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The boy mumbled a thank-you and went to sit on a rock ten
feet away. Cur handed Rachel a bar.
She took it with the same lack of enthusiasm.  His world
revolves around food. A few times I was sure we d get
caught because of his need to eat.
 It wouldn t have hurt him to miss a meal or two. That stop at
that burger joint almost cost you. If he d been a minute later
arriving on the scene, the rogue tailing her would have
completed the call reporting her location.
 I know. Except he gets so hungry.
Cur could remember going days with his stomach gnawing
at his backbone without anyone caring.
 It wouldn t have killed him.
She cocked her head to the side as she unwrapped her
dinner.  I suppose I owe you a thank-you that we didn t get
caught.
 It wouldn t go amiss.
She smiled. The first one he d seen up close. She sat on
the ground, bracing her back against the stone. The smile
took her face from beauty to earthy charm and captivated
him just as completely.
He loved the way the left side of her mouth tilted just a touch
higher than the right, the way it revealed her bottom front
teeth were just the slightest bit crooked, the glimpse it
provided of the real woman behind the guarded mask.
 Thank you.
 You re welcome.
She waved her hand.  You can sit, you know.
He was still standing there holding the pack, staring at her
like a lovesick pup in the throes of his first crush. He
scanned with his senses. No danger. Dropping the pack,
he sat beside her so his knee was touching hers. She
scooted over a bit. He smiled at the betrayal of awareness.
She d been as nervous as a cat since that kiss last night.
Though all he d done afterward was hold her through the
night, she seemed to be waiting for him to pounce. It was
amusing, irritating and, well, too tempting a target to resist.
 Soon as I finish my supper, I ll get right on that.
She eyed him suspiciously.  On what?
He jerked his chin in her direction.  Your ravishment.
She choked on the granola bar. He was obliged to pound
her back. As soon as she caught her breath, she snapped,
 Are you never serious?
 I have my moments.
For a second she stared at him, her eyes bright in her red
face, and then she groaned.  I seriously don t want to like
you.
 I know. It s a mystery to me, seeing as we re going to
spend our lives together.
The laughter left her face.  Yeah.
One of these days she was going to prick his temper with
that question mark she kept attaching to their union.  Are
you thinking because I m a mixed-blood I can t bond?
 Not at all. She took the last bite of her dinner and
crumpled the wrapper. He had to wait until she finished
chewing for more, and what he got wasn t what he wanted.
 Is Sarah Anne happy with her mate?
 So Garrett says.
 Garrett being her mate?
 Yup.
Grabbing his pack, she pulled it toward her.  Well, that
makes it a questionable source.
 Garrett doesn t lie.
 He sounds like a real paragon.
 He s as good a man as you ll ever meet.
 As good as you? She raised her eyebrows at him.
He debated telling her about Teri, but since he didn t know
if she d survived, he decided against it.
 Better.
That got another lift of her brow.  If you ll look in the front
pocket, you ll find some chocolate.
Her entire face lit up.  Chocolate?
 Yeah. In two seconds she found the candy. It was double-
sealed in plastic so as not to give off a scent.  Don t rip the
bags.
 I m not an idiot.
 Never thought you were. You just seem to be in a bit of a
hurry.
 Well, duh. It s chocolate.
He chuckled as Josiah came trotting over.  Uncle Cur has
chocolate?
 Don t call him that.
The boy paused, his lip pushing out pugnaciously.
 It s fine, Cur said.  I don t mind.
 Well, I do. Cur is an awful appellation.
 It s been my nickname for years.
 But not the name you were given at birth.
 This bothers you?
 Yes.
He didn t know how to feel about that. Glad that she was
watching out for his feelings or annoyed she had to make a
big deal out of something he d long since put to rest. In the
end it was the way she looked at him that made up his mind
for him.
 Curran.
 That s your name?
 Yes.
Josiah repeated it.  Uncle Curran. He nodded.  That does
sound better.
Hell, even the kid was on his case.  Whatever.
Rachel was back to rummaging in the pack.  What s this?
She pulled out a double-wrapped jar of peanut butter.
 What does it look like?
 Peanut butter, which you said you re allergic to.
 I am.
 Then why do you have it?
 It has its uses.
Rachel opened the bag.  Looks like we ve got dipping
sauce for our chocolate, Josiah.
The kid whooped. Rachel met Cur s gaze with a smug
smile and dipped her fingers in the jar.
He swore under his breath and took another bite of his
granola bar.
So much for his plans to kiss the sass from her.
Eight
SOMETHING was wrong.
Rachel kept her eyes closed and absorbed the silence
around her within the small cave. She could smell the gas
for the motorbikes, the rubber of the tires, Cur, Josiah, and .
. . others! Cur s hand came over her mouth. His lips
brushed her ear.
 We ve got company.
She nodded to let him know she understood.
 Don t panic, but I want you to take Josiah and slip into that
hidden alcove in the back of the cave.
No matter what, you stay there.
 What about you?
He reached into the pack.  Don t worry about me.
 Of course I m worried about you.
 We re not bonded. Shifting up on his elbow, he dragged a
whiskey bottle clear of the pack.
 You ve got nothing to lose.
Except him.
 That s a lousy thing to say.
 It s the truth. Now, very quietly, take Josiah to the alcove.
Josiah nodded as soon as she got near. He d heard. It was
eerie sometimes how easily the boy accepted danger. She
knew for a fact with the exception of his father s death, no
violence had ever touched his life. Sarah Anne had seen to
that, but still, when faced with danger, he possessed an
eerie calm. Maybe he really was a Protector. Maybe they
were all like this. Maybe Curran had been like this. She
didn t know. Protectors were identified early in life, and as
soon as they were, they were taken into training. They didn t
grow up mingling with the pack. They didn t form
attachments. Their loyalty was to the pack first. Everything
else second, and they were raised to ensure it. Another
thing Sarah Anne didn t want for her children. God help
Haven if they tried to enforce tradition with Josiah. And God
help Sarah Anne if Josiah decided he wanted it. The boy at
five was more single-minded than many an adult.
Josiah slid out of his sleeping bag. Taking her hand, he led
her to the alcove. Curran s eyebrow rose at the boy leading
her rather than the other way around, but she d long since
gotten used to it. Josiah protected all the women in his life.
Curran grabbed his sleeping bag and handed it to her. She
pulled it on top of them into the tiny crevice that barely fit
them both. She jerked in surprise when he poured alcohol
on it. The stench burned her nostrils, drowning out all
others. Snaking his hand behind her neck, he pulled her to
him, kissing her hard and deep, his tongue thrusting past
her lips, sliding along hers. Before she could do anything
more than gasp in shock, he stepped back. His thumb
stroked over her lips as his gaze met hers. She expected to
see regret, sadness, but instead she saw . . . satisfaction?
 Keep her quiet, Josiah. And don t let her come out, no
matter what.
She felt Josiah s nod against her arm. His hand grabbed
hers.
 I ll see you in a few hours.
Hours? He expected them to stay here for a few hours?
She leaned out.  Curran.
He stepped away, pouring some whiskey on himself,
staggering around the area where Josiah s sleeping bag [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]