O'Malley: Summer (Shifter Seasons Book 7)

means they are going to ask me to do something dangerous.” Kelos inclined his head. “Ask.”
“Will you fly us to the village?” O’Malley pressed his kips together and sighed.
“Sure. We can leave as soon as it’s dark enough for me to fly over the mountains.” Kelos arched an eyebrow. “What?”
“You don’t want to talk to Amber first?”
“She’ll tell me to go.” Kelos grinned. “I know my wife.”
O’Malley let out a long sigh. “Thank you.”
“No problem. We both know that you would do the same for us if we needed you.” Kelos leaned forward and put his hand on O’Malley’s shoulder. “Hannah’s brother must have seen the same qualities in you, even if you couldn’t see them in him.”
“Yeah, not sure how he’s going to feel about me marrying his sister, though.” O’Malley grinned, the weight on his chest shifting a little. “Wow, two hours ago I was thinking I would never meet my mate and now I’m talking marriage.”
“This means I’ll have to go and find another suitable engagement ring. My hoard is getting depleted by all you guys finding your mates.” Kelos laughed. “I’m joking. It makes me happy. Really happy.”
O’Malley picked up his beer, tipped his head back, and drained the bottle. “I should get going. I have a lot to arrange.”
“The bar?” Kelos asked. “Do you need help with that?”
“I have a great barman. I hired him a week ago. I’ll hand it over to him. And hope I made the right decision.” He ran his hand through his hair. “If you could check in on him every day or so.”
“I will. I’ll make sure everyone else does, too, and that we’re available if there’s anything unforeseen that crops up. We all know this was your new start.” Kelos stood up and followed O’Malley out of the house. “Looks as if you got what you wished for.”
“A new start, yes. But if we don’t find Karl, it’s not going to lead to a happy ever after, is it?” O’Malley asked, finally voicing his concerns.
“Maybe Hannah came into your life because she is going to need someone who is there for her. No matter what.” Kelos leveled his gaze at O’Malley. “Life has its ups and downs. If you can’t find Karl, or you find him deceased, that is not your fault. He decided to take the path that led him to wherever he is. All you can do is help pick up the pieces.”
“Thanks, I think.” O’Malley nodded to Kelos. “Shall we meet you here?”
“Yes, this is probably one of the safest places for me to take off from.” Kelos paused. “She knew about shifters?”
“She had an idea from what Karl told her, yes.” O’Malley chewed the inside of his cheek. “I have not told her we are flying on the back of a dragon.”
“Oh, so that is going to be interesting.” Kelos shook his head. “Maybe you should tell her before you get here.”
“Maybe I should.” O’Malley inhaled deeply. “Next time I see my mate…” He grinned. “I’ll tell her.”
“I’m happy for you.” Kelos meant it. The dragon shifter had enjoyed watching all his friends find their mates and now, at last, O’Malley had joined them in taking his first step toward the rest of his life.
With our mate, his cougar said. You’re right, that has a good ring to it.
O’Malley got back in his truck, his head filled with the million and one things he needed to do before he left with his mate to find her brother. Yet all he wanted to do was drive farther into the mountains and run. At least, his cougar wanted to run.
The energy inside of them was buzzing, building up as if it might explode if the smallest spark touched it. Hannah was that spark. It was as if she had ignited his soul and awoken him from a deep slumber.
We need to focus. O’Malley drove back to Cougar ridge. His first stop had to be Axel’s house. He still lived with his mom in one of the oldest houses in town. O’Malley smiled to himself. The guy was in his forties, far too old to still live at home, but his mom had suffered a stroke a couple of years back and Axel had moved back in to take care of her.
They were just about getting by financially, and the job at the bar would make things easier for them.
Axel might not have much in the way of bar experience, although he had taken a couple of part-time jobs in various bars throughout his varied working life, but he had a drive to succeed so he could give his mom a comfortable life. Family mattered.
You hired him because you felt sorry for him, his cougar said bluntly.
I hired him because the drive to do well at a job is more important than the skills, sometimes. I mean, you wouldn’t want a doctor to operate on you if he simply had the desire to do well. O’Malley grinned and raked his hand through his hair. I am struggling to focus.
It’s only natural that our mate would consume our waking thoughts and she will probably fill our dreams, too. His cougar’s chest rumbled as he purred. I am not complaining.
O’Malley parked the car outside Axel’s house and got out. Closing the door, he noticed a bear sauntering down the street, swaying a little with each step. Is he drunk?
Cougar Ridge has its own set of rules, we should get used to it.
“O’Malley?” The door opened and Axel stood framed there, wearing a flowery apron over his jeans and plaid shirt.
“That’s a good look.” O’Malley grinned as he strode up the driveway. “We need to talk.”
“Is there something wrong?” Axel asked, his concern palpable. “Is the bar okay?”
“The bar is fine. But I have to go away for a few days.”
“You’re going away for a few days?” Axel looked stunned. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” O’Malley inhaled deeply and let it out slowly as he once more tried to quell his rising