“Have you told her?”

“Not yet. When I get to Russia, I’ll break the news. She’s ready to be Alpha.” His crooked smile grew, eyes sparkling. “And I’m ready to not be Alpha. Maybe get in a few adventures while I’m still young enough to enjoy them.”

He rapped on a closed door. Elena called, “Come in!”

I pushed open the door to see her with Clay, chairs pulled up to a desk, the twins on a huge monitor.

“Savannah!” Kate yelled. “I see Savannah!”

Kate scrambled closer to the camera, shoving her brother aside. As they bickered, I glanced at Jeremy. He’d stayed behind the door and was now retreating, motioning to Elena that he’d talk to the kids later.

“Smart man,” she murmured.

Logan had reclaimed his half of the screen and was leaning forward, frowning. “What’s wrong with Savannah’s arm?”

I lifted the cast. “Broke it doing something dumb.”

“Was it rock climbing?” Kate said. “You promised to teach us.”

“I will this summer. I’m coming to visit after you get back.” Kate let out a whoop. “I wanna break my arm so I can get a cast and have everybody sign it.”

“That’s stupid,” Logan said.

She shoved him. “You’re stupid.”

“Sorry,” I whispered to Elena as the twins tumbled out of sight. “I was actually just looking for Adam.”

“Oh, he’s down the hall making some phone calls. I’ll take you.”

“Yeah, run while you can,” Clay muttered. He leaned toward the screen. “Guys! You’ve got five minutes before bedtime. Do you want to know when we’re coming home?”

“Now!” Kate yelled, popping up. “I want you here right now.”

“They can’t teleport, dummy,” Logan said.

“If you call her that again—” Clay was saying as we closed the door.

“Kids getting bored?” I said as Elena led me away.

“No, the guys are keeping them busy. They just want Mom and Dad to quit this crazy save-the-world nonsense and go camping with them this weekend.”

“Gotta have priorities,” I said.

We took a few more steps.

“So I take it you’re not worried about Malcolm?” I said.

She shook her head. “Another adventure for another day. We need a break and, last we saw, he was safely in Nast custody.” She pushed a half-open door. “And there’s Adam.”

He turned and motioned to his cell phone.

“Thanks,” I whispered to Elena. “Oh, and congratulations.”

“For what?”

I grinned. “You’ll find out.”

I stepped into the office and eased the door shut as Adam got off the phone.

“Ah, so that’s why you’ve been ignoring my calls.”

“Ignoring … ?” He checked his messages. “Shit. I was on hold. Never even heard the beep.” He strode toward me. “Is it Bryce? Is he—?”

I held up a hand to stop him. “Awake. The doctors checked him. He seems fine. I’m giving him some time with Sean. He needs to tell him about Thomas.”

“Right.” He shook his head. “That’s a shitty thing to wake up to.”

“Which is why I left them alone. So, I know it’s getting late, but I was hoping to talk you into a drink, if you’re done with work.”

“Wasn’t working.” He walked to the printer, took off a couple of sheets, and handed them to me. “For you. A little ‘thanks for saving the world as we know it’ present. There’s a T-shirt coming, too, but it’ll take awhile.”

“T-shirt?”

“Yep. It says ‘I defeated Lord Demon Balaam and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.’?”

I laughed. “I’ll count myself lucky if that is all I get. I’m still waiting for him to show up and use my hide for a shirt.”

“He won’t. Too humiliating. Better to just blame Gilles de Rais for screwing up everything.” He waved at the sheets. “Now read.”

I skimmed the first page. “Our ski trip to Switzerland?”

“On my dime. And a very expensive dime it is, too. That place ain’t cheap. But you’re worth it. Just remember that when I ask you to come heli-skiing with me.”

“I’m not doing skiing of any kind.” I lifted my cast. “Did you forget something?”

“Did you check the dates on that reservation?”

They were for two months from now.

“Oh.”

“Yeah, ‘oh.’ I figure that’ll give you time to recover.”

“Time to find an apartment, too. I’m moving out as soon as we get back to Portland.”

“Good. There’s a vacancy at my apartment.” He lifted a hand before I could speak. “In my apartment building, I mean. I know you’re not ready for cohabitation. You need to live on your own. At least for a while.” He put his arm around my shoulder and led me from the room. “Now, you mentioned buying me a drink?”

“I don’t think I said—”

“Yep, pretty sure you did. We might want to make it a double. Have you checked the office e-mail lately? Apparently, the world didn’t stop while we were busy saving it. Lots of work waiting.”

“Lots of adventures waiting.”

He grinned over at me. “Always lots of adventures waiting.”

And so there would be. Things had happened in the last few weeks. Big things. Maybe even things that would ultimately alter our world. But one thing wouldn’t change. There would always be work to do, threats to defeat, adventures to be had.

I wouldn’t want it any other way.