after the shower started running. A
sudden panic made her stiffen and she sat up so fast the room spun. Although she’d swear
she hadn’t uttered a word, the oddest sensation hit her, almost making her sick. She
hadn’t just agreed to remain with him, had she?
Chapter Seven
As bad as the weather was yesterday, today the sun shone brightly, even if it offered
little warmth. Kane followed the tall, quiet owl along a well-trodden path toward a large
house. The home looked old, although the smell of new construction lingered in the air.
Possibly Tore recently added on to the place. Kane remembered Tore telling Jin he lived
with his mate, so maybe this had been her litter’s home and now belonged to them. Either
way, it was a large, rambling brick and wood home, very secluded without the smells of
humans anywhere. Exactly the way Kane liked to live.
Dover stepped up to the heavy-looking wooden door and knocked loudly. Kane caught a
whiff of Jin’s nervousness, even with all the leather she wore. He didn’t like the dead
flesh covering her body any more than he did the musky perfume she’d sprayed over
herself before leaving the room. Something told him she wore it exactly for that reason.
Not because of him in particular, but because leopards in general wouldn’t like it. The
snug-fitting black pants and large coat distracted anyone who spoke to her from seeing
the real Jin. And ever since they’d left the motel to go with Dover, the real Jin was
nowhere around.
The door opened and warmth from inside spilled out around them.
“Dover,” a female leopard said, smiling cheerfully at him until she shifted her attention
to Kane and Jin. Her expression sobered and the happy scent he’d immediately picked up
on disappeared and was replaced with concern and possibly trepidation. “Welcome to our
den,” she offered, stepping to the side and nodding her head slightly.
“Let Tore know Jin Rose is here.” Dover stood just inside the door, allowing Kane and
Jin to enter farther into the home. “Then I’ll take you on that run I promised you.”
The female nodded once, her eyes glowing and showing her excitement over the
invitation before she hurried out of the room and up a flight of stairs.
“Is that the youngest Sheridan female?” Jin asked.
Dover nodded.
“I thought she was younger than that.”
“She’s grown up,” Dover said, although not offering a scent or even twitch of the mouth
to indicate whether he cared or not.
Jin barely made a show of acknowledging his comment, apparently done with the trivial
conversation, and strolled into the middle of the living room, leaving him and the owl
closer to the door. She made a show of taking in the pictures on the walls, the strong,
well-built matching furniture and the huge hearth at the end of the room. A decent fire
kept the room warm, the crackling and snapping of firewood offering a serene touch. All
indications offered this was a happy, content den. Although Kane knew little about such
places.
He stiffened, taking a step forward before stopping himself when footsteps sounded on
the stairs. Several leopards approached and Kane wanted to reach for Jin, pull her back
against him and growl at anyone who didn’t honor her with the respect she deserved.
The female who answered the door reappeared, all grins as she ignored the two of them
and walked up to Dover. “I’m ready to go,” she announced.
Another female, very similar in appearance although easily ten years older, entered the
living room and also ignored Jin and Kane. “Where are you taking her?” she demanded to
know.
The female in question grabbed Dover’s arm and pushed him toward the door. Kane had
no problem stepping out of the way. He took advantage of the moment and moved in on
Jin, slipping his arm around her waist and keeping her tucked in next to him. He credited
her with enough sense not to fight him off in front of the other
sudden panic made her stiffen and she sat up so fast the room spun. Although she’d swear
she hadn’t uttered a word, the oddest sensation hit her, almost making her sick. She
hadn’t just agreed to remain with him, had she?
Chapter Seven
As bad as the weather was yesterday, today the sun shone brightly, even if it offered
little warmth. Kane followed the tall, quiet owl along a well-trodden path toward a large
house. The home looked old, although the smell of new construction lingered in the air.
Possibly Tore recently added on to the place. Kane remembered Tore telling Jin he lived
with his mate, so maybe this had been her litter’s home and now belonged to them. Either
way, it was a large, rambling brick and wood home, very secluded without the smells of
humans anywhere. Exactly the way Kane liked to live.
Dover stepped up to the heavy-looking wooden door and knocked loudly. Kane caught a
whiff of Jin’s nervousness, even with all the leather she wore. He didn’t like the dead
flesh covering her body any more than he did the musky perfume she’d sprayed over
herself before leaving the room. Something told him she wore it exactly for that reason.
Not because of him in particular, but because leopards in general wouldn’t like it. The
snug-fitting black pants and large coat distracted anyone who spoke to her from seeing
the real Jin. And ever since they’d left the motel to go with Dover, the real Jin was
nowhere around.
The door opened and warmth from inside spilled out around them.
“Dover,” a female leopard said, smiling cheerfully at him until she shifted her attention
to Kane and Jin. Her expression sobered and the happy scent he’d immediately picked up
on disappeared and was replaced with concern and possibly trepidation. “Welcome to our
den,” she offered, stepping to the side and nodding her head slightly.
“Let Tore know Jin Rose is here.” Dover stood just inside the door, allowing Kane and
Jin to enter farther into the home. “Then I’ll take you on that run I promised you.”
The female nodded once, her eyes glowing and showing her excitement over the
invitation before she hurried out of the room and up a flight of stairs.
“Is that the youngest Sheridan female?” Jin asked.
Dover nodded.
“I thought she was younger than that.”
“She’s grown up,” Dover said, although not offering a scent or even twitch of the mouth
to indicate whether he cared or not.
Jin barely made a show of acknowledging his comment, apparently done with the trivial
conversation, and strolled into the middle of the living room, leaving him and the owl
closer to the door. She made a show of taking in the pictures on the walls, the strong,
well-built matching furniture and the huge hearth at the end of the room. A decent fire
kept the room warm, the crackling and snapping of firewood offering a serene touch. All
indications offered this was a happy, content den. Although Kane knew little about such
places.
He stiffened, taking a step forward before stopping himself when footsteps sounded on
the stairs. Several leopards approached and Kane wanted to reach for Jin, pull her back
against him and growl at anyone who didn’t honor her with the respect she deserved.
The female who answered the door reappeared, all grins as she ignored the two of them
and walked up to Dover. “I’m ready to go,” she announced.
Another female, very similar in appearance although easily ten years older, entered the
living room and also ignored Jin and Kane. “Where are you taking her?” she demanded to
know.
The female in question grabbed Dover’s arm and pushed him toward the door. Kane had
no problem stepping out of the way. He took advantage of the moment and moved in on
Jin, slipping his arm around her waist and keeping her tucked in next to him. He credited
her with enough sense not to fight him off in front of the other
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