As head of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Paranormal Operations Unit, Clay Chiles has found a place where he can serve with honor and a surrogate family to replace the one he never truly enjoyed. When he meets Elven warrior Arondel and begins to build the partnership he had never hoped to find, life seems good. Still for two life-long loners to merge their lives, hearts and minds, an occasional conflict is bound to arise.<br><br>Clay’s discovery he has not only a father but a half-brother on Arondel’s home world of Elvenheim creates new and different challenges -- can he accept and trust relatives so different from all he has known? Can they accept him? Finally, faced with incredible tasks and dangers, Clay and Aron are torn asunder. Will the strength of their still- fragile bond be enough to bring them through hell and back to one another’s arms?

Runes of Redemption

He turned his head enough to see Aron, who looked at him and winked. ::Good morning. Did you sleep well?::


::I guess. I don’t remember much after I joined you. Still, I’m wide-awake now and ready for anything. Well, almost anything.::


As if it had been waiting outside the door and gave them just enough time to get up, dress, and make themselves presentable, another larger and darker Shag soon entered.


::Come, Great Ones. It is time to meet again with the council and learn how you are to aid us. The dragons stir, soon to demand further tribute.::


Back in the big hall where they’d first met the Shag leaders, Clay and Aron were led to seats at the table. A very large Shag, perhaps the president, prime minister or whatever they called their executive officer, bowed its head to them in a regal nod. This time, it spoke aloud, which strangely Clay found he could now understand. Perhaps the food and drink we consumed rewired the ear-to-brain connection to make this possible


Chapter 12