Page 65 of Red Marked

“Yes.” I hold his eyes. “It could cost me everything, but I don’t care. It’s still the right thing, and I’m going to do it. I need to help those females.”

He breathes out through his nose. It takes him a second, and then the hard line in his face gives.

“I understand,” he says. “I wouldn’t have left them up there either.”

“How’s Carla?”

His whole face transforms in an instant. It softens, and he grins.

“Awesome,” he says. “She’s getting really big, but I love it.” He shakes his head. “She sleeps sitting up with four pillows, and she gets up three times a night. Every morning, I wake up, and I can’t believe it. I’m going to be a father.”

It’s nauseating. He keeps going anyway, and I let him, because a year ago this male was planning on living his life alone, and now look at him.

I feel a little envious, actually. I’m not the kind of person who will ever settle down and have a family. I’m not that male, but sometimes I wish things were different. I need to stay on the path I’m on, which means no fucking around. And keeping my head out of my ass.

“I told Carla about Koa, and my sweet mate cried for twenty minutes.” He frowns. “She told me that Koa used to make her cappuccino most mornings. My mate wants her back behind that counter.” He smiles, but it’s a touch sad. “It’ll be a while before that happens.”

“But it’ll happen.”

“It will.”

He looks past me, back toward the facility.

“I’d better go. Robyn will have the females ready, and I want them on Draig soil ASAP.” He grips my forearm. “Be careful. Whatever this is, do it quietly. And stay in touch. I want to know where you are. Every move. If you go dark on me, I’ll come and find you.”

“I will stay in touch. I swear.”

“Good.”

“Magma.” I hold on when he starts to let go. “Thank you. For all of it. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

“Yes, you could have. It would have taken you longer, but you’d have managed just fine.” He laughs, and I join in. “Don’t die. Carla will never forgive me.”

“I don’t plan on it.”

“Good.”

We walk back down the slope together.

The females are already outside the fence when we get there. They’re standing in a tight group with Robyn in the middle of them and Atlas and Rex a few feet off, arms folded.

Savanna sees me first. She smiles and walks to me, and for a second, she doesn’t seem to know what to do with her hands.

“We’re going home,” she says.

“I know.”

“Thank you, Flint.” She hugs me, sniffing. Her eyes are wet when she pulls away.

“It’s my pleasure.”

Koa is there next. She puts her forehead against my chest, and I put my hand on the back of her head. We pull apart, and she steps away.

“Thank you,” Caldera says. She waves, and I wave back.

“I’ll visit when I’m on Draig soil,” I tell them.

“We’ll hold you to it.” Koa smiles.