.”

  In two strides, Sloane was at his side, his arm around Dex’s back. The strength radiating from Sloane and his gentle touch soothed Dex like a balm to his soul, offering the solace he needed. Sloane turned Dex to face him, his arms wrapping around Dex’s waist.

  “Talk to me.”

  Dex inhaled deeply and released it slowly. It was okay. He was okay. “How am I supposed to explain to them what’s happened to me when I still don’t understand it myself? I mean, I understand what happened, but…” He lifted his gaze to Sloane’s. “We don’t know the full extent of it yet. We haven’t even had a chance to talk about it. I died, went to work the next day, Dad got shot, I killed a guy, got engaged, went to visit my parents’ grave—all in the span of two days. I’m trying not to freak out, and oh my God, what the fuck? What the fuck, Sloane?” He gulped in a lungful of air. Oh shit. Was he having a panic attack? He laughed at the thought. He was not having a panic attack. He did not have panic attacks. Dexter J. Daley did not lose his shit. Fuckbunnies. “I think I’m about to lose my shit.”

  “What would you like me to do?” Sloane’s voice was calm.

  “I don’t know.” Dex pulled away and paced. This had never happened to him before. He got worked up. He had “diva fits” and blew his top, but he never panicked. Then again, he’d never been half Therian before. Or engaged. Or seen Tony bleeding out. “It’s too much.” His pacing picked up speed. “What do I do, Sloane?” He bent over and placed his hands on his knees, breathing in and out through his mouth. What the hell was going on? He was fidgety at the best of times, but this was different, like he was restless inside. His eyes widened as realization struck.

  “What is it?” Sloane placed his hand on Dex’s back, and Dex straightened, facing him.

  “This is how you feel, isn’t it? When shit gets to be too much for you? Like your insides are going to explode if you don’t move, if you don’t do something.”

  Sloane stared at him, snapping himself out of it before nodding. “Yeah. My inner Felid gets restless.”

  Dex swallowed hard. “Do you think… do you think I have one?”

  “An inner Felid?” Sloane visibly shivered, and Dex cocked his head. “Sorry, I um, I don’t know. I don’t think so. I mean, when you’re born a Therian, you’re born with your feral half. Some believe it’s like a second soul. It’s a part of you. If he was there, you would know it. Believe me.”

  “But scientifically,” Dex said as he started to pace again, “it’s part of your DNA, which is now part of my DNA. So would I have one? And if I do, would he be yours, or would he be mine, or a mix of both?”

  Oh God, his head hurt. What if he did have a feral half somewhere deep inside him? He’d have to, wouldn’t he? Wouldn’t that explain his claws and fangs and—

  Dex came to an abrupt halt. “What if that’s what was happening when I lost it with Shultzon? When my fangs came out for the first time and I hissed, it was like I wasn’t myself. What if I wasn’t myself?” Crap, he just made things worse. He could handle his DNA changing, and with time he’d get used to being part Therian, but to have an inner Felid? To have another… soul? Was that possible?

  “Babe, stop.” Sloane pulled Dex into his arms and held him tight. Dex tried to push away at first, too restless to stop moving, but Sloane’s warm breath against Dex’s temple, the feel of Sloane’s strong arms, and the sound of his heartbeat stilled Dex, calming something inside him. He closed his eyes. Sloane was right. All he was doing was driving himself crazy with unanswered questions. He’d find out the answers in time.

  Sloane stroked Dex’s hair and swayed gently, comfortingly. His scent was thick, enveloping Dex in a bubble of familiarity and safety. Whatever happened, Sloane would be at his side to help him work through it.

  “It’ll be okay,” Sloane promised.

  Dex sighed and wrapped his arms around Sloane. His future husband was right. The thought made him smile. He was such an idiot. Here he was worrying about something he had no control over, rather than embracing it. Yeah, it was kind of terrifying, but he had Sloane to understand him and help him through all the crazy. Everything would be okay. He pulled back just enough to look into Sloane’s amber eyes. They were filled with so much love.

  “You have every right to be nervous, but think about it for a second.” He kissed Dex’s temple, nuzzling his hair afterward. “They’re your family, Dex. They love you.”

  With a smile, he met Sloane’s gaze. “You mean our family.”

  “Our family,” Sloane agreed, giving Dex a kiss that was both sweet and sinful. When Sloane pulled away, he inhaled sharply as he looked into Dex’s eyes. “Shit.” He let out a soft laugh. “That’s going to take some getting used to.”

  Dex needed to learn to control that if he was going to keep his secret. His eyes seemed to change when he got emotional or worked up. “What do they look like?” He tried not to appear too nervous.

  Sloane didn’t hesitate. “They look beautiful, but then everything about you always is.”

  “Well, now you’re just trying to get in my pants.”

  Sloane laughed. He placed his hand to Dex’s cheek, his lips brushing over Dex’s in a feathery kiss before he brought Dex up against him, his mouth gentle but hungry, like he couldn’t get enough of Dex or the taste of him. It made Dex’s toes curl, and he dug his fingers into Sloane’s arms, allowing himself to be consumed by the man’s love and warmth.

  “You two wanna get a room or something? People shit in here.”

  Dex wrinkled his nose and pulled away to peer around Sloane at Ash, who was making his way to one of the urinals. “You’re a paragon of gentility.”

  Ash shrugged. “Hey, I know you get off on doing it in other people’s bathrooms, but this is a hospital, man. Just saying.”

  “On that note,” Dex grumbled, giving Sloane a quick kiss. “I’m gonna go. I’ll call you when I’m done. Make sure he washes his hands.”

  “Fuck you,” Ash growled at him from over his shoulder. “I always wash my hands. And I respect people’s bathrooms, you turd.”

  “Well, you’re in the right place for that.” Dex laughed, running out of the bathroom to the sound of Ash’s curses and threats. Outside, he let out a sigh of relief. That was more like it. He felt like himself again. Straightening his shoulders, he held his head high and strode toward his new future.

  “All right. Let’s do this.”

  TWO

  The moment Dex stepped into Tony’s hospital room, his shiny new future collided with his past. The knowledge of what could have happened hit him harder than he expected. For fuck’s sake, Tony had gotten shot in the chest. This morning he could have been visiting his second father’s grave. He blinked away his tears and turned his gaze to the ceiling as he tried to keep it together.

  How about you cut me a break, huh? Just for a little while?

  Cael moaned, catching his attention. His brother rolled over on the small couch where he lay curled up asleep, his sweet face bringing a lump to Dex’s throat. Cael hadn’t left their dad’s side since he’d been moved out of ICU.

  “He’s worn out.”

  Dex smiled at his dad as he made his way over to the bed. He took a seat in the armchair beside it. “Listen, Dad. I know you want to be cool like the rest of Destructive Delta, but this wasn’t necessary.”

  “So getting shot isn’t a prerequisite for your team?” Tony frowned. “Damn, must have missed the memo. Also, I was the king of cool when you kids were in diapers.”

  “I’m going to have to disagree with you. Ash was never a baby. He was spawned grown and grumpy. Also, we’re going to have a discussion about your definition of cool because your wardrobe choices in the eighties tell me your view on the topic might be a little skewed.”

  Tony chuckled, and Dex’s chest tightened. He looked down at his hands. “Let’s not do this again, okay?”

  “Come ’ere.” Tony held out his arms, and Dex stood and moved over to sit on the edge of the Therian-sized bed, then leaned in to hug his dad, his head coming to rest on Tony’s shoulder.

  Dex shut his eyes tight, refusing to think about what could have been. Every day his team dealt with the possibility of losing someone they cared about. He couldn’t go down that path.

  “You two are such dorks.”

  With a sniff, he wiped away a rogue tear before sitting up. He let out a laugh at his brother’s bedhead. “The only dork here is the one I’m looking at. Nice ’do. Didn’t know you joined A Flock of Seagulls.”

  Cael touched his hair and groaned, then ran his fingers through it. “They’re releasing Dad in a couple of days.”

  “I don’t know why they can’t release me today,” Tony grumbled. “I’m fine.”

  “I know, right?” Dex held back a smile. “I mean, I don’t understand how that bullet didn’t bounce off you, what with you being indestructible and all.”

  Tony huffed. “Smartass.”

  “I think the doctor just wants to keep him here so he can flirt with Dad some more.” Cael wriggled his eyebrows, and Dex gasped. His lips curled into a wicked grin.

  “Is that so?” Dex turned his attention to his dad. “Is he cute?”

  Tony refused to answer, so Cael answered for him. “He’s a tiger Therian. I’ve dubbed him Dr. Scotty the Hottie. He’s Scottish, by the way. His hair is amazing.”

  “Ooh. A sexy ginge.” Dex put his hand out and received a high-five from his brother. “Nice one, Chirpy.” He winked at his dad. “Bet he looks great in a kilt. And he’s a doctor. Wow. That’s a nice profession, isn’t it? Helping people, healing them.” He paused and held his dad’s gaze. “Bet he’s the real honest type too.”

  Tony barely blinked, his gaze never wavering. Clearly, he hadn’t told Cael about Sparks. “Bet he is,” Tony said pleasantly. “Speaking of secrets. There something you wanna tell us?”

  Touché, Father Mine. Dex nodded. “You’re right. There is.”

  Cael gasped. “You’re pregnant.”

  Dex arched an eyebrow at him. “Really?”

  “Sorry,” Cael said with a laugh. “I’m running on chocolate bars.”

  Tony laced his fingers over his stomach, his lips pursed. “Your brother’s going to tell us how he singlehandedly killed the asshole who shot me.”

  Cael stared at him, and Dex could see the wheels turning furiously in his head. “You killed Moros? On your own?” Cael shook his head, seeming unable to believe it.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, bro.”

  “No, it’s not that. Dex, Moros was a tiger Therian with years of military training. The guy was huge and lethal. I know you’ve been training, but biologically… How…?”