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  Thorn put his hands on his hips. “Great, exposed by a butterfly.”

  “I don’t sense a shifter,” George commented. “Do you?”

  “Not that close.” Emilia turned suddenly and stared into the lush forest surrounding them. “But there are several shifters approaching.”

  “Right, let’s go.” Thorn kept his voice low but injected it with urgency and they all turned away from the butterfly and set off down the trail at a jog.

  “Listen, why don’t you go on ahead and do what you have to do to get that back in its rightful place while we scare off anyone who might be close by,” George suggested.

  “The dragons can’t shift,” Thorn reminded the others. “Not unless you want your cover blown.”

  “Magnus and I are pretty good together when cornered,” Ruby replied. “You go, we’ve got your backs. As soon as you return the jewel, we’ll get out of here.”

  Thorn figured Ruby meant they would shift and fly away, he could do the same as long as Emilia wasn’t seen. “Take care, you know the risks.” He turned away from them, before adding, “And don’t hurt anyone, this is supposed to be a good deed.”

  “I promise no one will get hurt,” George assured him. “Now go.”

  Emilia followed him along the trail, while the other three hung back, making enough noise to draw attention to themselves, while Emilia and Thorn melted into the darkness. He ran on silent swift feet, and Emilia followed in his footsteps.

  The soft mud underfoot turned to rock as they reached the foot of a roughly hewn stone staircase. They were nearing the cave where the Jewel of Avantar belonged. Thorn climbed quickly, and Emilia followed, matching him stride for stride as they neared their destination. A thrill crept through Thorn, the same thrill that usually accompanied a great find. Only this time he was returning a sacred relic to the people it had been stolen from.

  “Thorn,” Emilia’s voice reached him too late and he skidded to a stop as a leopard leaped out of the undergrowth.

  They stood facing each other, the leopard’s luminous eyes studying the two strangers before him.

  Awkward, Thorn’s bear made an obvious comment as the standoff continued.

  Why didn’t you warn me? Thorn asked.

  I didn’t sense him, his bear replied. Perhaps the shifters of the rainforests have evolved to be unseen and undetected.

  “Hello.” Emilia took the initiative and stepped forward, her hands in the air to signify she meant no harm. “We’ve come to return something that belongs to your people.”

  The leopard watched her with curiosity but didn’t shift or show any sign he was anything other than a big cat.

  “So, we’re just going to continue on our way. We mean you no harm.” She reached for Thorn’s hand and they walked on at an unhurried pace. Thorn didn’t need to look over his shoulder to know the big cat was following them.

  “What do we do?” Thorn asked uneasily.

  “Complete the mission and leave,” Emilia said conversationally, not raising her voice or doing anything that might trigger a big cat attack.

  “Sounds like a plan.” They walked together hand in hand, the stone staircase winding around in a tight circle until they stood inside a large cave. The smell of incense hung in the air and a small wooden altar stood in the center of the room, with a large rock before it that was empty, but below it was an image of the Jewel of Avantar and a description of its powers.

  “Are we sure about this?” Thorn asked Emilia. “I don’t want to have to come back and steal it again.”

  “Just do it,” Emilia said, casting a glance over her shoulder to where the leopard stood in the doorway panting slightly as he watched them.

  Thorn took the stolen jewel out of his pack and set it down on the empty rock, where it nestled into a groove that still had the exact dimensions needed to hold the Jewel of Avantar snugly.

  He wasn’t sure if he’d expected fireworks or something, but the return of the jewel changed nothing in the room, not even the room temperature. Thorn expected a little something to show their success.

  “You did it,” Emilia said with relief.

  “It wasn't exactly hard, was it?” Thorn asked, glancing around the room and expecting a swinging axe to come at him, or the floor to cave in.

  “Perhaps that’s because you are returning the jewel, not stealing it.” Emilia reached out and took Thorn’s hand, threading her fingers through his. “Let’s just go.”

  “Nice kitty,” Thorn said as they sidled past the leopard. In answer, the big cat bared his teeth and snarled at them. “He obviously never got the memo about saying thank you when someone returns an overdue jewel.”

  As they left the cave, the leopard watched before walking up to the Jewel of Avantar and staring at it. “Let’s get out of here,” Emilia said and they ran down the steps, heading to where the others were still making a lot of noise. “Is that the sound of a bear?”

  “It is, George must have shifted. Come on, they might need our help.” They ran flat-out, but before they reached the others, a loud growl and a snarl filled the air and the undergrowth stirred as if a hundred creatures moved as one.

  “We should fly,” Emilia said breathlessly. “I can’t speak leopard, but I believe he was telling the others that the jewel has been returned and I sure do not want to be here if they want answers.”

  Thorn nodded and they all ran back along the trail toward the ledge where they’d shifted. Behind them, the sound of several animals calling and snarling filled the forest. “Are they getting closer?”

  “Yes,” Magnus said. “We should just shift here. So what if they know we’re dragons, they won’t know where we came from and I doubt they will tell anyone.”

  “Magnus is right. The last thing these shifters want is the world trampling through their back yard,” Ruby agreed. “Goodness, you’d think they would be grateful we brought their precious jewel back.”

  “They might want to interrogate us to find out who took it. Let’s put some distance between us and them. Is there room to shift?” Thorn asked, as George, still in his bear form, stood guard on the trail.

  “We’ll make room,” Ruby said and shifted instantly, crushing the undergrowth under her large body.

  “Go,” Magnus directed, and he watched with relief as Ruby launched herself into the darkness. “Emilia. George and I will bring up the rear.”

  Emilia nodded and shifted. No sooner had her feet touched the ground than Thorn sprang on to her back as the forest around them became alive with movement. He held tight as she leaped into the air. Magnus shifted immediately, the air shimmering and sparkling as his dragon burst forth.

  Thorn looked over his shoulder, he could not leave until George was safely on Magnus’s back. Emilia hovered above the ground, waiting.

  “Go!” George’s voice reached them as Magnus leaped off the ground, just as two leopards jumped up at them from the side of the trail. Their teeth scraped Magnus’s scales but did not cause damage, and the three dragons and their passengers were soon swallowed up by the night sky.

  Flying in formation, they turned for home and didn’t stop until they were safely back in Bear Creek.

  “We made it,” George said, triumphant but weary as they were met by Fiona and Harlan.

  “Did you get your answers?” Harlan asked.

  Emilia leaned into Thorn, who wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “We did. At least we learned enough to know we are safe.”

  Magnus nodded. “We both know where we belong, and it is not in the past. What happened, happened, and we have to move on.”

  “Tomorrow. We can move on tomorrow. Right now I want to go home and not move for several hours,” Emilia said lightly, her hand on Thorn’s chest.

  They walked toward the house, and Thorn leaned in to whisper in Emilia’s ear. “No moving at all?”

  She looked up at him, her face radiant. “Perhaps some moving. You have not fulfilled your duty as a dragon’s mate yet today.”<
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  “Thank you for reminding me, I take my role as a dragon’s mate very seriously.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

  “We can get through this together, can’t we?” she asked suddenly.

  “Through what?” Thorn asked.

  “My readjustment to the new world.”

  “Yes, we can do anything as long as we are together. And remember, we are not alone, you are part of an ever-growing family.”

  “I’d like us to grow our family as soon as possible,” Emilia told him. “If there is one thing I have learned it is that life can throw things at you, unimaginable things, but together, we can get through them.” She stood still and pulled him back to her. “I love you, Thorn.”

  “I love you, too, Emilia. And I agree on the family side of things. I might enjoy one or two last adventures before I settle down for good. With you by my side.”

  “I like the idea of that.” She smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Maybe I should look at life as one big adventure. It’s time to stop being so serious and embrace this new me.”

  “I’ll embrace you anytime,” Thorn told her.

  “You know one thing that has not changed?” Emilia asked as she kissed his lips.

  “No, tell me?”

  “Men still manage to sound corny.” They walked toward the house once more.

  “Horny. Not corny.”

  “What is horny?” Emilia asked.

  “I’ll show you later.” He pulled her along as they caught up with the others. George was recounting his actions to Fiona and Ruby was talking to Harlan, while Magnus walked beside her, holding her hand.

  We should be proud of ourselves, his bear said. We put things right, for Emilia, and perhaps earned some redemption for our family name.

  Don’t take any of the credit, Thorn said. This was fate’s doing, and it took a long time planning.

  His bear gave a silent thank you to fate, for delivering their mate to them not just over distance, but time. Miracles happened. Emilia would prove that to them each and every day of this, their new life together.

  Epilogue

  Emilia stood in the doorway of the cottage she’d grown up in and plucked a rose from the bush that grew around the door. Inhaling the sweet scent, she could be back in time, with Magnus sitting on the grass, painting her into the scene, immortalizing her for all time. Instead, Thorn lay on a picnic blanket watching her with such deep love in his expression it took her breath away.

  “Are you coming to join me?” he asked, patting the blanket next to him.

  “I am.” She walked toward him across the grass, the sound of the creek in her ears and the warmth of the late summer sun on her skin. Her clothes were splattered with paint, they had just finished the last of the rooms in time for their furniture to arrive tomorrow.

  Moving in day.

  “You look beautiful,” Thorn complimented, as she lowered herself down to the ground, her hand supporting the baby growing inside her.

  “You are biased.” She kissed his cheek and leaned back resting on his shoulder. “But I’ll take your compliment.”

  “You should.” He kissed her bare arm, sending tingling sensations through her body. “I mean every word I say.”

  “This old girl appreciates your kindness, sir.” She chuckled as she looked up at the mountains in the distance. “All those years I slept while you were born, grew up and became a man.”

  “Time is immaterial,” Thorn replied. “Any age, it doesn’t matter to me.”

  She pulled her lips over her teeth. “Even if I have no teeth?”

  “Even then.” He slipped his fingers under her chin and tilted her head back before he kissed her lips. His free hand slipped down over her swollen belly and caressed her stomach.

  When their kiss broke, she sighed in contentment. “I’m the luckiest woman alive.”

  “And I’m the luckiest man.” He stroked her blonde hair and inhaled her scent.

  “Our children will run and play in the creek just as Magnus and I did. And since Ruby is pregnant too, they will have at least one cousin to join them.” Life had worked out perfectly. For now. Some days Emilia struggled to fight off the feeling that their happiness could be stolen from them in a moment, just as her life had been stolen by Perry.

  But each day it got easier. Each day her love for Thorn grew. And each day she felt anchored to this place in time by the love surrounding her. She’d learned to trust in Thorn and knew he would never let her go, the bond between them would always lead them back to each other.

  “I love you, Thorn Manning.” She sat up and looked at him, before leaning forward and kissing his lips.

  “And I love you, Emilia Dumas.” He studied her face for a moment before he chuckled. “Ice cream?”

  “Do you mind?” Emilia asked, as he stood up and went inside.

  “Chocolate or vanilla?” he called over his shoulder.

  “Both,” she replied, then lay down on the blanket, looking at the clouds scooting across the deep blue sky.

  Some mornings she opened her eyes and feared this was a dream. Now she didn’t care, because if this was a dream, it was as perfect as could be, and she would not change a thing. This time, this place, this man, was her world. Real or make-believe it was perfection.

  Just like cold ice cream on a late summer afternoon.

  George’s book is next! Another silverback bear coming your way! Sign up here and I’ll drop you an email as soon as it’s released.

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  Have you read the other books in the Return to Bear Creek Series?

  No? Why not start with Return to Bear Creek Collection One?

  Other Books By Harmony Raines

  Other Books By Harmony Raines

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  Hero Mine

  Bear my Fate (Hero Mine Prequel Book 0)

  Hero Mine - Kurt

  Bear Bait (Hero Mine Book 1)

  READING ORDER FOR

  Bear Creek Clan and Bear Bluff Clan

  Complete Box Set

  Or available individually

  suggested reading order

  (each can be read as a standalone

  but why not start at the beginning and get to know all of the characters?)

  Rescued by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book One)

  Finding Her Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Two)

  Tamed by the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Three)

  Snowbound With The Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Four)

  Biker Bear Billionaire (Bear Creek Clan Book Five)

  Bound To Her Bear (Bear Bluff Clan Book One)

  Doctor Bear (Bear Bluff Clan Book Two)

  Stranded With Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Three)

  A Bride for the Bear (Bear Creek Clan Book Six)

  Home Or Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Four)

  Fated To Her Bear (Bear Bluff Book Five)

  Lonely Bear (Bear Bluff Book Six)

  Wolf Valley Raiders

  Complete Box Set Out Now!

  Or available individually

  suggested reading order

  Redeem the Wolf

  To Catch A Wolf

  Reclaim the Wolf

  Awakening the Alpha

  Biker Bears

  Forbidden Bear

  Secret Bear

  Christmas Bear Brothers

  Complete Box Set Now Available

  Or available individually

  suggested reading order

  Santa Paws

  Christmas Catastrophe

  Bear Humbug

  Fated and Mated

  Love at First Site

  Her Scars To Bear

  Her Choice To Bear

  Her Russian Bear

  Who’s the Daddy?

  Complete Box Set Available

  Or available individually
/>   suggested reading order

  One Bear and a Baby

  Her Bear and a Baby

  Second Chance Bear and a Baby

  Baby Protector Bear

  Return to Bear Bluff

  Complete Box Set Available

  Or available individually

  suggested reading order

  The Bear is Back in Town

  His Bear’s Necessity

  Black Bear Down

  Who Bears Wins

  When Bears Collide

  Wish Upon A Bear

  Cowboy Brother Bears

  Complete Box Set Available

  Cowboy Bear Blues

  Cowboy Bear’s Mate

  Cowboy Bear’s Fate

  Return to Bear Creek

  Daddy Bear

  Mountain Bear

  Honey Bear

  Forever Bear

  Storm Bear

  Silverback Dragon

  P.I. Bear

  Doctor Daddy Bear

  Bad Boy Bear

  Silverback Bear

  Ranger Bear

  Christmas Bear

  Hero Bear

  Undercover Eagle

  Single Daddy Dragon

  Secret Baby Bear

  Silverback Wolf

  Awakened Dragon

  Treasure Bear

  Silverbacks and Second Chances

  Cursed Bear

  Lucky Bear

  Fated Bear

  Song Bear

  Christmas Bears

  Sleighed

  Claused

  Wrapped

  Shifters Prime Sleeping Lions

  Complete Box Set Now Available

  Living a Lion

  Freeing a Lion