The Burning Claw
Page 92

They circled around her and put their hands on her shoulders and, in a blink, they were in front of the bridge.
“He’s still here,” the troll rumbled. “Although, there are some who wish he’d leave. He’s been yelling about some girl, and an ocean, and a bar, for days.”
Peri’s gut clenched as she looked at Vasile. “You probably shouldn’t leave this time,” she told them.
He nodded. “He must be getting some residual thoughts through the bond.”
Peri agreed. “I think that’s why Sally is having the headaches. The bond is trying to reform. Their souls grow weary of being separated.”
She flashed back to the Romania mansion and smiled. Maybe things were finally going to move forward now. Being stuck in limbo sucked.
She heard Jen and Jacque arguing from the library and walked their way. When she entered the room, she found the girls sitting on the floor with their offspring. Jen was playing with Thia and Jacque was nursing Slate.
“What the crap are you two yapping about?” she asked as she took a seat on the couch.
“Jen wants to take bets on how long it will take Drake and Bethany to do the deed,” Jacque filled her in.
Peri rolled her eyes. “I’m betting it’s done been did.”
Jen laughed. “Oh man, you’ve been around us Southern chicks too long. And really? You think they’ve mated?”
Peri shrugged. “They’ve been holed up in their suite alone for the past two months. I’m betting they have a litter on the way by now.”
“Bethany was pretty eager when we had our little talk,” Jen said, looking at Jacque for confirmation.
“Totally eager,” Jacque agreed.
“You two explained sex to Bethany?” Peri’s eyes widened.
Jen nodded proudly. “We even had a book—with pictures,” she added.
“Pictures,” the high fae choked out.
Jacque smacked her hand to her forehead. “It was embarrassing.”
“Please. You were learning stuff too,” Jen scoffed.
Jacque’s head snapped up. “I was not.”
“What about that one position, where the male—”
“Only freaks would know that position,” Jacque cut her off.
“You calling me a freak?”
Jacque shook her head. “Nope, I’m calling you a super freak because I’m betting you didn’t just know about that position. I’m betting you’ve actually been in that position.”
Jen stared at Jacque, unmoving and expressionless. Then she held up her fist to her best friend with a grin. “I haven’t just been in that position. I’ve made that position my bit—”
“Stop,” Peri cut her off. “We got it.”
“How are the guys?” Jacque asked as she finished nursing Slate and laid him down in front of her.
“Quite angry,” Peri said. “But they won’t be home tonight. Costin is beginning to see things. He knows where Sally is or at least has an idea. We think the bond is trying to reestablish itself.”
“Does that mean we can chill tonight? Sally will be on her date, so no responsibilities in Oceanside. The men are away, the she-wolves will play.” Jen smiled.
“Get some sleep,” Peri growled. I’ll be back to get you in time to be at Sally’s in the morning.”
Jen and Jacque saluted her and laughed when she shot them the finger.
Jen stood up and picked up Thia with her. She was grinning like an idiot. Jacque followed and gave her an odd look when they made it to the stairs to their suites. “I know that grin,” Jacque said. “That’s your, Decebel has serviced me well, grin.”
“Is it?” Jen asked innocently.
Jacques mouth dropped open. “You are using the bond?” Jen knew what she meant.
“Maybe you should reach out to Fane, could make your reunion a little less growly.” Jen laughed as she waved to Jacque before entering her suite. “I’ll see you in a few hours. Hopefully you’ll look a tad more relaxed.”
Jacque made it to her suite and laid Slate down. He was such an easy baby so far. He slept like a rock and rarely cried. She was very thankful for that. Once she was in the bed, the lights off, and covers pulled up to her chin, she considered Jen’s words. What the hell, he is my mate. We might as well take advantage of having something as cool as the mental bond.
“Fane?” She reached for him. She knew she had to be quick. She had to take him by surprise so that he didn’t have time to yell at her.
“Luna?” His voice was a little frantic.
Immediately, Jacque reached for her inner Jen and sent Fane some very un-mommy like thoughts.
“Jacquelyn, what are you…bloody hell woman,” he growled but he wasn’t angry. “Give a man some warning.”
She continued to bombard him with images of them together. It didn’t take long for him to catch on. He apparently excused himself to find a more comfortable place to sleep and then he tortured her back.
By the time Jacque fell asleep, she was quite content, and Fane hadn’t asked her once what she’d been doing. Jen was a bloody genius.
 
 
Sally felt as though her stomach was trying to claw its way up her throat and out of her mouth. Nothing had gone the way she’d imagined it would that night.
“You look beautiful tonight,” Jericho told her.
Sally knew she was blushing. She had been planning to break it off with him and let him know that she just wanted to be friends, but Jericho had been so sweet and kind. She didn’t want to hurt him, but it was killing her to keep leading him on. They’d gone to dinner and then walked around downtown. Their conversation was light, and maybe a few times awkward. She’d had plenty of times she could have told him, but she kept chickening out. Now they were back at her place, sitting on her couch.
“I brought you something.”
Sally watched as he pulled a box from behind him. Jericho held it out to her with that intense stare of his. She reached for it and gasped when she opened it. There was a beautiful chocolate diamond bracelet lying in the velvet interior.
“Jericho, this is too much. I can’t—”
He was moving before she could finish. He swiftly took it out of the box and had it around her wrist in seconds. “There. You can because it looks amazing on you and it’s a gift.”