Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 128413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128413 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 642(@200wpm)___ 514(@250wpm)___ 428(@300wpm)
Unrepentant, she blew him a kiss and slumped down in one of the large cushions on the floor that comprised most of his furniture in this section of his open-plan aerie. He did, however, have a small sofa for anyone who didn’t feel like doing the leopard sprawl.
“Online bargain—Jojo likes me best now.” She smirked, striking out her hand and making clutching motions. “We did a twinsies photoshoot.”
Her hand motions should’ve been nonsensical, but he’d known her too long. He put the mug of coffee he’d already doctored to her requirements in her hand. “Here you go, Madame Purple Queen.”
A wicked grin and a salute just as Theo flowed into the aerie in leopard form. The biggest leopard in RainFire was light on his feet when he wanted to be. He brushed his body against Remi’s before wandering off into the bathroom where Remi had already put a change of clothes for him after the sentinel mentioned he was going for a run in leopard form before their meeting.
Changelings weren’t shy about nudity, but neither were they exhibitionists, and every one of them had a different comfort level. Theo could be as pragmatic about wearing his skin as the rest of them—but he didn’t like getting naked in front of Lark when he could as well change out of sight.
“Too weird, since she’s basically like my sister,” he’d said of his cousin.
Meanwhile, other changelings were never more comfortable in just their human skin than with family.
When Theo walked out after shifting, he wore jeans and a black sweatshirt, his feet bare. “Are you being a brat again?” he said to Lark after grabbing coffee and a sandwich for himself.
“I am beloved, never a brat.” She chomped down on her croissant.
Used to their sibling-like bickering that never amounted to anything—touch one and the other would gut you—he nodded at the tiger in human form who’d just jumped onto the balcony from above. Eyes of deep ultramarine met his, the color reflected in the short-sleeve shirt that had been a gift to Angel from Finn.
That Angel actually wore it was a testament to Finn’s ability to read his packmates.
“Thanks,” the tiger said when Remi handed him a black coffee, before serving himself from the tray of food.
“Um, I could do with a sandwich.” Lark batted her lashes at the tiger, her croissant long gone.
Angel, as quiet as Lark was not, rolled his eyes at her, but his lips twitched as he passed her the sandwich with her preferred filling.
Lark beamed. “You’re my favorite, Stripes.”
Twitching lips curving into a rare deep smile, Angel just shook his head before he went to sit in the window seat, long legs sprawled out in front of him. “How was it last night?” he asked, his voice a quiet rumble. “Any surprises?”
“Nope. Borders were quiet. Auden’s cabin, too, with no new scents anywhere in the vicinity.” Lark paused. “Though I suppose they could’ve teleported inside…”
Remi considered that. “Not a big risk. We can sniff it out if Auden needs to go in there for any reason.”
A sound on the balcony, then in walked Rina.
The blond sentinel grinned at seeing how Lark reclined on her cushion, Theo on the one next to her. Her nod at Angel was more muted, but that didn’t mean anything when it came to their work together. On the whole, Rina had melded into RainFire as if she’d been part of their pack from the beginning.
She’d almost brought a senior soldier with her—a man named Barker. Remi had had the feeling the two were linked romantically, but in the end, Barker had chosen to remain behind in DarkRiver, and as far as anyone was aware, Rina was single.
Remi didn’t know the whys of it, but there didn’t seem to be any bad blood.
After all four sentinels had settled in with coffee and a snack, Remi leaned his shoulder against the wall and said, “Auden is going to hire us when she goes back in.”
Surprise from everyone but Rina. “Makes sense,” she said from her position on the sofa. “I learned how the big Psy families operate from Sascha—and I wouldn’t be taking my newborn cub into that situation unguarded, either.”
“Oh, her cub’s staying with us.”
That set them alight, questions flying every which way. He told them what they needed to know to protect Auden—but he didn’t tell them that her pregnancy had been done without her consent, or that the baby was technically her half-sibling. That was for Auden to share if and when she wished.
“I’ll be going with her,” he said—and raised an eyebrow when no one argued.
Theo shrugged. “You’re growly protective of her. We got the memo.” A grin that was a masculine echo of Lark’s. “Sooo, anything to share on that front?”
“She just gave birth, you big dumbo.” Lark pretend-slapped him on the back of the head. “Give her space before thinking of amorous feline intentions.”