Hour of the Lion

making, and it would be a pity not to share our superb culinary skills with others. We’ll expect you at seven.”

She frowned at him. So unsure-something he rarely saw in this woman. But after looking at Jamie’s pleading eyes, she sighed. “Well, all right. I love lasagna.”

* * *

Fuck. Sitting at his office desk, Vidal crumpled up the paper he’d just signed and flung it at the wall. His signature had always been a fat scrawl. Now it was small, a pencil’s width, the letters all crammed together because his fingers wouldn’t loosen any more. And he’d lost his balance again this morning.

Fear crawled around inside him like a cockroach in his guts. His time was running out-the fucking Parkinson’s was winning. Diseased. Furiously, he swiped his arm over his desk, sending everything crashing to the floor.

He glared at the sound of a knock. “Yeah. What?”

Swane opened the door and walked in. His cold brown eyes flickered over the mess. “Got something.” He set some papers down on the desk.

Forcing his anger down, Vidal looked them over. “Medical reports?”

“Uh-huh. Military. For a Victoria Morgan who’s recovering from a knee injury.”

“Alive? Son of a fucking bitch, she survived!” His hopes leaped. Had she transformed? Was she a werecreature now? He looked through the pages and scowled. “The report don’t say nothing about bite marks.”

“The doc called’em: various healed scars. But see here”-Swane flipped to the back page-“The bitch wanted a copy, so she gave them her address.”

Vidal squinted to decipher the small type. “She’s living in Cold Creek?”

“Now doesn’t that put your shorts in a wad?”

Vidal shoved the papers away. “Get her. And find out if she’s changed into one of them.”

“Just like that, huh.” Swane snorted. “Go ask her, “Hey, Miss Morgan. Eating more red meat lately?”

“Cut the crap.” Vidal leaned back in his chair, trying to keep his excitement from exploding. “Just get her. But be careful. She’s seen your ugly face.”

“No problem. I got some merc buddies who need a few extra bucks. They can take point; I’ll do backup.”

Vidal frowned. More people in on the information. “I don’t -”

“They’ll never know what’s going on. They’ll just tranq her and toss her into the van-they won’t see her turn into a cougar. If she even can.”

Swane’s last remark hit Vidal hard. She must have been transformed. She had to have. “Good plan.” Vidal listened to the rain against the window. “When you spot her, grab her right then. No matter what. With her fucking background, she could disappear completely if anything sets her off.”

“Got it. You know, if she’s hanging out in Cold Creek, it’s cuz the kid clued her in. She knows something.” Swane’s smile didn’t reach his dead eyes. “Give me a day with her, and she’ll be happy to tell you every fucking detail.”

* * *

That night, Vic veered across the parking lot to the right of the Wild Hunt where a tall wooden fence enclosed the tavern’s side and back yards. As she opened the gate, a chill shook her like a cold hand stroking up her spine. The last time she’d gone through a wooden fence to a back yard, she’d been knocked out, tied up. And then had a mountain lion munch on her. Hopefully this evening would end better.

Or not. It’s not like she had an appetite. I hate goodbyes. Leaving a message would be far, far easier. But the kid wouldn’t understand. Vic remembered the times her father left for overseas stations without telling her. As she’d cried, whatever housekeeper he’d hired would give her his note. It had never helped.

So tonight, she’d tell Jamie goodbye in person. And hopefully, Calum wouldn’t get upset about losing a part- time barmaid.

A few steps past the gate, she stopped and stared. Wowsa. After the barren parking lot in front, she hadn’t been anticipating…this. The brick path down the side was overhung with lilacs. Roses climbed over the wooden archway at the entrance, and the late blooms lent sweetness to the air. In the backyard, a knee-high rocky waterfall splashed into an oval pond. Gold and red koi flashed just under the water’s surface hoping for a handout. Crumbs scattered beside a tall-backed bench showed someone liked to feed them.

Herbs filled the corners adding the scents of rosemary and oregano. Vic turned in a circle. What did this place look like in the summer? She felt a stab of envy. Must be nice to plant something and be around months later to see it blossom.

Still seemed as if a werecat should have a chicken house, not a garden. God, there was so much she didn’t know about them.

The path led to steps climbing to the second-floor landing. As she put her foot on the first step, her heart rate increased with her anticipation…of seeing Calum. Oh, man, coming here was stupid, stupid, stupid. Growling under her breath like some wacko released from a psych house, she stomped up the stairs. There were two doors, not one, as if even the damned entrances were saying, ‘choose one brother or the other’.

She pounded on the one with Calum’s name.

“She’s here!” Jamie’s voice rang out. The door was thrown open, and Vic got her second hug of the day. She’d had more hugs this season than in several years. Scary thought. “Hey, munchkin.” The feel of the kid’s skinny arms filled Vic with fondness…just fondness. Nothing more.

Vic pulled back, shoved her hands into her jeans pockets. “Nice garden you got here, kid.”

“Did you see the fish? The red one is Peter and the gold one with orange marks is Wendy. And there’s a big guy with black patches-he’s Hook.” Jamie put her hands in her pockets like Vic. “Of course, I named them when I was just a little girl.”

“Of course,” Vic agreed solemnly. As she smiled, she saw Calum watching from the door. The way his eyes softened when he looked at his daughter squeezed her heart. Then his gaze met hers. Heat seared her skin in a blast of fire. Oh, this was such a bad idea. “Hey,” Vic said weakly.

“Welcome to our home.” His lips curved as if he could see her worries. “Come in, Victoria. We’re eating lasagna tonight, not little humans.” As he disappeared into the kitchen, Jamie grabbed her hand and dragged Vic after her like a pull-toy.

Calum checked the oven, then turned. “What can I get you to drink?”

“Beer if you have it.” The heady smell of garlic filled the large kitchen, and her stomach rumbled.

As Jamie laughed, Calum smiled, poured Guinness into a mug, and handed it to Vic. “Don’t worry. As soon as the bread is browned, we’ll eat.”

“I didn’t realize I was hungry.”

Calum took a sip of his own drink, a dark wine. As he studied her over the top of the glass, his gaze felt like a hot sun against overly sensitive skin. “You should eat more,” he said. “You’re underweight.”

“That’s rude, Daddy. I think Vicki is perfect,” Jamie said loyally.

Laughing, Vic swung an arm over the kid’s shoulders and frowned. “Have you grown? Weren’t you shorter yesterday?”

“Scary, isn’t it,” Calum said in a dry voice. “She’ll have her first trawsfur soon and the thought terrifies me.”

Vic’s jaw dropped open. “Jamie will?”

“Daddy!” The girl turned to stare at Vic. “You told Vicki-”

“Ah, I forgot to tell you, dearling, Victoria knows about us.”

Calum grinned at his daughter’s bug-eyed look, and Victoria looked quite as startled as she stared at Jamie.

“You never thought of young shifters?” he asked.

“Um, no.” Victoria touched Jamie’s cheek so gently that his heart squeezed. “Will you turn into a cat? Like your dad? Is Alec a cougar too?”