Des made a mewling noise behind me, and I twisted in my seat to see Manx bring the baby up to one exposed breast, where he latched on eagerly. The mewling became a soft sucking sound as he began to nurse. Again. Did that kid ever do anything but eat? Even with his androgynous baby face, I could tell the little monster was a boy by his appetite alone.
Still, I couldnt help but smile as I turned to scan the parking lot out the driver-side window. The little guy was a true survivor. Just like his mother.
Looking for me? Something tapped on the glass behind me, and I jumped, then whirled fast enough to hit my head on the sun visor. Marc stood outside the window, looking warm and welcoming in a worn brown leather jacket and an old pair of jeans. His smile widened as I fumbled for the door handle. But in my excitement I couldnt find it, so he opened it for me, nearly ripping the door from its hinges.
My feet never hit the ground. One moment I was in the front seat, the next I was in his arms, my legs wrapped around his waist, his mouth soft but insistent beneath mine. People staredI saw them over Marcs shoulder but then they smiled and went about their business, except for a few kids, who giggled at our display.
Evidently reunions look much the same in any species.
Your hair grew, Marc whispered, and the warmth of his breath against my ear gave me chills that had nothing to do with the ice half coating the parking lot.
You cut yours. I ran my hand through cold, short curls.
He put me down, but still held me close. Yeah, I figured with the new life, why not try a new look? What do you think?
Grinning, I stepped back for a better look. Not bad. Marc would look good in an orange clown wig, if he decided to wear one. Still, though hed only lost two inches, I couldnt help missing the rest of his hair. But nowhere near as badly as Id missed him.
I was threading my arm through his when a familiar scent caught my attention. A stray scent, andoddly enoughone I knew.
Daniel Painter.
I froze, and my grip tightened around Marcs arm as my pulse raced. I scanned the parking lot for the stray whod ratted Manx out in exchange for a chance to join our Pride. If he could keep his nose clean in the free zone for a year.
Keeping his nose clean did not include picking a fight with a delegation of Pride cats as soon as we crossed the border. And there was no way in hell that his presence in that particular parking lot was a coincidence
Two
Whats wrong? Marcs gold-flecked brown eyes darkened as he frowned, glancing around in search of whatever had set me on edge.
Dan Painters here. My fingers brushed his leather-clad arm as I turned, trying to glance around the parking lot inconspicuously.
A flicker of annoyance flashed across Marcs expression. I know. I cant shake him.
I felt my eyes go wide and gave up the search for Painter to stare at Marc. Hes tailing you?
Sort of. Marc flushed, and I knew there was more to the story than he wanted to tell me.
And youre justletting him?
He sighed and rolled his eyes. Hes not actually causing any trouble, so I dont feel justified pounding on him. He just hangs around and asks questions about the Pride, and the way weyou guysdo things. Where we come from, how we control bloodlust, why there are so few tabbies, why there arent any strays in the Pride. Well, not anymore, anyway.
Marc was a straya werecat born human, and later infected through a bite or scratch from a werecat in feline formand he remained the only stray ever admitted into a Pride. Even if he was no longer officially a part of that Pride.
The guy never shuts up. Seriously, he talks all day long.
I smiled. Kaci had a very similar habit, and as much as I liked her, Id started to value long-distance assignments simply for the peace and quiet. Surely his job provided the same relief. At least he cant bug you at work, right?
Marcs flush deepened. He joined my crew last month. We frame houses together now. Every day.
I couldnt help laughing. Thats so cute! You have a sidekick. A little mini-me. Though if memory served, Painter wasnt much smaller than Marc.
Whatever. Forget about Painter. His gaze flicked behind me to the back passenger-side door, which my brother had just opened and stepped through. Hey, Ethan, hows monogamy treating you?
For the first time in his life, the family Casanova had been dating the same girl for four straight months. Our mother was thrilled, and for once she was fantasizing about a wedding that wouldnt involve me in a veil.
Its like eating white rice for every meal, Ethan said, right on cue.
Marc grinned. Hey, if youre eating every day, Id say youre a lucky man. His words were for Ethan, but his eyes were on me. Apparently he missed myrice.
Ethan shrugged, unmoved. I guess. Hows the construction business treating you?
Marc scruffed one hand through his newly shorn curls. Its like swinging a hammer eight hours a day for minimum wage. And just like that, they were all caught up.
Still in the SUV, the baby hiccuped, and I glanced over my brothers shoulder to see Manx buttoning her blouse. Then she climbed out of the car and lifted Des from his seat, wrapping him gently in a blue knit blanket.
How are you, Manx? Marc stuffed his hands into his pockets to show the tabby he had no intention of touching her. Wed discovered that approachespecially coming from the tomskept her fairly relaxed.
Good, thank you. Her exotic accentshe was Venezuelan by birthmade her statement sound striking, rather than common. She beamed a brilliant smile at him and held the baby slightly away from her body, wordlessly inviting him to peek.
Wow. Marcs eyes went softer than Id ever seen them as he stared at Des, and I wasnt sure whether I should be amused or worried. Do I get an introduction? he finally asked.
Manxs smile widened. This is Desiderio. He is my hearts desire.
We call him Des, I added, ever helpful.
Hes beautiful. May I? Marc pulled one hand from his pocket and mimed stroking the babys cheek.
Manx hesitated, and her smile froze for an instant. Then she took a deep breath and released it slowly. Of course.
Marc ran the back of one rough finger down the childs face. When he reached the corner of Dess mouth, the baby turned toward his touch, lips pursed and ready to suckle. Marc laughed, and I couldnt help but smile.
I see youve met our latest addition, Vic said, and I looked up to see him walking toward us from the convenience store, a white plastic sack in one hand.
Hes amazing, Marc said, and on the edge of my vision, Manxs posture relaxed a little more.
Yeah, he is. Vic set his bag on the front passenger seat and glanced at the baby with that gaga look most toms assumed when confronted with members of the next generation. Yet more proof that propagation of the species was indeed their biggest goal in life.
Vic shut the car door and embraced his former field partner in a masculine, back-thumping greeting. Then he stepped away and glanced from me to Marc as Ethan settled a long coat over Manxs shoulders, careful not to touch her. Youre not going to believe who I ran into inside. He tossed his head toward the building.
Yeah, he is. Vic set his bag on the front passenger seat and glanced at the baby with that gaga look most toms assumed when confronted with members of the next generation. Yet more proof that propagation of the species was indeed their biggest goal in life.
Vic shut the car door and embraced his former field partner in a masculine, back-thumping greeting. Then he stepped away and glanced from me to Marc as Ethan settled a long coat over Manxs shoulders, careful not to touch her. Youre not going to believe who I ran into inside. He tossed his head toward the building.
Dan Painter. I grinned.
Vic huffed. You smelled him?
I nodded. He and Marc havebonded.
Vics brow rose in amusement, but a dark look from Marc kept him from pressing for details. This cold cant be good for the baby, he said instead, still grinning at Marc. Lets get done here and get on the road.
Marc and I flanked Manx on the way into the building, where he waited outside the ladies room while she and I went inside. She changed the babys diaper on a fold-down table while I made use of one of the stalls. Then she asked if I could hold him while she relieved herself.
Oh, I dont know. My heart thudded in panic. Id literally never held a baby, and whatever idiot had said all women possessed some kind of maternal instinct was wrong. Cant you justput him down for a couple of minutes?
On the ground? Manx glared at me, and I shrugged helplessly. She rolled her eyes. Fine. I will ask one of the men.
I sighed heavily. Give him here. I could not let Marc know I washesitant to hold a baby. Hed never let me live it down. What do I do with him? I held my arms out football-style, as Id seen my mother do often enough over the past two weeks.
Manx placed the baby gently in my arms, settling his little head securely into the crook of my elbow. Nothing. He is sleeping. Hold him for just two minutes.
I nodded, afraid to move anything but my head for risk of waking Des.
Manx hesitated, her hand on the swinging metal door. Then she shot me a smile that couldnt quite relieve the nervous lines spanning her forehead and stepped into the stall.
I stared at the baby, taking in each detail up close for the first time. He was unbelievably small. Like a doll, but more fragile. His cheeks were round and red, his nose sprinkled with tiny, colorless bumps. His hands and feet were wrapped in the blanket, but a wisp of straight black hair showed above his forehead.
I saw no trace of Luiz in him, thank goodness.
But then, I saw no trace of Manx, either. I saw only a baby, cute in a red, squirmy kind of way, and perfectly tolerable when he was sleeping.
Thank you. The stall door swung open and Manx stepped out. She washed her hands, then took her baby back, and only then did the worry lines fade from around her mouth.
On our way through the store, we passed Dan Painter in line at the counter, holding a big bag of chips, a handful of Slim Jims, and a two-liter of Coke. I tapped him on the shoulder as I passed, and when his eyes met mine, he nearly choked on the chunk hed already torn from one of the meat sticks.
I laughed. He obviously remembered our first meeting, when Id knocked him unconscious with one swing. I like to leave a good first impression.
In the parking lot, Manx buckled Des into his car seat in the SUV, which Vic had already refueled and warmed up. Ethan had claimed the front passenger seat, which was fine with me. I was riding with Marc.
Squeezing into his tiny, low-slung car felt weird after weeks of riding in Vics Suburban, but it was a good kind of weird. Familiar and easy. And sorely missed.
We pulled from the lot first, and Vic followed as the last rays of daylight deepened to a dramatic red and orange. Then darkness descended, and Marc and I were togetherand alonefor the first time in months.
Unfortunately, we were also on the road, which made anything more than conversation impossible. Or at least impractical.
So, hows your dad holding up? Marc twined his hand around mine on the center console as outside, small buildings and restaurants gave way to open fields, then long stretches of woods.
Okay, I guess. I shrugged. Hes pretty quiet lately. I dont think he wants anyone to know how hard this whole sucker punch from Malone has been on him. The councils completely fractured. Manxs hearing should be interesting, considering the current coup-in-progress. And though I would never admit it aloud for fear of sounding like a coward, I was greatly relieved that my responsibility to Kaci meant I couldnt stay for the trial. Hanging out in a room full of angry Alphas did not appeal to my sense of adventure. Or my survival instinct.
Marc changed lanes, and I watched in the side-view mirror as Vic followed his lead. Whos on the tribunal this time?
Taylor, Mitchell, and Pierce. Fortunately, that particular combination of Alphas gave Manx a decent shot at a fair trial. Taylor had thrown his weight behind my father, Mitchell was firmly in place behind Malone, and Parkers dad was still sticking to his Switzerland routine. But on the downside, getting those three to agree on anythingmuch less a verdictwould not be easy.
And Wes Gardners going to be there, of course. Because his brother was one of Manxs victims.
I assume Michaels going in a professional capacity.
Yeah. While werecat law didnt mirror human law exactly, as an attorney, my oldest brother was by far the most qualified to assist Manx in her defense. Hed be flying to Atlanta the following day, shortly after his wifea human woman and honest-to-goodness runway model named Hollyleft for a photo shoot in Italy. Michael was lucky his wife traveled so much, and that she stayed too busy to ask many questions. She knew nothing of our werecat existence. Theirs was definitely an odd marriage, but it seemed to fit them both well.
Marc glanced in the rearview mirror, then briefly at me before turning his eyes back toward the road. Hows Kaci? Still refusing to Shift?
Yeah. Im starting to really worry about her. Shes tired all the time, and listless, and she only perks up when I let her watch me spar. She seems to think if she learns to defend herself in human form, shell never have to Shift again.
Whats the doc say?
I sighed. Her symptoms are similar to chronic fatigue and depression. And if she doesnt give in to her feline form soon, her body will start shutting down a little at a time, until shes too weak to move. He says refusing to Shift will eventually kill her. And by eventually, he means soon.
Damn. Marc looked surprised for a moment, then concern dragged his mouth into a deep frown.
I know. I feel like Im failing her. I loosened my seat belt and twisted in the bucket seat to face him. I mean, Im supposed to be taking care of her, and instead Im letting her wither up and die. She deserves better than that, but I cant convince her to Shift. She wont even listen when I bring it up anymore.
So what are you going to do?
I shrugged, scowling out the window at the ice-glazed power lines running along the highway. I couldnt get used to that question; until recently, I was rarely allowed to make my own choices, much less someone elses. But Kaci wasnt old enough or mature enough to choose to suffer. She was my responsibility.