AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He gave a nonchalant shrug. “What about it?”
Sighing again, Quinley flicked a hand. “Forget it. Just tell me you won’t add the rest of the letters of your first name.”
The little shit only grinned.
“You’re lucky I kind of like you.”
His eyes danced with laughter. “You more than kind of like me,” he oh so confidently stated.
“Arrogant bastard.”
“But not wrong.”
“No, not wrong,” she confessed, and it was worth admitting it just to see the warm and lazy look he then gave her. She checked the time on her phone. “We need to head out. You ready to leave?”
He slipped off his stool and chugged back his coffee. “I am now. Tomorrow is your last day of work before the salon closes for the holidays, right?”
“It is.” Some salons were open for Christmas Eve, but Blue Harbor always closed the twenty-third day of December. They didn’t reopen until the second of January. “I’m going to use the opportunity to do some last minute Christmas shopping.”
Frowning, he set his cup next to the sink as he said, “You went shopping yesterday with your sisters.”
“But not at the mall I want to go to.” They’d hit the local Christmas market—it took place each Sunday of December, but she’d been so busy it was the first chance she’d gotten to go there. “I need to pick up a few things.” Grabbing her purse from the island, she dropped her phone into it.
“I’ll come with you.” He paused, one brow sliding up. “Unless you’ve already arranged to go with some of our pride mates.”
Quinley felt the set of her mouth soften. She knew that, preferring to be with her, he hadn’t wanted to add that last bit. But he’d done it anyway, knowing he could be greedy with her time and attention.
It worried him that she’d find him too much. She hadn’t realized that at first—he’d hidden it well. But he needn’t worry. The level of his dominance was tempered with how thoughtful, caring, and attentive he was. It made her cat that much more comfortable with, and trusting of, him.
“No arrangements have been made,” she told him as they left the kitchen. “I was hoping you’d come with me. Your presents have been bought and wrapped, so there’s no reason you can’t be there.”
A smile lit his eyes. “Then we’ll go together.”
Knuckles drummed on the front door.
His step faltered, his expression predictably cooling. “Wait here.” He strode to the window, peered outside, and his shoulders relaxed. “It’s Virginia,” he said, referring to one of their pride mates.
Quinley followed him to the door. He opened it wide, keeping his body slightly in front of hers. Their visitor shot them a trembly smile, looking both sheepish and distressed.
“I’m sorry to bother you so early.” She focused on Quinley. “Especially when I know you probably need to leave for work any minute now. But my daughter is having a really severe migraine, and I was wondering if you could help.”
“Absolutely.” Quinley pulled her cell out of her purse. “Let me just text my sisters to let them know I’ll be a little late.”
Once she’d done that, Isaiah bundled her up in her coat, scarf, and gloves before putting on his own coat. All three of them then hopped in his car, and he drove to Virginia’s complex. Inside the building, she led them to her floor and, finally, to her apartment.
Isaiah kept his palm splayed on his mate’s back as she followed Virginia to a bedroom. The woman quietly opened the door. All the lights were off, the curtains were shut, and the scent of pain tanged the air.
Despite the dark, Isaiah could see just fine with his shifter-enhanced vision. He made out the juvenile lying in the bed and saw that her face was lined with agony. Her eyes opened to mere slits, darting from her mother to him and then to Quinley.
“Marnie,” Virginia whispered, “I have Quinley with me. She’s going to help you.”
Isaiah remained in the doorway as his mate padded into the room, keeping her tread light. Without a word, she crouched near the bed and rested a hand on Marnie’s head. He watched as the lines in the juvenile’s face gradually smoothed out one by one.
Pride washed through him and his cat as they observed their mate use her gift. She was powerful. Rare. A gem to the pride.
“There.” Quinley stood, smiling.
Marnie sat up in bed, her lips parted, gently probing her head. “It’s really gone. People said you numbed pain, but I wasn’t sure if they just meant minor hurts.”
