Between Shadow & Ruin (Fangs & Fae Saga Book 2)

thirty-eight.

Aria and Ray came by to pick up the kids' stuff as they left for school and I got everything packed and ready to go for our trip. There was a cottage in the woods with a clearing I thought was perfect for a picnic.

"So, what do you have planned?"

"What I have planned is for later... but right now..." I pulled Val closer to me and moved her hair back off her face and neck. She giggled lightly and placed her cup on the dresser. I leaned her back and kissed her chest working my way up to her neck. I kissed her jaw and started to nibble on her earlobe. She laughed loudly and I felt her skin react to my touch. "Too much for nine AM?" I asked.

"Maybe a little... but that did feel nice..." Her robe was soft under my hands, and I moved my arms under it, feeling the warmth of her body trapped between her and the fabric. I grabbed her ass lightly and kissed her lips. She stepped up on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around my neck. I could hear her heart begin to beat faster. She broke the kiss and pushed me on to the bed. She started to remove her robe as the doorknob turned. She pulled it back over her shoulders and looked angry as Chris walked in.

"I'm sorry," he said. "But Liz needs to take this call..." he said, holding out his phone. I groaned and got up from the bed. Val tied her robe closed and reached for her coffee.

"Hello?" I said.

"Liz. It's Anna."

"Hey, Anna," I said, giving Chris and Val a confused look. "What's up?"

"Morgan called me." I was silent. "He said you gave him a week to 'pack his shit'?"

"I did. I found someone better suited for Sheriff of California. Someone willing to do the job right. It's his Lieutenant, Steph."

"I will set up a meeting with her for tomorrow night when I get back to the States, so, I'll let you know what I think."

"Okay. Thanks."

"Thanks for finding someone... I had a hard time dealing with Morgan myself."

"It's okay. Also, I'd like to have a few personal days. I have a special weekend planned. My phone will be on for emergencies if I need to."

"I will do my best to not call you then. I'll let your Sheriffs know, but just remember... the duty of a Magister comes first!"

"I know. I will have my assistant be on top of everything." I hung up the phone and turned to Val. "Well... that kind of killed the mood, didn't it?" She nodded and walked out of the room to refill her coffee, and I handed Chris back his phone.

"I'm sorry," he said. I laughed and rolled my eyes. He slapped my ass on the way out of the room. We both headed downstairs. Zane had made breakfast for himself and Val.

"Where are we going?" they asked.

"We're going into the woods – away from the Wolf Den, away from the kids, away from work. I have everything packed up and ready to go. Grab your jackets!"

"The woods?" Val asked as her shoulders dropped.

"Yeah. I thought it might be nice to be away from other people. There's a little cottage for rent I booked for us." I looked over to Chris. Val's gaze moved and back forth between the two of us before her eyes narrowed.

"Chris knows what we're doing?" He shook his head.

"What smells so good?" Zane asked, inching closer to my bag.

"Well... the faster you get off the couch and come with me, the faster you'll find out..."

I led them towards a small clearing in the woods about an hour walk away with a cottage at the edge. As we walked, I watched Val and Zane touch some of the plants and trees on our way.