Page 3 (2/2)

Solias nodded "Forward me the details" The Council was likely interested in the details of his political aspirations--power never changed hands without the Council’s approval If Solias played his cards right, he ht not only take over the leadership of San Francisco, he could rise to the Council itself

The Councilors would appreciate his firm hand with the animals And if it all ended with a few dead leopards thrown into the mix, so much the better

Four

HAVING HALF-FROZEN HIMSELF IN THE ICY CHILL OF THE waterfall, Nate finally hunted Tamsyn doell after sunset It wasn’t that he didn’t knohere she was It was that he wasn’t sure he could face her without doing so up there?"

Her eyes were night glow as she stood on a tree liround, in human form It would have been another matter if he’d found her there in leopard form That was normal The sahts slung over one shoulder Now, that wo the boughs above her head

"Ta her so he could catch her if she lost her footing, "if youfor weeks"

"You won’t lay a hand on me, Nathan Ryder," she said "That’s the probleht, of course He’d rather cut off his hand than hurt her "Fine" Slicing out his claws, he prepared to scale the tree and drag her down to safety

"Don’t you dare mess up my Christmas tree"

He stopped "Your what ?" The fir was so tall it seeht clouds Only a crazy wo if she’d lost herhis head bitten off, he decided to point out another fact "It’s not Christ along the branch as she strung the lights "If you’re not going to leave,the other side There are hts at the botto catcher"

Knowing she was right about her leopard being agile enough to ensure she’d always land on her feet, he looked down, then wished he hadn’t "Where did you get this hts?" He picked up the heaviest rope, shoved it over one ariant Christnets" The other race knew nothing of the pack’s network of lairs and aeries It was a forer for power "You want to announce our Pack Circle?"

"I’hts are special low-impact ones They won’t even show to the top of the tree, nature"

He wondered if insanity was catching "I can’t believe I’ht"

"Feel free to leave if it’s past your bedti near Tah to appreciate her claws--no leopard wanted a weakto do for an encore? A parade of giant jack o’lanterns? Maybe we can use them to scare off the wolves?"

"Good idea" He could hear her s important sentinel stuff?"

"I’ allocated most of Cian’s work as the other man concentrated on his role as advisor to Lachlan and trainer to Lucas "I have the night off"

"And you’re here? What, Juanita was busy?"

He let her hear the angry ru?"

"Not possible to cheat on so to tear into her Then his beast suddenly realized so "You’re still jealous of a relationship that was over years ago" He couldn’t understand why, not when he’dbond snapped into being

Silence for several minutes "It hurts es with you--while I’m not even worth a sile statement "Don’t you ever co at the mere idea The instant he’d realized she’d been born for him, it had blinded him to anyone else

She didn’t answer

"Tammy"

"I don’t want to talk anymore"

He was certain he heard tears in her voice It shook hi, beautiful mate never cried "Tammy, don’t"