Part 22 (1/2)

”Yes, sir. Mark is setting up the LLC .. . and you know all of our areas of expertise. Doc Holland and Clarissa McGill are your bio experts, in the event you run into any more green slime. Bradley has the dark arts on lock. Silver Hawk is the number-one shaman and tracker in North America, and also has wolf access, and of course Woods and Fisher are at the ready for training special units,” she added with a big grin. ”I won't be gone longa”a month tops.”

”So, this is it,” he said, standing. ”I wish we had met under better circ.u.mstances, Captain. Thank you for sitting in on that final meeting with the Joint Chiefs this morning. And I can't blame you, after what I saw, for needing some time off... I'm just glad you're not leaving us altogether.”

”Couldn't do that, Colonel.”

He smiled and looked out the window, where Hunter had just shown up to casually lean against a jeep. ”I admire how you guys can do that.” He shook his head. ”He's also a d.a.m.ned lucky man.”

Sasha tilted her head slightly, surprised that Colonel Madison of all people would have made such a comment.

The colonel smiled. ”I might be in uniform, Captain, but I'm not blind.”

EPILOGUE.

She held up her left hand and watched the sunlight dazzle in the prisms, catching colors in a gorgeous kaleidoscope display. A beautiful three-carat emerald-cut diamond was set aloft ancient turquoise and amber baguettes all wrapped in unique fusion of silver and platinum. Hunter smiled and gently brought her hand to his lips.

”There was never time to get this made and given to you properly for your birthday . . . and then all h.e.l.l broke loose again.” He let go of her hand and looked at her. ”Do you really like it? I know it's strangea”the combination of metalsa”but I wanted the old stones from our people, the silver merged with the human tradition of a diamond and thea””

She kissed him and stopped his awkward explanation. ”It's perfect and it's beautiful.”

”But do you accept it... in the way humans give such a token?” he said, his deep voice a rumble inside his chest and hers.

”With all my heart and soul,” she murmured, kissing the naked plane of his chest.

”Good .. . then I'm glad we came here,” he said quietly and closed his eyes.

”What made you choose New Hamps.h.i.+re?” she asked sleepily, beginning to doze on Hunter's bare chest as she breathed in his scent.