He launched her, turning again to the picnic. “I am going to consider one thing. Within the meantime, for those who see something, you inform me straight away. When you hear something, let me know.”

She nodded, returning to her spot subsequent to him. “I can do this.”

Marcus pulled her into his arms, kissing the highest of her head. His thoughts calmed from having her towards his pores and skin. He closed his eyes and simply held her.

He felt offended over the individuals disappearing, however he swore he would discover them. He was attending to the underside of the state of affairs, and now he had Rachel by his facet to assist him achieve this. All his worries melted away.

“Do you assume you’re going to discover the lacking individuals?” Rachel requested in a whisper. Her voice cracked, and it nearly seemed like she was crying.

He tilted her head again, seeing just a few tears break away. It yanked his heartstrings, making his dragon loopy. She’d solely been there for such a short while, and she or he already was connected and cared deeply about everybody.

Marcus wiped at her eyes and gave her a gentle smile. “I hope so.”

She appeared away on the river. “Who would do one thing like that? And why? Why steal individuals?”

He did not know the reply to that, however he knew he was going to search out out. The thought made his abdomen churn with disgust.

“I do not know,” he mentioned, kissing the highest of her head once more.

“I really feel for everybody who’s had a member of the family go lacking,” she mentioned. “I can not think about what their mother and father should be considering. Or the spouses and youngsters. To simply all of a sudden have somebody gone. If that was you, I might be heartbroken.”

Marcus tightened his maintain on her. In his thoughts, he was imagining her disappearing. He’d rip the world aside to search out her.

He swallowed. He would not permit it. He was going to unravel this earlier than it bought worse.

He thought of those that had been lacking. He knew every of their names. He felt for the households understanding they had been being torn aside by the whole lot. He reminded himself to talk to the households once more and attempt to assist if he might.

However for now, he was going to take pleasure in Rachel and having her assist. One thing was certain to interrupt their peaceable time collectively quickly, so he was taking it in whereas he might.

He listened to the wind and the sound of the water. Rachel leaned farther again. “Thanks for telling me,” she whispered. “I am comfortable to be within the loop.”

He tightened his maintain as soon as extra, feeling grateful.

ELEVEN

RACHEL

Rachel was devastated by the information Marcus had shared together with her over lunch.

She cared for his individuals. They had been now her individuals as nicely. And listening to they had been being kidnapped and there was nothing that she might do about it was the worst feeling of all.

If she felt this unhealthy, she couldn’t start to think about how Marcus felt. Particularly as an alpha dragon shifter, this should be laborious to swallow.

He was in command of defending his den. He in all probability felt as if he was failing them miserably. She wanted to discover a method to assist. Possibly there was a facet to all of it that hadn’t been explored but. An outsider’s perspective might assist open doorways that had been left unseen.

He was doing all he might, and holding her within the loop with den enterprise made her really feel grateful and privileged. He continued to point out her how a lot he trusted her. She wasn’t going to take his belief without any consideration. She would do all she might to determine who was behind the shifters being taken for him, the den, and their future.

However even with the horrid information, she’d nonetheless loved their lunch.

It was stuffed with peace and an unstated connection that ran deeper than she’d realized. And him trusting her and making her his confidante pushed the power of that connection to unbreakable.

They’d tried to consolation one another and, in doing so, had made the afternoon salvageable, although they couldn’t neglect the looming darkness.

After lunch and a few tender moments by the water, Marcus stood and reached for Rachel’s hand. “Up for a stroll?”

She smiled and took his outstretched hand to face.

She wiped off her pants, gathered their issues, and inhaled the refreshing breath of nature.

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