Page 68 of A Lion's Heart
“I really wanted that position,” she confessed, her voice softer now.
Rome leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I know you did, baby girl. But this is for the best and once you get over being pissed at me, I believe you’ll see the strategic logic in my decision.”
She sighed heavily, bringing her hands up to his arms. “We’re stronger together. Uniting us means bringing us together on all fronts. I see your point. But I don’t have to like it.”
He smiled and hugged her. “I love you, baby girl. I love the woman you have become.”
When she wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him almost as tightly as he was squeezing her, Rome could almost let every bad thing that had ever happened or that could possibly happen in the future vanish from his mind. Almost.
“I love you, Daddy.”
He would never grow tired of hearing that and whatever it took, whoever he needed to put in leadership roles from this point forward, he would. Because growing old and continuing to hear her say it was what Rome wanted most. It was what he would give everything he had to accomplish.
Later that night, Nisa ran long and hard along the indoor space that had been perfectly designed to mimic the Gungi rainforest. Her cat stretched its legs, moving until its flanks heaved from exhaustion. And then she pushed further.
She tried to let the cat take control, to move in the environment created to make it feel at home. She’d never been to the Gungi but even she had to admit that their engineers and scientists had been able to create a pretty realistic setting. The forest floor was heavy with moisture while the drone of cicadas and crickets echoed through the air. Absent the sun, during the day there were specially designed heated lights to assist in the livelihood of the plants and foliage. There were clearings with downed trees and shallow creeks. Buttress roots twisted into elaborate sinuous shapes crept along parts of the floor while verdant mosses and vines hung like beards throughout the area.
None of it silenced her recent memories.
“So what he’s going to be the Faction Leader, that doesn’t mean you can’t finish the job you were meant to do,” Kyss had said when she’d appeared outside of Nisa’s room just as Nisa headed out for her run.
The cheetah had been leaning against the wall and pushed off once Nisa closed the door and fell into step beside her.
“I’ve learned that if you want something in this world, or the one up there, we’ve got to simply take it. So, you want to be a leader, take it. Show the new Faction Leader—and your mate, I might add—that you can do just as good a job as he can.”
Nisa hadn’t wanted to acknowledge her, but then again, she had been wondering where the shifter had been for the past two days.
“Where’ve you been?” she asked. “Why weren’t you above ground with them when they attacked the Ruling Cabinet?”
“Your friend didn’t tell you?” Kyss had asked.
When Nisa remained silent, the cheetah continued.
“I was coming out of my room, prepared to follow you because I knew that if Decan made a move, you would too. Tailing you was a lot easier than trying to keep up with Decan and those other two in his crew. Anyway, Shya was in the hallway and she didn’t look so hot. So I ended up staying with her until whatever episode she had passed.”
While Nisa normally took everything Kyss said as only half-truth, she knew this time was different. Shya had never been the same since her childhood poisoning. The remnants of which would last for the rest of her life. Nisa could only thank Kyss for being there when she should have been.
“Whatever, that’s done now,” Kyss told her. “What’s more important is that you don’t mess this up. You can make a difference here. Don’t screw it up.”
“What’s in it for you?” Nisa had asked her, because she didn’t believe for one moment that Kyss was simply looking out for her best interests, or for the interests of the Shadows as a whole.
Kyss had smiled. She’d worn skintight black pants and what looked like just a black bra. Her hair was down hanging past her shoulders.
“I get to watch how the new generation of shifter leaders will represent us in this war.”
“And that entertains you doesn’t it?”
“You’re damn right it does. And you know I live for my entertainment,” she’d said before smacking Nisa on the ass and walking off.
Nisa could only shake her head as she’d watched her walk away. There were still so many unanswered questions about Kyss and so many reasons not to trust her. Yet, Nisa kind of liked her. She liked her honesty and her courage.
As for what Kyss had said about taking advantage of this opportunity, well, Nisa hadn’t decided how best to handle that situation.
Her cat padded through another shallow creek, then ran up an embankment and stretched out along a mossy hill. It heaved until its breathing evened and then its eyes slowly began to close.
Until it picked up the scent…of its mate.
She remained still as if waiting for her prey. Nisa wanted to sigh or scream. She wanted to do something because she felt like she should. This wasn’t how things were supposed to turn out and she wasn’t supposed to be so confused by it all. Her cat, on the other hand, did not move and felt no trepidation.
