Checkmate (The Kurtherian Endgame Book 11) by Michael Anderle

Author:Michael Anderle [Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2022-01-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

>>Michael, can you talk?<<

Go ahead.

>>Bethany Anne is on her way back to Earth. You need to be there. We lost TOM.<<

Michael was lost for words.

>>Michael?<<

I’m here. Have Bethany Anne meet me at the mystic temple. I’ll gather everyone and make my way there.

The news that TOM was gone was devastating. Michael couldn’t even begin to imagine what Bethany Anne was feeling right now.

He didn't waste time on explanations as he picked up Gabrielle, Peter, Tabitha, and Hannah, leaving the other Weres behind to assist the people of Tokyo with putting everything back in order after the battle.

However, once the Scuttlebutt was in the air, he had no choice but to break the bad news to them.

Tabitha broke down in tears. Peter held her close, murmuring almost unintelligible words of comfort. Gabrielle drew in on herself. She wrapped her arms around her knees and curled up into a ball on the seat, her gaze far away and her eyes shining with sadness.

Hannah went to the armory to give everyone space to process their emotions. Although she hadn’t known TOM, she knew what it was to lose someone and didn’t want to intrude on their grief. The atmosphere aboard the ship was thick with sadness compounded by TOM’s death coming so soon after Giles had been taken from them.

Julianne met them in the open courtyard at the temple. Her eyes were soft with understanding. Michael declined to enter the temple with the others, telling them he was going to wait with the ship for Bethany Anne.

The next thirty minutes passed with agonizing slowness. Michael sat at the top of the open ramp, then he got up to pace, his thoughts on his own relationship with TOM.

While he had been the first human to meet the Kurtherian, their relationship hadn’t gotten off to a good start. Avoiding the mountain where TOM’s ship had crashed for a thousand years had caused a strain between them. Added to that, if he was honest, Michael had initially been jealous of Bethany Anne’s close relationship with him.

TOM had been there for her when he had not, as had ADAM. After taking the time to put aside those feelings and realize that what he had been feeling was his own guilt at being absent, their relationship had improved significantly over the last two hundred years.

For Bethany Anne, there had been no gap. TOM had been a constant presence in her mind, guiding her every step of the way as she built an empire, walked away from it, and rebuilt her life around him and the children.

As Bethany Anne came closer to Earth, Michael felt the aching chasm of her grief over their mental connection. He reached out with his love and his sorrow.

Michael, he’s gone. He’s gone, and the last thing I said to him was that I was going to beat his ass

ADAM told me. I’m at the temple waiting for you. We’re all here. Just tell me what you need.

I need TOM. I need him not to be gone.

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