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"What’s that about?" Lepard persisted

The old ache pulsed painfully "I killed his daughter And his grandson"

Silence Lepard’s eyes narrowed on him "You say that so matter-of-factly But your hands are about to snap that steering wheel into fragments You didn’t ht it would bring them back "No The boy washis anie, and his nose down for the scent of the one they tracked But his ed to strip that neat little ht plait of pale hair In his raceful limbs in casual abandon, her hair fanned out around her like a silken curtain as he licked her froed to touch her, to kiss her, to make wild love to her But beyond that? With most females, there was no "beyond that" They wanted him for his beauty and his body, and he wanted them for the same Period End of story But with Melisande, he wanted ed at him in all kinds of ways he didn’t understand He wantedto talk to her To know her To understand her To make her smile

And he felt this need to protect her because there was so He sensed a vulnerability in her that he hadn’t seen the first tiht to have about a felare, cut But he’d seen confusion in her eyes and glimmers of fear And he didn’t like it, not at all

He wanted to understand, especially if he was soht She fascinated and confused him, infuriated and excited him almost in the same breath He wanted to kiss her until she smiled at him with damp, swollen lips and watched him with eyes drunk with passion

And then he’d send her on her way Because he’d be da onto an outcropping of rocks overhanging a wide, if shallow, creek a half dozen feet below Jag padded across the rocks, then turned to continue up, away fro at his side

Fox hesitated, looking down at the creek, wondering where the desire ca to leap down into the water It wasn’t a gut thing He felt no goose bu Odd Perhaps it had so to do with his fox Did foxes like the water? He wouldn’t have thought so, but

It was strange and a both man and animal like this, and for the hundredth tied existence He ht that at one time all Therians had been shifters Hoful it must have been to lose that ability after the Sacrifice all those o For him this was still brand-new The other Ferals had told hiet used to one another and to learn to work together They’d warned his and informed him that he’d probably develop one or two abilities that he hadn’t had before Lyon was said to be able to steal the eood at clearing the s he shouldn’t have And they’d hinted that Jag could do so the females enjoyed He wasn’t about to ask for an explanation of that one Apparently so of talents the Feral already possessed

So far the only thing he’d seen neas that pre, Foxylocks? Why don’t you walk on two feet for a while, take a break?

I’abelle, but thanks for the concern

Yeah, well I wasn’t really asking, Fox- for a new Feral, and the last thing we need is for you to do a face plant froe

That would be poor strategy, wouldn’t it?

Jag chuckled in his head Yes it would Besides, Castin’s trail is clear and easy to follow There’s no need for us both to stay in animal form We’ll take turns froe flowed over Fox in a heady torrent and a rush of relief He hadn’t realized howthe shift until he stopped But the y rushed over his flesh, heating his blood

He longed to walk straight to her, take her in his arht have considered it if he didn’t suspect he’d get a knife in the gut for his efforts He ht do it even then if he didn’t sense that odd note of vulnerability in her Despite the tartness of her words and the coolness of her gaze, he felt the need to treat her carefully So told him that she was not a woentled Which was an extraordinary thought given her indisputable strength

But his instincts with females were usually dead-on

Olivia patted his shoulder "Are you okay?"

He s his ar "Jagabelle suggested I take a break and two-foot it for a bit"

She snorted "You two aed at hileaht with unshed tears "Kara I’m so worried about her"

"We all are" He squeezed her shoulder "You’ve become close friends, haven’t you?" He’d known Olivia for more than a century and knew her well

"More than friends The Feral wives" She shook her head "We’ve become sisters That sounds silly, I know, but it’s true I love her, Fox They can’t have her"

"We’ll get her back" And they would The need burned inside of hilanced over his shoulder at the two Ilinas walking close behind, unable to ignore Melisande even if he wanted to She glared at hilare didn’t quite reach her eyes Was it possible she was beginning to soften toward hilance back "Determined to taht word To be truthful, luv, I’ I just can’t see"

"Smitten," Olivia whispered

"Never," he whispered back

With a s up with Jag, she slid her hand along her h his fur

Fox watched, filled once ers in his own fur He paused long enough for the two Ilinas to catch up with him, then fell into step beside the up?" he asked, even as his gaze scanned the surrounding vistas, searching for signs of Mage Or Castin Or Kara His warrior’s instincts were so well honed he didn’t even have to consciously pay attention He was always aware of as going on around hiardless of whether or not there was a female in his company he badly wanted to bed

Phylicia slipped her ar his hip "You’ve no idea hoonderful it is to be able to walk the Earth freely again We were trapped in the Crystal Realht we’d never be free"

"You’ve a lot to make up for"

She cut him a seductive look "I do indeed" Her mouth tilted attractively "You know, if ere to take a little break, I could ht back to your coh"

"Phylicia" Mel warned

Did she really think he’d abandon Jag? "A te offer, pretty one"