Page 41 (1/2)

Rick said, "He’s back Wake up, sleepyhead"

I sat up and yawned, spotting the dark shadow that was Ke face of the , backside first, dragging a black bear down the mountain It looked like two hundred pounds, ed the bear She hissed in displeasure, but it was true Beast could drag a hundred fifty pounds, but not much more Leopards have excellent musculature in head, jaw, neck, and shoulders, and superior cli ability They can even cli the bear up a tree, which is where leopards keep their dinners, safe froed the carcass inside the ht Ke Safia"

He shrugged "Instinct is hard to resist I’ve seen hie to kick it He says the two species are linked, I’ on a metaphysical level"

I shook ether, Rick and I descended the precipitous hillside, ot to the bottom, Kemnebi stepped from the cave in human form Naked I averted my eyes Rick opened his backpack and tossed Ke of nuts Ken of embarrassment, and ate the nuts, while I tried to affect a bored expression, pretty sure I wasn’t succeeding Rick tossed hiranola, the kind with M&Ms in it Kem ate that too Then he walked barefoot toward us with that deadly-looking, catlike grace Without preaive birth only once a century I did not know she was fe" I wasn’t sure how he could not know her gender, and he answered alhts "They have very little external genitalia They are very private creatures I put her life in danger by bringing her to this country" His voice was toneless, but his eyes were heavy with guilt and sorrow He looked around the steep hills and back to the cave "She has been deeply stressed by her inborn i She did not hunt enough for food, did not gain enough weight, and her litter is s days of her nursing"

I rerindy was an a at Rick, Kemnebi held out a hand, imperiously "Shoes"

Before Rick could react, I jerked the backpack out of his hand and stalked to Kem Far too close, inside his personal space I felt his cat flinch at the intrusion Beast huffed in defiance "He’s not your servant He’s not your slave He’s not your punching bag" Kee But I wasn’t finished "And he isn’t yours to challenge or to kill He’s mine Get it?" I tossed the backpack into the pond It landed with a splash "Get your own darabbed Rick by the elbow and yanked hi entirely too satisfied I growled at hih, Jane Yellowrock I like that about you" I ignored hi his head

I shooklot, I let the o off in their borrowed, battered truck and I headed back to Asheville I was cold, wet, exhausted, and really, really, really needed a nap Which I got Finally Even though sleeping ie back

By half an hour after ht I knew there were proble’s talks had been scheduled to begin at twelve, but Shaddock was late Again No one answered at the clan home No one answered anywhere It was like Shaddock and clan had been sucked out of the universe, and thinking about the thing in Evil Evie’s baseht be possible I just hoped he wasn’t stuck in the baseelina’s sisters to free hioire, insulted, retired to his suite with his twins, having awell for the local vaoire’s expression was indicative of the future, Shaddock wasn’t going to be ain, I closed the door behind me, stripped off my fancy jacket, and opened es or texts fro They wouldn’t call now, not this late There was also nothing fro me I flipped it back open, my heart in my throat, but it wasn’t Mol I narrowed my eyes at the nuht now "Yellowrock" I let my tone showthe Rogue Hunter to the service of Lincoln Shaddock" Bruiser was sounding all for strictly in Leo’s behalf, and not entirely with his own approval When Leo wanted me to sleep with Kemnebi, Bruiser had used the sa to do with old Linc being a no-show? Again?" I asked

"There has been a disturbance You will provide him and his clan all reasonable service"

"I don’t sleep with Leo’s pals," I reminded him

His voice arm, a low burr, when he said, "You have been remarkably resistant to my charonna say anything I was thinking