Page 112 of Found Objects

“You’re loved now, Mere, and I suspect, for quite a long time. The rest of it, your original purpose, you need to let go of. That hasn’t been you, except when forced, for a very long time. Don’t you agree?”

“You don’t know what you’re––”

“I do, though, and so do you.”

The goddess had given me her blessing when she infused me with her power. Perhaps I was still an instrument of justice, but not death.

I was, it turned out, a primordial being with a mate, friends, a teenager to look after as well as an elf, on occasion, and a siren who didn’t like to do dishes. I needed to stick to protection and not punishment. My mate was right—it didn’t suit me anymore.

“Hey, do me a favor,” Cole said, as though my life wasn’t changing in front of my eyes. “Thank Teague for my gorgeous robe, will you?”

I took a breath, feeling my power curl up like a cat in front of a fire, settle, and sleep.

“Well?” Cole pressed me.

“Thank him yourself,” I told my mate.

He smiled at me. “Thank you so much for my beautiful robe, my friend,” he called out.

After a moment, I heard the reply in my head. “He says you’re welcome.”

“All elves look like him?”

“We can discuss this later,” I told him. “Right now, I need you to come over here and get on your knees next to me.”

Cole moved quickly.

“Put your head down, don’t speak, and no matter what, don’t look at them. Promise me.”

“Look at who?”

“Just…do what I say.”

“I promise.” He tipped his head down.

“I have to let them know you belong to me.”

“Good. I want everyone to know that.”

“Also, stop being interested in Teague.”

“I’m not. You’re the only one who interests me, Merritt Baker.”

I could taste the truth in his words.

TWELVE

Amonth later, I was at work, closing up, when I saw Fletcher walk in and take a seat at the bar. Moments later, Desta walked out of the back and darted over to him, leaning across the bar top to reach him. He met her halfway, and they shared a very sweet peck on the lips.

“You guys are gross,” Dakota teased them.

“Oh, go fill the sugar shakers.”

I suspected that the romance, which Cole had given Fletcher his blessing for, would culminate in marriage in the not-so-distant future. The two of them finished each other’s sentences, and Desta’s kids were both crazy about the man. Even her cat liked him, which she told me had never happened before. I was betting on a wedding sometime in January.

Justin had followed through on what he’d promised and transferred the deed to the land in Coille, as well as giving Cole access to the pack funds. Cole had then proceeded to close one account and open another, and hired a money manager to oversee and grow investments. There was full transparency, and the new alpha of the Swann Pack gave everyone monthly updates so they could see how their money was being used, on things like college tuition and braces.

The main house, the log cabin as I called it, functioned well as a place for everyone to convene. Many people had relocated to homes around town, some had moved into the cabins, and others had built on the land themselves, overseen by their alpha, who, as a builder himself, offered excellent suggestions. What was interesting was that no one wanted to move a town away from Cole. Everyone wanted to be close to their alpha, and I was thrilled for him. Already, the pack had the feeling of closeness and community that came when your alpha provided all the power, strength and shelter that was needed.