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a boat trip?”
    “A boat trip?” That was the last thing I was in the mood for, but I assumed there was a good reason Toby was suggesting it.
    “Yes. Well that’s only after we take a flight first.”
    A flight sounded much better. “A flight?” I turned to Eric. “How are you getting there?”
    He ran a hand through his blond hair. “I’m not coming.”
    “Oh, I assumed that’s why you’re walking with us.” I knew he wasn’t coming to enjoy our company. He wasn’t exactly best friends with Toby, although they did seem to end up having more meetings than you’d think.
    “I’m going to find your sister.” He said it resolutely, like there was nothing else he could possibly be doing.
    I tried to reel in my skepticism. “Do you know her?”
    He shook his head. “No, but she’s of my kind.”
    “Got it.” I was new to the whole paranormal thing, but I was beginning to understand the loyalty between members of the same kind of creature. It made sense, but it also frustrated me. Why did everything have to be so divisive? Besides, where did that leave me? What was I anyway? I shifted into a Pteron, but I knew I was part bear. Would I ever truly fit in anywhere?
    “I’ll bring her to you as soon as I find her.” Eric misread the expression on my face. I didn’t doubt his dedication. It was more the principle of the thing.
    “Where are we going exactly?” I asked Toby.
    “It’s up north, on a small island.”
    “So why aren’t we flying directly there? Why this talk of a boat trip?”
    “We have to meet our tour guide first.”
    “Tour guide?”
    Toby shrugged. “Ask Eric.”
    I turned back to him. “Who is it?”
    “It’s actually two guides. If you tried to fly to the island yourself, they’d view it as an attack.”
    “Two?”
    “They’re twins, and I assure you they’re trust worthy. They’re actually your cousins.” He looked away. “They had contacted me already.”
    “My cousins?” Did I have more cousins than just Rhett? “And why would they contact you about me?”
    “Your mom has something to do with them calling. I didn’t get a chance to talk to them long, but these are cousins you’ll take a liking too. Like you they’re a mix, but a mix of a different sort.” He smiled, which made me nervous.
    A mix? Was there more inter paranormal mating going on than everyone thought?
    “Don’t worry about it, Bates. You’ll be fine.” He patted my shoulder. “You have Toby here for protection, don’t you?”
    “Don’t you mean he has me for protection?” I grinned.
    “That’s about right.” Toby took my hand. “Let’s swing by both of our places and pack. It sounds like this is going to be awhile.”
    “What do we tell Georgina? She’s expecting us in New Orleans.”
    “We’ll just have to go straight to New Orleans afterward. She’s the one who told you to look for answers.”
    “That’s true.” I turned to Eric. “Thanks, I think.”
    He smiled. “Anytime.”
    “And be careful.” I knew Eric was putting himself at risk to look for Vera. I hoped he was successful. It’s crazy how I went from hating the guy to trusting him with my life and the lives of others I loved.
    “I can’t promise careful, but I’ll try not to die.”
    I laughed. “Good enough.” I waved goodbye before Toby led me back toward my new apartment. “Do you know anything else about these twins?”
    He shrugged. “Nope, but considering everything we’ve faced lately, I think we’ll be okay.”
    “Just don’t ditch me, and we’ll be fine.”
    “I knew you wanted me around,” he teased.
    I leaned into his side. “I’m sure I’ll find a use for you eventually.”
    “You mean more than the stress relief and focus you found this morning?”
    “Yeah, good point. That’s a very good use.”
    He laughed. “I’m glad you think so.” He put an arm around me, and we continued walking. I tried to savor the moment, to soak up the pretense of normalcy. I knew I couldn’t