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Dani chewed her lip for a moment. “What if they don’t like me?”
“What’s not to like?” Row asked.
She smiled. “You’re biased.”
He shrugged. “You’re a great sister and friend. Just know that when you do meet your mate, he better treat you right or he’ll have to answer to me.”
“True mates treasure each other,” their mom said. “When you each meet the one meant only for you, you’ll know.”
Later that afternoon, Row met with Fayar to explain his upcoming absence.
“I always hoped you’d find your mate through one of the visiting sleuths,” Fayar said, leaning against a post on his porch. He was a fair king, and although Row could do without the monthly battles, he did know that he was a better fighter because of them. Eventually, when he did find his mate, he’d be able to protect her the way a male of worth should.
“I’m thirty. I think if she was going to be at one of the battles, she’d have shown up by now.”
Fayar chuckled. “I suppose. You’re growing tired of them.” It was a statement, not a question.
“A little.”
“When you return from taking Dani to meet her people, we can discuss you joining the trainers for the young males.”
Row’s brow rose. The trainers were a small group who were charged with ensuring that the young males in the sleuth were taught how to defend themselves and their families. It was an important job.
“I’d be honored.”
Fayar said, “They’ll be lucky young males. And perhaps you’ll meet your mate along your journey and soon be teaching your own sons how to hunt and fight.”
Row’s bear perked up. The idea of finding his mate hadn’t really occurred to him, but his bear sure as hell was ready to start the next chapter of their life.
“Thanks.”
“Be safe.” Fayar turned and strode into his house, and Row walked back through the territory to his mother’s, where Dani was just finishing her packing. He set the last of the supplies in the SUV, kissed his mother goodbye, and got behind the wheel. It took a few more tearful minutes, but Dani eventually stopped hugging and crying on their mom, put her last bag in the back, and got in the SUV.
“Ready, kiddo?” he asked as he slowly backed out of the driveway.
“Yes and no.”
They both waved out the window to their mom, and she waved back. Shifting into gear, he honked twice and drove away, leaving the safety of the sleuth’s territory and heading toward Dani’s future.
Row hoped that when they found the reindeer herd, they’d be happy to see Dani. But if they weren’t, he would take her away; they’d return home to the sleuth and go on with their lives. He had a new job to look forward to, and he knew that eventually his sweet sister would find her mate. He hoped like hell he found his, too.
* * *
Dani rolled her neck as she got out of the SUV while Row pumped gas. “Man, I’m freaking tired of traveling.”
“It’s only been two days,” Row said.
“It’s just been a lot of driving.”
“I’m the one doing the driving. You’ve been stretched out in the backseat playing games on your tablet and driving me crazy with pop music.”
“You know you love my music.”
He snorted. “You have no proof of that.”
The attendant gave Row change, and Dani asked, “Where are we?”
“Wilde Creek,” the man said.
