She stifled a laugh. Her mind spun at the thought of having two mates. She’d always considered herself to be open to new ideas, but she wasn’t ready for more details. When Kitani opened her mouth to continue, Jessie hurried to ask, “When are you due?”
You had to be watching closely to see the spasm that crossed the woman’s face, but Jessie caught it. “Couple of weeks,” she said. “I’m carrying twins.”
Twins? From what Cara had said, even single births were tricky as hell for Weres. Jessie wasn’t sure what to say, so she settled on a smile and “Congratulations.”
Kitani’s gaze flashed to her brother. Kade’s eyes flared gold and his mouth pulled straight before he returned his attention to Cara extracting glass from his arm.
“Twins run in the family.” The female Sabre offered a weak smile. “But I won’t breathe easy until they’re safely on this side of paradise.”
Jessie gestured to Cara. “Well, you’ve got powerful friends. That should get them here safe and sound.”
Kade had gone very stiff, and Kitani didn’t meet her eyes. “Yeah,” she said.
Cody returned, laden with multiple bottles of beer. Jessie and Kitani navigated past him and Neil to put muffins, cookies, and an enormous platter of sausage rolls and pot stickers on the table.
Zach snaked a long arm past Jessie to nab a sausage roll before retreating. He seemed content to wedge himself into the corner formed by the countertop rather than sitting.
He was as tall as some of the Weres, but with his muscles hugging close to his lean frame, he was half their width. They were built like comic book heroes. Zach was just Zach. But Jessie had been in his head. Experienced what he lived with on a daily basis. Zach’s courage was different from Kade’s. Less physical. But no less real for it.
She offered him a smile, and he paused midchew to smile back. It lit his eyes and transformed his narrow face. He’d lost weight since she’d met him that day at the hospital. At the moment, he looked like a stiff wind could blow him over. His face had a gauntness to it she hadn’t noticed before.
The last few weeks hadn’t been easy on anyone, it seemed.
“Aha.” Cara extracted a four-inch sliver from Kade’s arm.
Jessie’s eyes widened. “Are they all that size?”
Cara interrupted her humming to answer, “Enough of them.”
Jessie swallowed. The Sabre’s arms were a mess. He’d have an entirely new set of scars after this.
Cara rested her fingers on each side of the bleeding cut and closed her eyes. Jessie was transfixed as the bleeding stopped, and the cut’s edges pulled together.
Thick fingers pulled Cara’s away. “Enough,” Kade rumbled. “It’ll heal the rest of the way on its own. Save your strength. Just get the slivers out.”
Startled, Jessie took a hard look at Cara. It shocked her to see the new lines framing the woman’s features. What Cara did wasn’t pure magic. Her healing came at a cost.
There had been so much to absorb over the last few days, and Jessie thought she’d been coping rather well. But it had all taken on a surreal status. She’d started to expect fairy dust and magic. Time to wake up. Kade could have died saving them. Neil too.
She glanced at Neil who sported new bruises and had one eye swollen nearly shut. The big man devoured pot stickers. He caught her glance and winked his good eye at her.
Kade used his free arm to reach for a sausage roll. “Okay, crew. Time for a new plan.”
Jessie swallowed. She’d hoped it would be over once they got Braden. By the look on Kade’s face, their Plan B wasn’t going to come out of the gate strong.
And that was all kinds of bad.
* * *
The Weres all planted their bodies on chairs. Zach stayed where he was, apparently content to watch from the fringes.
Jessie took a chair between Kitani and Cara. And tried to remain calm.
Kade didn’t even seem to notice Cara continuing to pluck glass out of his arms as he spoke. “Our Plan A was to find and kill Braden. But he has amassed more Were power than I assumed.”
Neil swallowed his mouthful. “No way we’re going to get to him, Boss.” His eyes flicked over Jessie. “Not in time, anyway.”
Kade’s lips peeled back. Jessie had seen the gesture too often to mistake it for anything other than a snarl. Her heart sank.
