Page 38 of The Mating Need
“Damn right I could.” Jennygrinned.
Theylaughed.
Troy glanced outside. Full dark now. He hated leaving her alone here. “I’ll go get our stuff. Stay here and make sure to lock that door and don’t open it until I getback.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the burner phone the ranch kept as spares. “Here. Call me on this if you feel scared or anything threatens you and I’ll be here in a flash. My number’s on speed dial. Number1.”
She palmed the phone. “So you sense it as well. Someone or something on this ranch isevil.”
“We’re not the only ones who do, Jenny. Dale, Aiden, Darius. No one can define it, but it’s out there. They say they’ve never felt anything like it before. There’s an odd undercurrent. Aiden believes it drifted in on the Skins who’ve been trail riding. I don’tknow.”
His jaw tensed. He hated leaving her alone here. In the forest Jenny could run off and shift, defend herself. She seemed more vulnerable here than in theopen.
Troy flipped on the front porch lights. When he opened the door and stepped onto the porch, he stared at the steps. Two packs, his and Jenny’s, restedthere.
A note was attached to his duffel. Troy unfolded it to read the elegantscript.
“Saved you a trip in the dark.Tristan.”
Tristan. Why would the wizard do them this kind offavor?
Hell if he knew, but for now, he felt thankful Tristan had. As he went to crumble the note, itvanished.
“Thanks,” he muttered, picking up thepacks.
Powerful magick, but at least Tristan seemed on their side. Fornow.
They spent a peaceful night,well, she did. Jenny slept deeper than she’d had while alone. When she woke, daylight streamed through the bedroom window and Troy wasgone.
Once during the night she’d gotten up to get a drink of water from the kitchen, and saw him on the sofa fastasleep.
He’d stayed there all night, keeping watch. She’d covered him with a blanket, her heart moved at how innocent he appeared while sleeping, wiry body relaxed, dark hair tousled, rough bristle covering his lean jaw andcheeks.
He looked almost adorable, but when awake…she shivered with delight.Watch out. Troy made a formidable enemy, ready to protect those under hiscare.
He’d make an amazinglover.
Thoughts of Troy danced around her mind as Jenny showered and lingered under the hot water, relishing the luxury, then dried off with one of the oversized, soft bath towels, dressed and madebreakfast.
Then she set out to explore thearea.
Any trace of the evil she’d previously sensed seemed gone. Jenny noted this cabin wasn’t far from Sam and Darius’home.
Better make sure everything was okay. She walked the short distance and found the Lupine on the front porch, Hunter in her lap as she sat in a white rocking chair. A playpen sat nearby, filled withtoys.
Sam smiled at her. “I was waiting for you to stop by. How did yousleep?”
Blinking, she tried to conceal her surprise. “I slept well, thank you. You expectedme?”
“Intuition. Fae intuition. It serves me well at times.” Sam indicated a rocking chair next to her. “Please sit. I have time before I have to feed Hunter his lunch. He likes to eat early. Like his dad, he enjoysfood.”
Jenny sat, making funny faces at the baby, who chortled withlaughter.
Sam rocked back andforth.
“You’re not going to ask me how I destroyed thatcrystal.”
A shrug from Sam. “It’s none of my business. I figured you would tell me if you wished. But you should know there are Lupines here who would fear you, and what you cando.”
