count.”
She chuckled. “Is that your idea of putting your fingers in your ears and closing your eyes?”
“Yes.”
“Well done.” She laughed as he pinched her butt through the gown.
The Pride Master’s men hauled off her father, and in two hours from the moment that they were transported, the garden was empty with the exception of Tobias.
“Are you two ready to return to the Crossroads?”
Lee nodded. “I am. I never want to see this place again.”
Jim agreed. “I am eager to get home.”
Tobias closed his eyes, and when he opened them, there was a bright flash and Lee and Jim were standing in the Meditation Centre.
“Did we just do what I think we just did?”
“We handed your father over to the Pride Master after you clawed the hell out of him. You freed your family, and they are being given new starts with more conventional lion families. What happens next is up to them.”
Tony walked up and handed Jim a piece of fabric.
Without saying a word, Jim put the fabric around his hips.
Lee laughed. “Does that happen often?”
Teal peeked from around the corner, and she smiled in relief that Jim was dressed. “Often enough. We keep wraps standing by for both men and women, just in case. It keeps the streaking through the main street to a minimum.”
Lee walked up and gave Teal a hug. “Thank you.”
“For covering up Jim’s junk? Not much of a favour. It was a nice view.”
Lee snorted, “No, for showing me that you can meet someone without suspicion and make friends. I haven’t had any friends who could offer me the help you did and still look me in the eye the next day.”
Teal quickly hugged her back. “Jim is waiting. Go on, I will see you tomorrow. You have to give me a list of supplies you need for the new first aid station.”
“It’s ready?”
“The beavers work fast. So, think about an equipment list and come back after you have enjoyed a good night’s sleep. You look exhausted.”
“A fine thing to tell a bride on her wedding day.”
“I call it like I see it.” Teal winked, “It’s what friends do.”
With warmth swelling in her heart, Lee returned to Jim’s side and took his hand. “Time to go.”
Jim laughed, “Yes, Mrs. Barnes.”
She blinked. “Oh wow. I never considered that. Leandiir Barnes. I heard you before but it didn’t register.”
They were walking down the street and the Crossroads were alive with people running from the café to the bar and back again.
“What would you say to some dinner?” Jim’s stomach rumbled alarmingly.
“Yes, please. I wouldn’t want you to mistake me for your next meal.”
“That could be fun.”
“Consider me dessert, but for now, I want some fries and gravy, maybe a steak.”
“A salad?”
“Under duress, perhaps. For now, steak.”
They walked into the café and conversation stopped. Nia bustled toward a table where two males were eating, and she shooed them away. The men took one look at Lee and Jim before they got to their feet and evacuated the booth.
Lee looked at Jim and giggled. She hadn’t noticed the blood streaking his body. Wait a minute. She looked down and groaned. “Aw, I got blood on me.”
They passed the two males who took their plates to seats at the counter, and the men gave them polite nods.
Nia came forward with a pitcher of hot water and two white towels. “Clean up, and I will get you some water and coffee.”
“Thanks, Nia.” Lee took a towel, dipped it in the water and scrubbed at her face. Blood came off in streaks and she sighed. “I thought I got it all.”
He took the towel once she was done and started to scrub at himself. By the time Nia returned with the coffee, they were both clean and neat from the neck up.
“Congratulations, you two. It is so nice that you have made it official in both worlds. You gown is lovely, by the way.” Nia chattered at them.
They ordered, and while they waited, several of the beavers came up to offer their congratulations,
She chuckled. “Is that your idea of putting your fingers in your ears and closing your eyes?”
“Yes.”
“Well done.” She laughed as he pinched her butt through the gown.
The Pride Master’s men hauled off her father, and in two hours from the moment that they were transported, the garden was empty with the exception of Tobias.
“Are you two ready to return to the Crossroads?”
Lee nodded. “I am. I never want to see this place again.”
Jim agreed. “I am eager to get home.”
Tobias closed his eyes, and when he opened them, there was a bright flash and Lee and Jim were standing in the Meditation Centre.
“Did we just do what I think we just did?”
“We handed your father over to the Pride Master after you clawed the hell out of him. You freed your family, and they are being given new starts with more conventional lion families. What happens next is up to them.”
Tony walked up and handed Jim a piece of fabric.
Without saying a word, Jim put the fabric around his hips.
Lee laughed. “Does that happen often?”
Teal peeked from around the corner, and she smiled in relief that Jim was dressed. “Often enough. We keep wraps standing by for both men and women, just in case. It keeps the streaking through the main street to a minimum.”
Lee walked up and gave Teal a hug. “Thank you.”
“For covering up Jim’s junk? Not much of a favour. It was a nice view.”
Lee snorted, “No, for showing me that you can meet someone without suspicion and make friends. I haven’t had any friends who could offer me the help you did and still look me in the eye the next day.”
Teal quickly hugged her back. “Jim is waiting. Go on, I will see you tomorrow. You have to give me a list of supplies you need for the new first aid station.”
“It’s ready?”
“The beavers work fast. So, think about an equipment list and come back after you have enjoyed a good night’s sleep. You look exhausted.”
“A fine thing to tell a bride on her wedding day.”
“I call it like I see it.” Teal winked, “It’s what friends do.”
With warmth swelling in her heart, Lee returned to Jim’s side and took his hand. “Time to go.”
Jim laughed, “Yes, Mrs. Barnes.”
She blinked. “Oh wow. I never considered that. Leandiir Barnes. I heard you before but it didn’t register.”
They were walking down the street and the Crossroads were alive with people running from the café to the bar and back again.
“What would you say to some dinner?” Jim’s stomach rumbled alarmingly.
“Yes, please. I wouldn’t want you to mistake me for your next meal.”
“That could be fun.”
“Consider me dessert, but for now, I want some fries and gravy, maybe a steak.”
“A salad?”
“Under duress, perhaps. For now, steak.”
They walked into the café and conversation stopped. Nia bustled toward a table where two males were eating, and she shooed them away. The men took one look at Lee and Jim before they got to their feet and evacuated the booth.
Lee looked at Jim and giggled. She hadn’t noticed the blood streaking his body. Wait a minute. She looked down and groaned. “Aw, I got blood on me.”
They passed the two males who took their plates to seats at the counter, and the men gave them polite nods.
Nia came forward with a pitcher of hot water and two white towels. “Clean up, and I will get you some water and coffee.”
“Thanks, Nia.” Lee took a towel, dipped it in the water and scrubbed at her face. Blood came off in streaks and she sighed. “I thought I got it all.”
He took the towel once she was done and started to scrub at himself. By the time Nia returned with the coffee, they were both clean and neat from the neck up.
“Congratulations, you two. It is so nice that you have made it official in both worlds. You gown is lovely, by the way.” Nia chattered at them.
They ordered, and while they waited, several of the beavers came up to offer their congratulations,
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