Claws (9780545469678) (25 page)

“Corbin loved me, Emma. You took that away from me. I can't forgive you for that.”

Emma nodded. Helena had said the same thing every day since she'd been home. Each time she sounded a little less sure of her words, but it was hard to hear her say them. It was going to take time, their parents said. But Emma had no idea how long a faerie enchantment could last once you were no longer in their presence.

The Toe-Chewer rubbed his head against Helena's shoe. “Do you have anything to eat?” he asked, looking up at her with huge eyes. “I like that chicken from a can. It's like a sparrow, but without the feathers.”

Helena's face softened, just the tiniest bit, as she looked down at the little tabby. “Come inside and we'll see,” she said.

Chloe flew down from her perch on a nearby tree and landed next to Emma. “She hasn't tried to escape again, has she?”

“Not since that first day,” Emma said.

“So, what's it like having a sister?” Chloe asked.

Emma thought for a minute before answering. “It's a lot like having a friend that lives with you and shares all your stuff without asking. And you fight with them a lot but kind of have to love them anyway.”

“That sounds awesome. Especially the fighting part. I don't get to fight very often because when I get mad I use my voice and then everyone around me gets
really
mad.”

Emma smiled. “I don't think I'd like fighting with you, then.”

“Oh.” Chloe frowned and leaned back, staring at Emma. “Maybe I wouldn't make a good sister for a cat-girl after all.”

Emma put her hand on Chloe's wing. “I don't know, but you make a pretty good friend.”

“I'm sorry about Jack,” Chloe said.

“Yeah,” Emma said softly. “Me too.”

They stood facing the forest together for a while.

“What's that?” Chloe said, ruffling her feathers.

“What's what?” But then Emma smelled him, and saw him step out from between the trees. She watched, unable to speak, as he sauntered past her pride as he always had, ignoring their low hissing.

“Jack,” she finally managed to say.

He yawned. “You said you'd help me find magic. I assume you've been looking into it?”

“I . . . I didn't look,” Emma said. “I didn't know if you were . . .”

“I figured you'd end up lazy without me around,” Jack said. “Just like the rest of your pride. Are you going to let me in? I'm tired of sleeping on dirt. Your bed is a lot more comfortable.”

Emma reached out to touch him. Jack rubbed his head against the palm of her hand and purred. “I'm glad you're back,” she said. “It wasn't fair to get Helena back only to lose you.” He didn't say anything, but the purring got louder. Chloe made a gagging noise, and Emma laughed. “But if you're going to sleep on my bed again, you'll need a bath.”

We are grateful to our friends and family for their constant encouragement and support along the way. Special thanks to Diane Turnshek; without her, we'd never have met. Thanks to Jenn Kastroll, for being the best supporter and friend we could ever have, and for reading anything and everything we send her.

We thank Verla Kay's Blueboarders for their support and advice, as well as the Apocalypsies, for reminding us the world isn't over if we make a mistake.

A big thank-you to our wonderful editors Imogen and Rachel for their hard work and dedication, and of course to Barry and the rest of the Chicken House team.

Finally, many thanks to our amazing agent, who, if he's reading this, should flip to the front of the book.

Mike and Rachel Grinti met, fell in love, wrote a book, and got a cat — not necessarily in that order! Mike was born in Russia, and moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. Rachel grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she now works as a children's librarian.
Claws
is their debut novel. Follow them on Twitter @mikegrinti and @rachelgrinti and visit their website
www.grinti.com
.