Claws (13 page)
Authors: Kassanna
Mais shook her head and Marree laughed. Percel stomped down the stairs with a child in his arms, a little girl with bronze ringlets and just a touch of green at her temples. He placed her in Marree’s lap and slid his hand over her hair.
His hand moved to Marree’s shoulder where he gave a gentle squeeze. “Karma was having a bad dream and woke up.”
Marree smiled up at the boar before brushing her lips against the kid’s forehead and murmuring something in her ear.
“Where are the Council representatives?” Sasha took the only available seat next to Marree.
“Wow, you reek.” Mais waved a hand in front of her nose. “What did you do—spend the night in the swamp, literally?”
Sasha ignored Mais and looked at Sint.
Sint lowered her mug. “Those men couldn’t keep up with us, not even Jamison. I have to say that Alpha has gotten a little soft.”
Marree whipped her head up. “Jamison is not soft. You’re just pissed he came. Get over it, Sint. He had to.”
“No he didn’t and had I known he was in this stupid group, I would have asked Percel to rethink his decision. Jamison could have kept his anaconda ass in Texas or Kentucky or wherever the hell he was at.” Sint purse her lips.
“Glad to see you’re still fond of me, Sint.” Jamison walked up behind her with a steaming mug in hand.
Sint grunted.
Sasha studied the group and picked up on the growing tension. She turned to see if Etienne noticed and he was gone. Eivan rose and excused himself.
“Where you going?” Sasha narrowed her eyes at her old partner.
He wrinkled his nose. “I have a bit of business I have been waiting to take care of. Do you smell that?”
Sasha shook her head. “All I smell is coffee. What do you smell?”
“Never mind.” Eivan excused himself from the table.
Sasha tried to watch where he went but was drawn to the other conversation happening at the table. Jamison took the seat Eivan freed and leaned back into the chair studying the child in Marree’s lap. A heated discussion between Marree and Sint, who appeared to be trying to ignore Jamison was escalating. Sint rolled her eyes and picked up her coffee cup.
“Marree, you still smell wonderful, like cinnamon and sugar.” Jamison angled his body toward the woman he was talking to. “Who’s little girl?”
“Of course she smells good, dumb ass, she’s your mate,” Sint mumbled.
Marree wiggled in her seat as if uncomfortable then lifted her chin and flashed her teeth. “This is Karma,
my
little girl.”
Sasha sunk down in her seat and continued watching. Jamison’s eyes widened and he opened his mouth to expose his fangs before snapping it shut. Sasha bit the inside of her cheek to keep from firing questions. She glanced at Sint, who had a smirk on her face.
Jamison took a look sip of his drink before inquiring further. “She’s beautiful. How old is she?”
Marree opened her mouth but Sint answered the question. “Old enough to be yours. I guess karma can be a bitch. Of course that baby girl is nothing but sweetness. Still ain’t figured out how that happened.”
Sasha slapped a hand over her mouth. Then Percel’s voiced boomed over the area. “We are going to keep this fight mostly fair. You lose by getting yourself knocked out or tapping the ground when you can’t take anymore. Last man standing wins.”
Eivan walked up to Etienne and threw the first punch.
“Fuck.” Sasha rose from her seat.
Sint reached out and grabbed Sasha’s wrist. “Let ’em battle it out. They will be the best of friends afterward. You’ll see.”
Sasha dropped back into her seat, tight fists in her lap as Etienne wiped the blood from his lip and smiled. “If that’s all you got, wolf, kicking your ass is going to be easy.” He went for Eivan’s throat.
The End
Sugar and Spice Press
Where romance is everything nice.
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