Page 27 of Catnip

Not really; she didn’t want it. That didn’t mean that it didn’t belong toher.

“Listen to me. My parents begged me to start diplomatic trips. That means going all over the world to show my face and remind the other flocks that the Dales are stronger than them. I tagged along when I was a child, and I freakinghatedit. It’s not that I can’t do it. I genuinely can’t stand it. Will I get them to help today? Yes. Totally. Because, if I don’t, those Enforcers will carry on sending hunters after me and my brother. But once that’s done, I’m walkingaway.”

He pulled her to him and buried his head in her hair, inhaling her scent as she added, “I may have come to this particular pride because I thought you could help, but I wanted to stay from the start. I still do. It’s peaceful here. I love the lake, and the townsfolk who somehow seem fine with you. I like the kids and your weird, intense Alphas. And, more to the point, this is my mate’s pride. This is where you belong. So, of course we’re stayinghere.”

He breathed out, all the while thinking he was utterly fucked. Someday, soon, he was going to love her so damn much he wouldn’t ever be able to live withouther.

If he was entirely honest, although it made zero sense, given the fact that they’d met one day ago, he probably already did. Fate had sucker punched him in the teeth and there was nothing he coulddo.

Flying

Ava had never felt moreawkward. There were a few dozen chat windows open, and glancing through them, she saw large, hard men and women flanked by equally impressive Betas and Enforcers. In her human form, she was small for aneagle.

But, instead of fidgeting like she wanted to do, shesmiled.

She greeted everyone, effortlessly translating her statement into the language of those who addressed her. This was… easy. Familiar. Just like assisting her brother as he negotiated a deal, although he wasn’t there to do part of the talking. It didn’t matter. She’d seen it done many times, enough to know when she needed to summon her inner Richard and reply sternly, or when she needed to be herself, laughing it off and throwing in a joke to relaxeveryone.

Her biggest fear had been them balking at the fact that she was flanked by a feline shifter who she introduced as her mate, and it did annoy them. Eagles didn’t make alliances, because their loyalty was entirely to the Flavia Dale. She guessed they’d see her as a hypocrite for mating outside of her ownkind.

“So, what then? Let’s say we somehow storm Dale, an impenetrable magical fortress, and kill all your enemies. Are you going to return to it and reign over us with yourcat?” said a RussianAlpha.

Coveney kept his snarl in check. Shedidn’t.

“With all due respect, Ryder, insult my mate to my face one more time and I’ll pay you avisit.”

The words were out of her mouth before she considered how stupid they would seem to a powerful Alpha. But instead of laughing in her face, like she thought he might, he stiffened and scratched hishead.

It was then that it hit her. They weren’t seeing an awkward five-foot-two girl right now. They looked at her and saw what she wanted them to see. The person she summoned when she needed courage: her eagle. The female was faster than Rupert, larger than Aria, and deadlier thanRichard.

Through the embedded video screen reflecting her image, she saw her eyes turn fiery, losing their violet tint. She blinked, getting it under control, before smilingpleasantly.

Ah, hell. Their concern wasn’tunwarranted.

“I have no intention of returning to Dale, and no intention of ruling any of you. It’s past time our kind entered the twenty-first century, don’t you think? You’re capable Alphas. I don’t call you to do my bidding now because you owe it to my family. I’m asking for your help. What I offer in return ismyloyalty. I also offerDale.”

That got their attention. Not every eagle out there saw Dale, they’d had to be formally invited, but they’d all heard of it, nodoubt.

“If you would assist me against them, I propose to make Dale, the birth place of our kind, a sanctuary where any eagle, and their friends, would be welcome, at any time. To my knowledge, there’re around five thousand of us spread out across the world. Dale can accommodate that many people at any giventime.”

As the city wasn’t quite hers to give that casually, she added, “Most of the current inhabitants of Dale, my old flock, are innocent of any wrongdoing, and I won’t see them punished unless they take arms against us. They’re to carry on however they wish, electing a leader of their own after we’regone.”

She’d purposefully left the matter of the First lines alone, but they’d known the Alphas would bring it up, ofcourse.

“But what about what theysay?”

“Are the legends alie?”

Ava shrugged. “I don’t know, probably. It does sound like a children’s tale, wouldn’t you say? I’m simply asking for help because I don’t want to die. My other solution would be asking my Alpha for his protection. That means the Wyverns and their allies - felines, wolves, bears, witches - descending onDale.”

It was hard to prevent herself from smiling. Yeah, she’d expected their reaction alright. “Dale belongs tous!”

“Eagles resolve our issues amongstourselves!”

“Over my deadbody.”

Truth was, she would never have asked Rye and Ace to fight in Dale because they would all have died trying, unless they brought a few Scionsalong.

If they saw felines in their city,everyeagle would attack, not just the traitors. Her stomach churned at the very thought of that mess. For all their raw power, felines wouldn’t have achance.

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