I just put cinnamon rolls in the oven for Delaney and Kara, the half-flamingo, half-human servant said stiffly.
He turned to Skye with question, but the glimmer of excitement in her eyes and the fleeting smile on her lips told him all he needed to know.
Thanks, Pink, he said without turning, unable to draw his gaze from the beauty at his side.
You like cinnamon rolls, he murmured, his own lips turning up.
Her swift nod and widening eyes pleased him. I havent had one since I was a child.
He cut a bite of meat. Forgive me for eating in front of you, but
She shook her head. Eat.
As he dug into his meal, he watched her. What do you eat in the caverns?
Her hands gripped the empty plate in front of her, her fingers tracing the edges. In the summer, I eat berries from the bushes in the woods, and mushrooms when I find them. Sometimes the cook has bushels of apples or nuts brought in, and Ill eat those. Once a month, he bakes bread. Otherwise, all there is to eat is meat.
I didnt realize any Mage were exclusively meat eaters. The ones Ive known were not.
She shrugged. The meat was already there.
With a stab of empathy, he understood. They cook your animals. The ones killed during your sacrifices.
Her mouth compressed. Yes.
He remembered the way shed stroked the creatures with loving gentleness, and the way theyd clung to her. No wonder she couldnt bring herself to eat them.
No wonder she was so damned thin.
The current Ferals are all predators, he told her. Before Karas arrival, Pink fixed almost exclusively meat, but Kara prefers a variety. And Pink has a soft spot for Kara. Cinnamon rolls are starting to make a regular appearance.
What is she? Skye asked quietly. Pink. She looks like an animal, yet shes not one.
He looked at her curiously. You dont feel an animal inside her like the other Ferals?
Skye shook her head slowly. No.
He was sorry to hear that. Weve always believed her animal had been destroyed but never had any way to know for sure. Im sorry we were right.
What happened?
She would have been a Feral Warrior, though a decidedly nonpredatory one. The flamingos were always a weak line. When the last of the warriors died, the animal leaped to the strongest of that line. Unfortunately, he entered the fetus of a baby girl. A fetus that was about to split into twins.
The animal became trapped?
Apparently. The girls were born half-flamingo, half-human. Pinks twin was killed in hopes the animal would be free to rejoin within Pink, but it didnt work. Shes never believed any animal lived inside her. Apparently shes right.
She cant shift?
No. She is as shes always been. She lives with the Ferals because even without her animal, she needs radiance to thrive.
And she needs a safe place to live out of the sight of others.
Paenther nodded. Yes.
A movement in the doorway had them both looking up. Tighe and his new mate strolled into the room. Delaney wore black pants and a white shirt, a gun strapped to her waist. Her sharp, dark gaze lit on Skye with interest.
Tighes expression turned into a scowl. His arm slid around Delaneys waist. Lets grab our breakfast and eat outside. Its a nice morning.
Skye looked down at her empty plate as if shed been slapped. Again, Paenther found himself feeling bad for her. Whether or not the animosity was deserved, living with it so constantly had to be getting on her nerves. It was sure as hell getting on his.
Delaney turned to Tighe, her gaze utterly serious. Is she that dangerous? Do you think shell hurt me if I sit at the table with her?
Tighe growled low in his throat. If I thought shed hurt you, shed already be dead.
The womans serious expression dissolved into a smile. Then Ill eat in here. Im curious about her.
Tighe frowned. Dyoure too damned curious about everything. But as Delaney slipped out of his hold, he let her go. Dont touch her. They usually enchant through touch.
Paenther rose as he watched the woman approach, her manner forthright and fearless, interest to the point of excitement glittering in her eyes. She reached for the chair directly across from Skye, but Tighe nudged her down one. With a roll of her eyes, she turned to Paenther and thrust out her hand.
Good morning, Paenther.
With amusement, he shook her hand. Good morning, Delaney.
As Paenther greeted Tighe in the traditional manner, Delaney took her seat, leaning forward with her arms folded in front of her. The gaze she leveled on Skye was neither friendly nor antagonistic but purely assessing.
We havent been properly introduced. Im Delaney Randall.
Paenther watched Skye meet the other womans gaze with wariness and a touch of vulnerability that tugged at him. No doubt, she expected more animosity. But she lifted her chin and met Delaneys gaze head-on.
Im Skye.
Do you have a last name?
Skye shook her head. There arent enough Mage to warrant two names unless we live among the humans.
Delaney nodded, glancing at Tighe and Paenther as they took their seats. Same with the Therians, right?
Tighes wary gaze moved between the two women, clearly reluctant to be drawn into this discussion.
Delaneys none-too-subtle jab of her elbow to his arm elicited a grunt from the warrior and a stiff reply. Most Therians take two names because they do live and work among the humans. The Ferals dont.
Delaneys gaze swung to Tighe. Then why does your drivers license say youre John Tighe?
Tighe lifted a brow. Youve been in my wallet?
She grinned at him. Im FBI. You know full well Im snooping around every chance I get.
Tighe hooked his arm around her neck and pulled her close for a quick kiss to her temple.
And Im going to have to put up with this for eternity? His voice was low, the look in his eyes full of such love that Paenther lost the last of his doubts about why his friend had taken the woman as his mate. Tighe had clearly found his match.
Weve all taken John as a first name for the purposes of the licenses. Among other aliases.
Delaney rolled her eyes. Its a good thing Im on your side, now. Im learning way too much. She turned to Skye. So, youre really a witch?
Im a Mage, although female Mages are often called witches. Her mouth turned rueful. Few of us have hooked noses with warts on the ends, though.
The touch of wry humor in her voice surprised him.
Delaneys eyes lit. So you dont fly around on a broomstick?
To his amazement, an answering smile twitched at the corners of Skyes mouth. No broomsticks. Unfortunately, no flying. I wish I could fly.
Me, too. What about that Delaney lifted her finger to the end of her nose and wiggled it.
The small burst of laughter, sweet and genuine, that erupted from Skyes throat almost seemed to startle her as much as it did Paenther.
Bewitched! The delight in Skyes eyes entranced him. I loved that show when I was a little girl. The way Samantha could make things appear and disappear with the click of her fingers or a wiggle of her nose. Even Tabitha could do it!
Oh my God, did you ever see the episode where Tabitha
As the smell of cinnamon rolls began to fill the dining room, Paenther met Tighes gaze as the two women talked about a television show hed never seen, nor had ever cared to. Tighe was looking decidedly unhappy with the enthusiasm with which his mate was embracing the conversation with the witch. His friends wary gaze turned back to Skye and stayed, like a man prepared to defend his mate against a wild and dangerous beast.
As much as he hated that Skye had to endure the constant distrust, he couldnt blame Tighe. Few Therians ever found a mate worth binding themselves to for an eternity. None of the other current Ferals ever had except those chosen as the mates of the Radiants. Lyon for Kara and Wulfe for the now-deceased Beatrice. While Lyon seemed happy with the choice, Wulfe never had even though those pairings were supposed to be as perfect as any pairings ever made.
Now there was Tighe.
Paenther shook his head, watching the play of possessiveness, unable to fathom caring so deeply about one woman that he would be willing to forsake all others for eternity. But as his gaze turned back to Skye, to the fragile pleasure lighting her face as she talked about the old television show, he couldalmostunderstand. Every now and then, a woman had a way of changing everything.
Her eyes positively danced as she leaned forward, deeply engrossed in her discussion with Delaney, a self-deprecating smile lifting her lips.
I used to complain bitterly to my mother about the unfairness of being a real witch and not being able to do any of those cool things.
Delaney watched her intently, her smile bemused. You cant do any of those things? Then what can you do? Her gaze rounded on Tighe. There has to be a reason everyones so afraid of you.
The delight slowly drained from Skyes expression. The Mage I grew up with could do little more than simple spells and charms, lighting lightwicks Her hand lifted and twirled in the air. Floating candles, basically. And increasing the yield of the garden or healing minor sickness. Some had other gifts, the gift of foresight or the ability to read anothers mind. None of those was any real danger to the Therians except for the ability to enchant and capture the mind of another with the touch of a hand. A dangerous trick since the victim can be stolen away without effort and made to do anything the captor wishes. But not all Mage possess that ability. I never have.
Paenther stilled. You captured me.
She met his gaze with a lift of her brow, a decidedly impudent twist to her mouth. I did. Even as she held his gaze, color began to stain her cheeks. But it took considerably more than a touch.
The memory of just how shed captured him, of how hed slid inside her, had his blood heating all over again.
I hadnt heard this part, Tighe said, his voice a low rumble. By the look passing between you, I take it sheuhopened your mind for you?
She did.
Without enchanting you first?
She hid her Mage eyes, if thats what youre asking.
Its not like you to get distracted by a female.
Paenther knew that all too well. And yetAs Skye looked up at him, as their gazes met, he felt her reach deep inside him and stroke that tight knot in his chest. I hadnt met this female, he said softly.
The soft smile that curved her lips had him longing to reach for her, to stroke her face and bury his nose into the curve of her neck, immersing himself in her scent.
Tighe growled low. Did you ever consider that shes enchanted you?
Of course shes enchanted him, Jag snarled from the other end of the table. Shes been fucking with my animal since she got here. All fucking night!
Paenther turned, slowly, meeting the hard anger in the other Ferals eyes. It had been a mistake to bring her into the dining room. But hed be damned if he was going to steal her away before shed had a chance to eat. She deserved better than that.
What in the hell is she doing here? Lyon stood in the doorway, Kara at his side.
Paenther groaned, then rose to greet his chief. But Lyon didnt move forward. Instead, he pushed Kara behind him as if protecting her.
Paenthers jaw clenched. She needs to eat.
Shes not even tied.
I thought the Shaman bound her magic, Delaney said evenly.
We have no way of knowing if it was effective.
Jag snarled. I can tell you right now, Chief, it wasnt. Shes fucking with my animal! Jag began to light as if he wereshifting.
Chaos erupted as the sleek jaguar materialized in Jags chair. The chair crashed backward as the animal twisted and leaped to the floor.
What the hell? Lyon demanded.
Its her! Jags angry voice rang in Paenthers head as he was sure it did in all the Ferals. A shifted Feral was able to speak telepathically with whomever he chose as long as that person was relatively close by. I didnt intend to shift. I felt her pulling on me, and suddenly it was happening.
The cat came around the table slowly, his walk stealthy. Deadly. Im going to rip that bitchs throat out.
Paenther shoved back his chair and stood, Skye at his back. Like hell you are. Its not her fault, Jag.
No? She works her magic, and its not her fault? Whos to blame, then? Lyon? Kara? Maybe Santa Claus?
Jags muscles bunched to spring.
I cant shift, Paenther told Tighe even as he grabbed Skye from her chair and pushed her against the wall, shielding her with his body.
I can. In a flash of lights and striped fur, Tighe shifted into his tiger and leaped at the same moment the jaguar did, colliding in midair, right over the table. The pair crashed on top of the platters of food, sending dishes, crystal pitchers, and silverware crashing to the floor.
Paenther pulled Skye to the other side of the room as the two big cats fought in a way strictly forbidden by the code of the Ferals.
Jag, shift. Now! Lyon ordered.
But the jaguars only reply was a furious growl as he sank his fangs in the tigers shoulder and was batted back by a huge, powerful paw.
Lyon turned on Paenther. Get her out of here, or Im going to kill her myself!
Paenther snarled, pulling Skye hard against him, but he couldnt argue. Whether she was doing this on purpose or not, the result was the same.
The Prisons, B.P., Lyon yelled, as Paenther pulled Skye from the room. I dont want her anywhere near the others.
In the hallway outside the dining room, Paenther grasped Skyes trembling hand and saw the fear in her eyes. A fear that echoed deep in his soul. Because whether she was doing it intentionally or through the cantric embedded in her heart, he could not allow her to endanger his friends.
As he led her down the long stairs to the prisons below, he felt his choices narrowing to a dismal few. In a terrible twist of irony, hed found that rarest of creatures, a kind and gentle witch. Yet thanks to the treachery of her own kind, she was still dangerous.
And a dangerous witch, caught in the Ferals trap, had only one kind of future. Bleak.