The very big, larger-than-Kieran-in-wolven-form—maybe even as large as Kieran’s father Jasper inhiswolven form—cave cat was ready to attack. I saw it in the power building in his hind legs, but it wasn’t just that. It was also his emotions. They poured out of him in a way they rarely did, and there was no mistaking them: sharp anger and feral distrust.
Clutching the blanket to my chest, I scooted forward—
Then rocked back when his long tail whipped into me from the side. My mouth dropped open. “Did you just hit me with your tail? Yourtail?”
Beneath the spotted fur, bands of muscle along his back rippled as he tensed further.
“Cas.” I rose to my knees again. “Look at me.”
His tail swished, but he remained fixated on Reaver.
“I don’t think he’s going to do that,” the draken said.
I shot Reaver a quick look of warning. “You really need to learn how to knock.”
“I did.” He started to lift his arms but stopped when Casteel growled. “Neither of you answered.”
I almost pointed out that that should’ve implied we were busy, but I needed to get Casteel under control before explaining basic manners.
A sound came from Casteel, reminding me of steam escaping a thin fissure. He was…
“Stop hissing at Reaver,” I ordered, drawing in a shallow breath. I stretched forward and placed my hand on Casteel’s side. He stiffened as my fingers sank into his fur. Gods, it was dense and… “Your fur is soft,” I whispered, feeling the shiver of muscles beneath my palm as I slowly drew my hand along his side. “Really soft.”
His torso vibrated as a low, humming sound radiated from him.
My eyes widened. “Are you…purring?”
He was.
That was good…and cute. It was also what I heard when he drank from me.
Fucking gods.
Focusing on him, I opened my senses and found his mark. There was something stronger than his pine scent and the citrus-in-snow scent of his blood. There was the spice scent—the wild,lushspice scent.
My heart, which was already pounding fast to match his, skipped a beat. The scent had always been there, but it had really only been an undertone until now. Now, it made me think of how his movements had always reminded me of a large feline.
I filed that piece of information away and opened the connection between us.Casteel?You know Reaver.I kept petting him.You can’t attack him just because he tends to barge into chambers.
Other than the ear movement, he gave no indication that he’d heard me, but the pathway was open.
The sound of footsteps reached us, and Casteel lifted his head, sniffing the air. I focused on the connection.
Cas, look at me. You need to look—
“Emil?” Reaver yelled over his shoulder, breaking my concentration. “Do not come in here. Casteel is being particularly catty right now.”
The footsteps stopped.
“I was wondering what was up with all the shouting.” Emil paused. “Is he a cave cat again?”
My head jerked up in disbelief. “You knew he could shift into a cave cat?”
From the depths of the chamber, Emil stumbled over his words. “Uh, yeah. And he probably wants to eat me again.”
“Why would you want to eat Emil?” I demanded in a voice that was part whisper, part scream. “And why did I not know about this?”
Just as I caught a glimpse of auburn hair, Casteel leapt.
