“What about you, Lieutenant?” the commander asked Jeff.
“Sorry, sir. I didn’t get any of that. Rose’s skills are a bit broader-spectrum than mine, it seems. And more finely honed.”
The commander nodded. “Which is why she was put on the payroll. Makes sense. You’ll learn we have a number of consultants here on the island teaching our operatives various specialized skills. Now that we’re all on the same page, we can share resources a bit. From what the admiral tells me, there should be some areas of overlap between our two commands,” he said to Hal. Then, he gave his son an offhand command. “Liam, go put on your uniform again, and come back. I want you to be my liaison with Captain Haliwell’s unit.”
Liam left the room as everybody sat back down again. “Bit unorthodox, isn’t it?” Hal said quietly to the commander. “Having family members under your command, I mean.”
Kinkaid shook his head. “It’s the only way for some of us. Depending on species, we shifters adhere to a hierarchy. Around here, I’m the Alpha. My son knows this, and his inner beast respects it as truth. Without an Alpha to follow and respect, many shifters couldn’t participate in the military. Admiral Morrow knows this, and it’s why he personally handles all the Spec Ops units and teams that have specialized talents. Which is why he’s now your go-to, as well, Captain.”
“I’d always heard good things about the admiral, even if I never served under him before,” Hal answered diplomatically.
They were dancing around what Rose really wanted to know, but she wasn’t constrained by military protocol. She cleared her throat delicately, which had the effect of drawing attention her way.
“Is the admiral a…um…shifter, too?” she asked, using her most polite tone. She didn’t want to piss off a man who could turn into a lion, and—military protocol aside—she wasn’t sure what was appropriate when conversing with a shapeshifter. She supposed she’d have to learn.
“Generally speaking, such questions aren’t asked among magical folk. We prefer subtlety and mystery. Of course, I’m a cat, so maybe my kind takes it to extremes,” Kinkaid answered with a friendly smile. “But you’re new to all this, and I understand that. We’ll make allowances until you all get up to speed.” He addressed his words to all of them now. “As for the admiral, he’s not a shifter, but few know exactly what he is. He’s even more mysterious than most cats I know.” Kinkaid’s smile softened his words.
“I apologize if I was rude. As you said, I have a lot to learn,” Rose offered.
The commander shook his head and made a brushing gesture with one hand that told her he hadn’t taken offense.
“We all do,” Jeff said, covering her hand with his. “And sirs, there is something Rose and I want to make clear.” He took a deep breath and plunged ahead. “We’re engaged.”
Hal started chuckling as the commander smiled. “Son, to a shifter, your bond was obvious the moment you walked within sniffing distance, but I’m happy to hear you’ve made it official in the eyes of man. Since my command is a bit non-traditional, I don’t have any problem with the two of you continuing to work together.” Commander Kinkaid looked expectantly at Hal. “Captain? What do you say?”
“I’m hardly in a position to complain. Not with Casey living on base with me,” Hal replied. “Congratulations, you two.” He offered Jeff his hand for a friendly shake then lifted Rose’s hand for a quick kiss as he smiled and winked at her over the back of her hand. She could feel his true happiness for Jeff and her. It was heartwarming.
A view of the future settled into her mind for a brief moment. It was a happy picture of Jeff and his friends—most of whom had a woman by their side. Casey was there, as was Dr. Holbrook, and the woman from the mall who had been behind the kiosk. Others Rose didn’t recognize but knew she would know in time. Everybody looked happy, sharing a meal together in the mess hall.
That was it, then. For the foreseeable future, Rose and Jeff would forge their path together, on this island, with his unit of friends who had grown into family.
“Did you see that?” Jeff asked her in a whisper as the younger Kinkaid opened the door and drew everyone else’s attention.
“Dinner with your friends?” she asked in just as low a tone as she smiled at him.
His eyes were wide, his expression astonished. “Who were all those women?”
“Girlfriends, fiancées, and wives, I believe,” she replied, a teasing smile on her face.
“What did I miss?” Liam asked, as he settled into a chair to the side of his father’s desk.
The commander looked at Jeff and Rose with a raised eyebrow. “You two just saw something, didn’t you?”
Jeff squeezed Rose’s hand, and she decided to field the question. “Sometimes, Commander, we will keep our visions to ourselves until the time is right, because sometimes, it isn’t good for others to know what will happen. They might do something to alter the future into an unforeseen path. In this case, though, I think it’s safe to say that we both just had a glimpse of the future for Captain Haliwell’s unit, and it was a very bright future, indeed.”
Epilogue
Jeff was doing PT with the rest of the unit one morning a few days later and ended up standing next to Carter, who had just rejoined the unit after the gunshot wound in his leg had been healed by the unit’s doctor, Rick. Carter had been shot in the mall when they’d liberated Rose, and Jeff had thanked him for the sacrifice.
Carter had also been the man left behind with Hannah, the cast-footed kiosk attendant. Apparently, the local emergency services had insisted on treating Carter’s wound, and he’d only managed to sign himself out of their hospital the day before. He’d come right back to the island where Rick had used his freaky new healing skills to fix up his arm like new.
“Heard anything about Hannah?” Jeff asked Carter as nonchalantly as possible. He knew from his own new gift that Hannah might play a very important role in Carter’s life in the future, if he’d let her.
“I talked to her before I left the hospital. She visited me to see how I was doing.” Carter’s tone was filled with surprise that the woman would do that for him.
“How’s her foot coming along?” Jeff knew just the right questions to ask, thanks to his vision of the day before, which Rose had helped him interpret.
Carter frowned. “She’s been going to the VA for it, but something’s wrong with the way it’s healing. Did you know she was a vet? She served in Afghanistan and was wounded by a roadside bomb. That’s how her foot got messed up in the first place. Her tour was almost up, and after that, she decided to try civilian life again.”
“Can’t blame her. Especially if the foot isn’t healing,” Jeff said, dropping to the sandy beach to do pushups, as did Carter and the rest of the unit. “Maybe Rick could take a look,” Jeff added, as if just thinking of it. In reality, he’d planned what to say to Carter, with Rose’s input, last night. They both suspected the guy would need a little nudge in the right direction, and Jeff had just delivered it.
“I wonder if the Cap’n would allow it?” Carter mused aloud.
“Only one way to find out. You should ask him. She did see us in action, so it’s not like she doesn’t know who we are. And she’s a vet. Rick’s talent is going to waste out here with just us to look after. I bet he’d be happy to help her,” Jeff added.
“You’re right.” Carter got a determined look in his eye, which made Jeff want to smile, but he wisely held it in. “I’ll look into it after breakfast.”
“Good man.”
Jeff secretly aimed a thumbs-up to where he knew Rosie—his beloved fiancée—was watching from the mess hall windows. Seeing the future was one thing, but learning how to use the information to help others… That was the real skill. Rosie did it by instinct and with her open and kind heart. She was teaching him that, and so much else about love and trust and being with someone who was perfect for him in every possible way.
When he’d first seen Rosie, he’d guessed there was some
thing special about her. Now, after loving her, he had no doubt.
*
Thanks for reading Future Past. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review. A complete list of all of my books, separated by series follows. You can also check out my website at WWW.BIANCADARC.COM. Or you can sign up for my new release list to be alerted when new books are released.
About the Author
Bianca D’Arc has run a laboratory, climbed the corporate ladder in the shark-infested streets of lower Manhattan, studied and taught martial arts, and earned the right to put a whole bunch of letters after her name, but she’s always enjoyed writing more than any of her other pursuits. She grew up and still lives on Long Island, where she keeps busy with an extensive garden, several aquariums full of very demanding fish, and writing her favorite genres of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi romance.
Bianca loves to hear from readers and can be reached through Twitter (@BiancaDArc), Facebook (BiancaDArcAuthor) or through the various links on her website.
Paranormal Romance
Brotherhood of Blood
One & Only
Rare Vintage
Phantom Desires
Sweeter Than Wine
Forever Valentine
Wolf Hills*
Wolf Quest
Tales of the Were
Lords of the Were
Inferno
Tales of the Were ~ The Others
Rocky
Slade
Tales of the Were ~ Redstone Clan
The Purrfect Stranger
Grif
Red
Magnus
Bobcat
Matt
Tales of the Were ~ String of Fate
Cat’s Cradle
King’s Throne
Jacob’s Ladder
Her Warriors
Tales of the Were ~ Grizzly Cove
All About the Bear
Mating Dance
Night Shift
Alpha Bear
Saving Grace
Bearliest Catch
The Bear’s Healing Touch
The Luck of the Shifters
Badass Bear
Crossroads: Bounty Hunter Bear
Crossroads: Storm Bear
Crossroads: Bear Meets Girl
Spirit Bear
Lion in Waiting
Tales of the Were ~ Were-Fey Trilogy
Lone Wolf
Snow Magic
Midnight Kiss
Tales of the Were ~ Lick of Fire Trilogy
Phoenix Rising
Phoenix and the Wolf
Phoenix and the Dragon
Tales of the Were ~ Howls Romance
The Jaguar Tycoon
The Jaguar Bodyguard
The Jaguar’s Secret Baby
Tales of the Were ~ Big Wolf
A Touch of Class
Gemini Project
Tag Team
Doubling Down
Deuces Wild
Guardians of the Dark
Simon Says
Once Bitten
Smoke on the Water
Night Shade
Shadow Play
Gifts of the Ancients
Warrior’s Heart
Future Past
Epic Fantasy Erotic Romance
Dragon Knights ~ Daughters of the Dragon
Maiden Flight*
Border Lair
The Ice Dragon**
Prince of Spies***
Dragon Knights ~ The Novellas
The Dragon Healer
Master at Arms
Wings of Change
Dragon Knights ~ Sons of Draconia
FireDrake
Dragon Storm
Keeper of the Flame
Hidden Dragons
Sea Dragon
Dragon Fire
Dragon Mates
The Captain’s Dragon
Science Fiction Romance
StarLords
Hidden Talent
Talent For Trouble
Shy Talent
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ In the Stars
The Cyborg Next Door
Heart of the Machine
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ Arcana
King of Swords
King of Cups
King of Clubs
King of Stars
End of the Line
Diva
Jit’Suku Chronicles ~ Sons of Amber
Angel in the Badlands
Master of Her Heart
Futuristic Erotic Romance
Resonance Mates
Hara’s Legacy**
Davin’s Quest
Jaci’s Experiment
Grady’s Awakening
Harry’s Sacrifice
Contemporary Romance
Irish Lullaby
Bells Will Be Ringing
Wild Irish Rose
* RT Book Reviews Awards Nominee
** EPPIE Award Winner
*** CAPA Award Winner