Page 42 of Runt's Haunted Ride
By the time I'd fed her enough to satisfy her—at least temporarily—I was starting to understand why parents of newborns always looked so exhausted. This was constant work.Constant vigilance. Constant worry that I was doing something wrong.
But every time she looked at me with those amber eyes, every time she settled contentedly in my hands, I knew it was worth it. And bottom line, there wasn't a soul in the world I would trust to take care of my mate.
"Come on," I said, carrying her to the window. "Let's get you some sunlight."
I'd positioned a pillow on the windowsill the night before, creating a comfortable spot where Kai could sit and absorb the sun's rays. Phoenix chicks needed sunlight like humans needed oxygen—it fed their regeneration process, helped them grow stronger faster.
As soon as I set her down in the sun, she fluffed up her down feathers and closed her eyes, stretching her neck as far as she could, cooing a sound that was almost a purr. The sunlight seemed to make her glow, the gold in her feathers becoming more pronounced.
"That's my pretty girl," I murmured, settling into the chair beside the window so I could watch over her.
I must have dozed off, because the next thing I knew, someone was pounding on my door.
I jerked awake, immediately checking on Kai, who was still happily asleep in her sunny spot. She'd grown again—now somewhere between a large chicken and a small turkey. I blinked several times, looking at her. Kai had all the looks of a pre-teen. She was long and lanky, her full-grown feathers had started sporadically coming in. Wrinkly bald skin where the chick fluff had fallen off and her new feathers had yet to appear. She looked like something people would cross the road to get away from. I wanted to laugh, but I bit my lip. She couldn't help it. But damn, I wished I had a cell phone so I could show her later.
Someone pounded the door. "Hey, Runt! You in there?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm here," I called out, not moving from my protective position between the door and Kai.
Tank stuck his head in. "Meeting's starting in ten. President says bring the bird."
"Fine."
Tank's eyes found Kai on the windowsill, and he let out a low whistle. "Damn. She's getting big fast." His brows furrowed as he stuck his head in farther. "Is she supposed to look like that?"
"Yeah, it's called the molting process. The chick fluff falls off and the feathers come in."
"You sure? She looks like a zombie bird I killed once on the Xbox."
I chuckled. "She's fine."
After Tank left, I gently picked up Kai and carried her, nest and all, to the main room. The club members were already gathering, most of them nursing hangovers from the previous night's celebration. They gave me curious looks as I set Kai on a table in the corner, but nobody said anything, even though I could see their confused looks and hear their whispers.
The President walked in with Fang, both of them looking far too energized for men who'd been partying.
"Alright, boys!" the President announced, clapping his hands together, which produced groans from the guys. "I want to talk about our newly acquired wealth."
"While you pansies were sleeping, Fang and I took a little ride. The gold is approximately four hundred and fifteen thousand dollars, maybe even five hundred."
I could hear the intake of air from the guys in the room. So much for their hangover brains—they were all focused now.
The President went on. "Our buyer says it's without a doubt the highest quality he's ever seen." His grin was predatory. "Andwe're gonna get more. Once a month, we harvest from our little gold mine over there."
I felt my gorilla rise at hearing his plan for Kai, but I forced it back down.Not yet. Not until she's herself again and we can run.
"Now, here's what I want to talk about," the President continued. "I think—"
"Me too," Fang commented, not wanting to be left out of the planning.
"Ri-ght, excuse me,wethink all of us need a future. That we should take this money and start a security business. There are a lot of rich bastards like those VIPs who would pay through their noses to hire us. Especially if some of us might happen to, let's say, put a little fear into them." He cracked his knuckles. "Show them why it's good to have shifter protection."
Kai stood up shakily but with more confidence than before. I patted her head and watched as she began preening her developing feathers. The movement was instinctive, automatic, and utterly adorable.
"Ah, Runt." The President's tone changed, and by instinct, my head snapped to him as I got ready to duck whatever would be thrown my way.
"Yes, sir?"
"Is the bird alright? She looks sick. Remember, if she dies, I'm kicking your ass."
