Most of the Goyles had the ability to speak to their mates through their bond, and Kai took advantage of it. His beast had been checking in with Josie every so often, so Kai was aware of the situation. He leaned back in his seat and let his mind wander to the future. Past all the bad shit, to where they had their home rebuilt and there were little Samoan god babies running around.
Chapter Twenty-Two
As soon as they were in the air, Nikolas was out of his seat, pacing.
“Nik?” Frey reached out for his brother’s hand.
Nikolas didn’t pull away. He gripped Frey’s hand tighter. “Sophia… Lydia…” Nikolas choked back a sob.
“Is something wrong with my niece?”
“No. Sophia passed out during the whole pod-flying-through-the-air debacle. When she came to, she couldn’t feel the baby move, but Isabelle checked her over. As far as they both can tell, the baby’s fine, but…” Nikolas collapsed into the seat next to his older brother. Frey’s strong hand gripped Nikolas’s neck. Frey squeezed and rubbed the muscles, giving Nik his silent comfort while allowing Nik to regain his composure. “That was too close,” Nik whispered. He didn’t care if the others heard his anguish. They all came close to losing their mates, but he and Frey would have lost so much more. Dante too. Both Nik and Frey had unborn babies to worry about, and Nikolas knew if he’d lost Sophia and Lydia, he would have followed them in death. “While I was freaking the fuck out, my beast took over and spoke with Sophia’s. Her shifter promised mine it would never let anything happen to our child.”
“My beast was also talking to Josie,” Malakai said from across the aisle.
“Really?” Nik straightened and focused on the Samoan. “I’ve never heard of anyone else being able to communicate with the shifter. Is that because of the Auspice of Sevens?”
“Yes, but my beast prefers to call it a blessing, and I prefer curse. Other than the whole nearly dying incident when she and I first met, I have changed my tune. My shifter can speak to her when I’m focused on something else. Keeps us connected.”
“Is it wrong I’m glad mine can’t speak to Willow?” Mason asked, grinning. “I chalk it up to my age, but some of the things it thinks makes me cringe. I can’t imagine it telling Willow all the things it wants to do to her.”
Nikolas barked out a laugh. “Ooh, a dirty beast? Do tell us more.”
“Uh, no thank you. Didn’t you hear me say cringe?” Mason’s cheeks turned crimson.
Before Nik could give the young Goyle any more shit, Sophia’s beast popped into his mind.
We’re being rescued. The Coast Guard has Bryce and Karson safely aboard their boat, and now they’re trying to figure out next steps.
“The Coast Guard has arrived. Frey, what do you know about the pod? Can they somehow open it and get the mates to safety?”
“They can, but depending on the current, it might be better for them to either tow the pod behind them or lift it with a wench system onto the boat. Since I don’t know the size of their vessel…” Frey held his palms up. “Bryce should know this since he helped Julian design it.”
Nik’s shifter relayed that information to Sophia’s. Bryce helped Julian design the pod. He’ll know what to do.
Nikolas wiped his hands on his jeans. “I hate that Sin and Sixx aren’t going to get to the island before our mates.”
“No, but they have Bryce and Karson watching out for them,” Frey said.
Kai laughed while sitting with his eyes closed. When he opened them, he told Frey, “Amelia is keeping everyone entertained. She keeps asking when they can go on the ride again. Molly is feeding into Amelia’s excitement, and Connor has expressed the need to start a journal of their experience.”
“And Willow?” Mason asked.
Kai held up a finger. After a few seconds, he smiled at the younger Goyle. “She is trying to help keep Amelia in her seat. The pod rocks back and forth if anyone moves around too much, and Katherine is experiencing extreme seasickness.”
“Damnit. I wish Julian would get his head out of his ass.” Nikolas knew better than anyone his brother’s need to protect the family, but he also knew Katherine was pregnant They hadn’t shared that with too many of the Clan at Julian’s request. Nik also knew Julian had been slowly declining into depression with each move their enemy managed to make against his security system. “We need to find another Goyle to take over the lab. Jules needs a vacation. A long one. If Lachlan did have something to do with the jet going down, Julian will take the male’s head, and Hunter won’t have to worry about having a traitor for a mate.”
“With the number of Gargoyles in our Clan, there has to be at least one who is proficient in computers. Have you searched the archives?” Frey asked.
“I have. There are a couple who look good on paper, but I haven’t had a chance to vet them. For a while, Julian was in a better head space. Teaching Tamian’s mate gave him something positive to focus on, but with these latest developments, he’s fallen farther backwards. As soon as we get our mates home safely, I’m going to amp up my research. That plus rebuild my home.”
“You think it is salvageable?” Kai asked.
“I’m hopeful. Sophia and I both love our home. If I have to, I’ll tear it down and start from scratch. I’m going to make sure it’s exactly the same as it was before the explosion. What about you? How bad is your home? Or should I say Sixx’s?”
“Josie and I told Sixx we wanted to buy it. He was getting the paperwork drawn up, so for all
