Jinx accepted the paperwork with a wink. “I will make sure it’s filed. Be happy.”

He already was. He’d just be more so when Boris was no longer a threat to his mate.

Chapter Nineteen

I’m mated. Jeanie smiled and curled against True on his lap in the SUV. He’d insisted she sit there when other New Species had piled into the vehicle to escort them to wherever they were being moved. The sun had barely risen and she stared out the side window when they came to a halt. A New Species, wearing the NSO uniform, walked up to the driver’s door.

“Hello, Slade.”

“We have a new couple. They are staying in the house next to Justice’s. This is Jeanie and you know True.”

The male grinned. “We got a call that you were coming and that they are newly mated.”

“You were also told she’s in danger?”

All humor left the man’s face. “Yes. I sent an officer to check out the home and he radioed back that all is fine. We’ll increase patrols.”

“Good.” Slade stepped on the gas as soon as the gate opened to admit them. “These are the cottages for the mated couples and for some of the Species with greater responsibilities.”

Jeanie stared at the large homes. “Cottages? They have to be over three thousand square feet. My version of a cottage and your version are completely different.”

True captured her attention with a questioning look.

“Cottages are tiny homes, kind of cute, but small.”

Slade laughed. “Everything is bigger with New Species.”

True chuckled. “Everything.”

Men. Jeanie could guess where their minds were and decided, in some ways, they were more human than they would admit. She kept silent until they pulled into a driveway and came to a stop. True opened the door, lifted her off his lap and climbed out after her. The other New Species stayed in the SUV.

“Your security detail is on the way. Go inside and relax. Someone will bring food immediately and clothing within the hour. Enjoy being newly mated. The door is unlocked. Justice ordered a breakfast feast for you,” Slade explained. “Expect the doorbell in about ten minutes. They’d already started preparing food at that cafeteria so it’s just a matter of sending someone to deliver it. They’ll be quick.”

True walked Jeanie to the front door. She eyed the house. It was a pretty shade of pink and was huge. Any apartment she’d ever lived in would have probably fit in the garage. He twisted the door handle and it swung open. She peered inside.

“Wow. It’s fully furnished.” That surprised her.

“Justice’s mate lived here for a while.”

She glanced up at him. “They lived apart after mating?”

He chuckled. “It was before they mated. He wanted her close.” He jerked his head. “Their home is that one.”

She glanced in the direction he indicated and saw an even larger home. “That’s kind of intimidating.”

“You don’t want to live next door to them?” True frowned. “I want you to be happy.”

“He’s the leader of the NSO. He’s like a celebrity. I never thought I’d be neighbors with someone so well-known. I don’t mind though. It’s just kind of strange.”

True surprised her by laughing and abruptly scooping her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I know human customs. I’m to carry you inside.”

“That’s really sweet.” She was touched at the gesture. “Thank you.”

He stepped inside, turned and used his foot to slam the door. He shifted her weight enough to free his hand and twist the deadbolts. Their gazes met. “Do you want a marriage ceremony? We could invite your family and friends.”

She imagined that phone call to her parents. They’d have a ton of questions, mainly starting with how she’d met True. To tell them the reason she rarely called was due to the dangerous situations she’d put herself in wouldn’t be fun. They’d be angry that she’d lied to them and kept so many secrets.

“Maybe in a few months,” she decided. “For right now, I think we have enough on our plate with this Boris thing.”

“Agreed.” He turned, studying the room.

She followed his gaze. The living room was large and included a nice fireplace. The kitchen and dining room area looked modern and nicely furnished.

“Jeanie?” She turned her face to peer into his eyes. “Are you worried your family and friends will have a problem with you being mated to me?”

“No. I think they’ll be surprised since I never told them anything about what was actually going on in my life but once they get past the shock of everything I’ve kept secret and realize I survived it all in one piece, they’ll be fine with it. The one thing they always taught me was to judge people for their actions rather than what kind of upbringing they had. Your being New Species isn’t going to matter. You’re an incredible person, True.”

“You chewed on your lip when I asked about marriage.”

“It’s nothing to do with you. I promise. Telling them that we’re together is going to be the easy part. They’ll want to know how we met. That will be the hard part. That makes me anxious. They are going to be furious when I have to tell them I was leading a double life and lied to them about what I was doing for a living and why I couldn’t see them more often. That’s something I’d like to avoid a little longer.”