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After dinner, where Sean felt welcomed by one and all, they headed into Mystic River, stopping by The Refuge before heading to The Workshop.
“You two up for a little double date with espionage on the side?” quipped Winter once they were inside.
Trudy laughed. “I’d be happy to act as Hamish’s cover date.”
“If you go with me, there’d be no ‘cover’ about it,” said Hamish churlishly.
“A word of advice, old friend. I’m not sure if it’s Kodiak Island that makes the women fierce, or if Reynolds just has a knack of attracting female warriors. But if Trudy possesses even a tenth of my Winter’s prowess, you’d best mind your Ps and Qs.”
The two couples spent an enjoyable evening at The Workshop. With all four of them trying to glean information, they managed to hear a great deal of what was going on before heading back to The Refuge for dessert and coffee.
“Hamish, I hate to do this, but I need to stay with Winter. I need you to return to Curaidh and begin getting our people and equipment ready for war.” He turned to Winter. “I can’t see the fighter planes being of much use, but if we can figure out how to ferry the choppers over, they might tip the battle in our favor.”
Winter grinned and kissed him. “Oooh, I just love it when you talk heavy armaments and battle strategies.”
Sean rolled his eyes and grinned. “And you call me perverse. Hamish, I’m going to need you to call our pilot. I wanted you headed back to Scotland tomorrow morning. If you like, Trudy can accompany you and visit Curaidh and the Highlands.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose,” she said.
“Ach, it wouldn’t be an imposition, or my alpha wouldn’t have suggested it. I think you’d like Curaidh.”
“I should tell you there are not many of my kind left, and breeding females are in demand, even though I’m convinced the Shadow League wants to see us exterminated.”
“Why do you say that?” asked Sean, already feeling protective of the female he was sure would become Hamish’s mate.
“They introduced a virus that creates a cancer in both the purebloods and the shifters. It’s called DFTD or Devil Facial Tumor Disease. I was a scientist in Tasmania. I came to believe that it was not native to our species and that someone had invented a carcinogenic and communicable mutation in our DNA. If a cure isn’t found, we’ll be wiped out. When I tried to publish my findings, the League tried to have me killed. I barely got off the island. The Shadow Sisters found me in Melbourne and got me out here and to Colby.”
“They have to be stopped, Alpha,” said Hamish.
“They will be, and the Snow Leopards of Curaidh will be among the vanguard, if you think Reynolds and the others will have us,” he said, saying the last to Winter.
“Have you? I have a sneaky suspicion once he learns I don’t want you dead, he’ll be giving you the full court press to enlist your support.”
“And do you no longer wish me dead?”
“Not at the moment, but I could change my mind,” she teased.
Sean shook his head. “Not likely. I think once you have made up your mind, you are as constant as the Northern Star. There’s nothing mercurial at all about you. You might be volatile, have a bad temper, and a wicked right, but your loyalty and honor are second to none.”
Winter looked away to hide her blush. “We need to get back to Windsong. I’d like to coordinate all we’ve learned and be able to send a secure report to Colby in the morning. Thanks, you two, for coming with us. I know we were there to do a job, but I don’t know if I can recall an evening where I had nearly as much fun. Travel safe.”
Sean stood and offered Trudy his hand, which she took. “I’ll second Winter’s sentiments. You two head back to Scotland. Trudy, we have a first-rate research facility at Curaidh. You might enjoy spending some time with our people and vice versa.” He clasped Hamish’s shoulder. “Take good care of each other. I am leaving Curaidh in your hands.”
He and Winter walked down the steps of the front porch, unaware of the malevolent watcher who lurked in the shadows.
CHAPTER14
SEAN
“Are you any closer to identifying the potential mole for the Shadow League?” he asked as he drove them out of town and back to Windsong.
“I don’t know that I’m closer to proving it, but I’m narrowing down my list of suspects.”
“Care to share with your mate?”
“Right now, I have three main suspects. The first is Dash…”
“The reindeer-shifter who owns The Workshop? Why him?”
