Change of Heart

use for the family or the former tribe of my mate, for they are blind to the gift that he is."
    "Semel-re," Archer began.
    "And do not seek to gain allies in hopes of somehow hurting me to in turn bring harm to my reah. I have sent my maahes to speak to Ethan Locke in New York, and if he accepts my aset Simone, then he and I will share a covenant bond. And Martine Soto in Miami is a dear friend. I only warn you because if you suggest to him any alliance to strike back at me... well, he's very dangerous, and his ideas about torture are somewhat antiquated."
    I saw Archer blanch.
    "Justin Cho is the semel of one of the largest tribes I know of, over two hundred, and he lives in San Francisco. Should you want to speak to him, please give him my regards. We've been friends for over fifteen years. He visits every summer."
    "I understand what you're saying to me," Archer told him.
    "I live on this mountain in this small place and bother no one, but do not mistake me for a man without friends or 292
    Change of Heart
    by Mary Calmes
    connections or resources. If you or your sylvan have any further contact with my mate without my permission, I will kill you. And if I cannot, I will send my sheseru in my stead."
    All eyes went to Yuri, and I saw him as they did. He was scary. Big and scary, even bigger than Logan, and in him, there was the ability to separate what needed to be done from who he was. Guilt did not live in the man, and neither did mercy.
    "Am I making myself clear?"
    "Yes," Archer said softly, reverently.
    "You cannot—" my dad started.
    "The man is my mate!" Logan exploded, yelling, the fury finally boiling over. "Jin Rayne is reah of the tribe of Mafdet! I will present him to everyone, every semel, at the Feast of the Valley when we all meet in Cairo in six months' time." He pointed at Archer. "You will be there, as will every other semel, and when you present your yareah, I will applaud.
    When I present my reah, you will hear the difference. The sound will be deafening. There will be hundreds of semels there, Archer, and I can promise you that I will be the only one there with a reah at his side. Perhaps you don't truly understand how rare a reah is right now, but you will. You surely will."
    "Again, Logan, I apologize. My sylvan and I meant no disrespect to you or your house. There are extenuating circumstances at work here, and I appreciate your patience in this matter," Archer practically groveled.
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    Logan nodded curtly. "And now my patience is done. When you and your sylvan see my reah and me at the feast, you will keep your distance."
    "Yes," Archer said weakly.
    "Now go. All of you, get off my land. My sheseru will show you to your cars. Mikhail, please escort them to the airport, call Christophe and make sure he knows you'll be in his territory on my orders."
    "Yes, my semel."
    "I would like to speak to my son," my father said to Logan, his voice strained, "with your permission, of course."
    "No," Logan denied flatly, his tone icy and hard. He deliberately turned his back on all of them, turning to face me, blocking my view of anyone but him and his breathtaking golden eyes. He pointed to the kitchen door. "I want to talk to you now."
    I turned and walked out of the room without another word, reaching the stairs and taking them to the second floor in twos.
    When I reached Logan's bedroom, now mine as well, I realized how much I loved it and sighed deeply. It was a sanctuary away from the world. I loved everything about my new home, especially the man in it.
    "He beat you?" Logan yelled from behind me, and I heard the bedroom door slam shut.
    I turned to look at him, smiling as I looked my mate over from head to toe.
    "Jin?" he said as he folded his arms across his chest.
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    My mate was waiting for answers, but I was having trouble concentrating. Everything was swirling around in my head. I had wanted to belong to a tribe again after my own had abandoned me, and now I did. Between Logan's patience and love, the acceptance of my new family and friends, and the closure of seeing my father for the evil he really was, it was like I was brand new, starting over with a clean slate. I felt like I could fly.
    "Tell me everything that happened."
    But it was a lifetime ago, and it no longer mattered. I wasn't a scared teenager anymore; I was all grown up with a mate who loved me and a tribe that wanted me... me! They wanted me! "Who cares?"