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Then they were off, lifting up into the sky, the familiar landscape of Cartfalls falling away below them. Cassie giggled.

“I’m going to keep you safe,” Uriel promised.

Before Uriel arrived at his alpha friends’ meeting spot, he scouted out the area. There was a large, dense forest nearby, dotted with cabins along a winding road.

He picked an empty cabin with no alarms set up—either magical or electronic—and made sure it had been a while since anyone had been there. No valuables were stashed here; it wasn’t a place someone would try to defend.

He broke in carefully and set up Cassie’s things—a fireproof playpen with a feeding bottle secured to a corner, toys in the playpen, and perimeter defense spells. He left her diaper bag and food in here, got her comfortable, and had a quick snack himself.

“Be good,” he whispered, giving her a last cuddle. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

She patted his face. “Ba ba.”

“Love you too.”

He settled her in the playpen and locked up. Travel case back on his broom, Uriel kicked off into the air, heading for the meeting spot.

“Hey, Uriel, you’re early!” Raptor grinned when Uriel stepped into their hotel-room-turned-war-room.

Uriel set his broom by the door, shrugging off his leather jacket. “How can I help?”

“Ugh,” said a familiar voice.

Uriel’s instincts twitched. He didn’t whip around. Instead, he turned slowly, shooting Bruiser an unimpressed look. “I didn’t think you would miss me so much that you’d have something to say every time I show up.”

Ace, Raptor’s twin, snickered.

Bruiser glowered. “That’s not it, and you know it.”

“Special words for me. I’m so flattered.” Uriel pressed a hand to his chest, but the look on his face was completely flat.

Bruiser curled his lip. “You’re the last person I want to see. I’m on vacation.”

“Close your eyes, then,” Uriel retorted. “That’s not a hardship.”

Bruiser only scowled.

Everyone’s gazes bounced between them like they were watching a tennis match.

At least Uriel had grown used to this. Initially, when Telos and Mav had come to him, Uriel had been reluctant to help. Then he had learned about their efforts to stop the kidnapping problem in the region, and he had moved to Cartfalls with them.

Only to discover that Bruiser was still living there, and he was close friends with this group.

That had thrown Uriel off so badly, he had thought he might explode.

Through sheer determination, Uriel had mastered his horror and dismay. These days, he took pleasure in making Bruiser’s life difficult, never giving him the last word. Every time Bruiser glowered, a thrill ran up Uriel’s spine.

He had never forgotten the heat of those hands on his skin, but that was a secret he would take to his grave.

Duke cleared his throat. “Looks like most of us are here. Let’s get started.”

They hit a snag.

At the end of the facility takedown, one of the alpha dragons, Raeburn, cursed.

“What’s wrong?” Uriel asked. He didn’t have super-hearing like the wolves and dragons did.

Raeburn cocked his head, listening. “We can’t destroy this place completely. There are truckloads of victims coming in over the next few days. Someone has to stick around to intercept them.”