Total pages in book: 172
Estimated words: 155984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155984 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“Where’s Flambé?” Ania asked, sounding disappointed. “Isn’t she going to join us?” She reached out a hand to her husband.
Mitya took it and looked at Sevastyan, but there was no condemnation on his face.
“The leopards didn’t come back until late morning. She was still asleep so she’s showering. She said to tell you she’d be right down.” He debated for a moment before telling them. “Remember I told you she has a rare condition that makes it difficult for her to be touched without feeling acute pain? We had no idea that the heat was going to increase the problem to the point she almost didn’t make it. In fact, apparently most shifters with this kind of disease commit suicide.”
“Sevastyan.” Ania gasped and put a defensive hand to her throat, backing up until she was against Mitya. He sank into a chair and pulled her close to him, circling her waist with one arm.
“I’m so sorry, Sevastyan. That makes me feel even worse than I already do. I came to apologize to her for my behavior. I should have trusted you to handle your own business and just backed you as you did me.” Mitya pressed his fingers to his temples. “That poor girl.”
“The doc has been very helpful. She’s also a genetic hemophiliac. So, more than one problem. She didn’t want me dealing with any of that. It’s been a hard sell to convince her that she should let me decide if I want to be with her or not.” That was true, and yet not exactly. He tried to gloss over that so neither would catch the partial lie. “Fresh coffee, water, tea, what are you looking for to drink?”
“Coffee,” Mitya said.
“Do you have that pineapple juice mix that was so refreshing?” Ania asked. “The last time I was here, you gave me a bottle of it.”
He flashed her a smile. “Just for you.”
When he returned with their drinks, they were both seated comfortably at the table, waiting expectantly for more of an explanation. “She isn’t trusting,” Ania said. “At all.”
“No, with good reason,” Sevastyan agreed, but he wasn’t going any further. If Flambé wanted to share—and he hoped she would eventually—then she could do that herself. “It was very difficult to get her leopard to come out without harming her. I wasn’t certain it could be done and neither was the doc. I’m very thankful for that man. It will take her a little longer than normal because she has to follow a strict protocol before she can come down.”
“Is there still danger to her?” Mitya asked.
Sevastyan sighed and pressed the cool bottle of water to his head. “Unfortunately, I think there’s always going to be a little bit of danger. The more we follow the doc’s advice, hopefully, the better she’ll get. There’s a new gene therapy for hemophiliacs. Doc thinks she’s a good candidate for that. As for the nerve problem, there is no cure. He’s worked on various nerve blockers and lotions to aid in calming the sensations, but they can’t completely stop them and certainly not for more than a short while.”
“Long enough to allow her leopard out,” Mitya said.
Sevastyan nodded. “Yes. She’s willing to go through the routine to allow Flamme her freedom. Certainly, during a heat she’ll have to use the routine.”
“I checked with the elders of Franco Matherson’s lair,” Mitya said. “He’s been cast out completely and he’s being hunted. They’ve sent out their best trackers, two brothers by the names of Luan and Arno. They have quite the reputation, according to Drake Donovan. Once sent out, they never stop. Luan means lion and Arno eagle. They nearly caught up with Matherson a year ago but he has far more resources than they do. Money counts when you’re moving fast. I reached out to them, offered them anything they might need in the way of transportation or information. I told them that he was stalking a young woman here in Texas.”
“Do we have any kind of an idea where he is?” Sevastyan asked.
Mitya sighed and shook his head. “I wish I could tell you, but I’ve called in favors from many of our allies and everyone is looking. He’s not going to be able to hide forever. Eventually, he’ll make a move. Two of his brothers are back in Africa at their family estate. Another has gone to Switzerland. The family owns a ski resort and the brother spends a lot of time there. I think he goes to the slopes whenever Franco has gotten out of hand and he doesn’t want to be associated with him.”
“What does one do when you have a crazy, out-of-control brother like that?” Sevastyan asked.
“I don’t know,” Mitya answered, his expression droll. “What?”
Ania smacked him. “You think you’re so funny.”
“I am funny. Most people don’t get that I am because they can’t tell when I’m smiling. Look, kotyonok, take a look at my face.”