Leap of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #4)(80)

“I hear we missed some drama.” Emma walked across the patio and settled onto the curving built-in stone bench across from Darcy. Ben, the huge cahir, sat at his mate’s left and gave Darcy a smile. A strange male sat down on the bard’s right.

“Did Minette come?” Darcy asked hopefully. The tiny girl was cuter than any pixie and adorably smart.

“No, we dropped her off to have a sleepover with Angie’s grandcubs.” Emma smiled and patted the stranger’s arm. “Darcy, this is Ryder, my lifemate. He works with Ben in the construction business.”

Ryder had skin darker than Darcy’s, black hair to just below his shoulders, and dark brown eyes. Although tall, he was leanly muscular instead of having the massiveness of his grizzly littermate. He gave her a reserved look. “Good to meet you.”

“And you.” Darcy smiled. “You have a wonderful cub.”

The way his eyes lit with pleased pride changed him from a darkly dangerous male to a proud sire—and she could see why Emma had fallen for him.

“There she is.” Owen sat down beside Darcy.

Gawain took a chair on the other side and handed her a mug. “Vicki said you were sampling various drinks. Have some hot chocolate and Bailey’s Irish Cream.”

“Oh, fun.” She took a sip and smiled. The alcohol tasted like ice cream. “This is wonderful. Thank you.”

Owen gave her a stern look. “Just remember it’ll impair your judgment. No driving cars—or running around in shifter form.”

“Yes, daddy.”

Gawain let out a hearty laugh, but Owen growled under his breath, curved his hand around her neck in a ruthless grip, and pulled her closer to him.

Uh-oh. She gazed up into aggravated green eyes. “Um…”

He rubbed his lips over hers gently and said softly, “You have a mouth on you, little cat. Good thing it’s so kissable.”

“What?” Her eyes narrowed.

Walking past, Vicki stopped in her tracks. “Now there’s a man who needs his clock cleaned. Need help, Darcy?”

“Tempting, but I think I’ll just set his washing machine to flood his house…and all that new flooring.”

As Vicki grinned, Gawain sputtered. “Now wait, tinker. I’ll be living there, too.”

Despite the stern set of Owen’s jaw, laughter danced in his eyes. “I’ll have to watch my words.” When he picked up her hand and kissed her fingertips, her mouth dropped open. Owen was never affectionate. “Are you going to forgive me?” he asked.

“Well, of—” She stopped and frowned. “Maybe when I get an actual apology.”

“Fuck, you’re smart.” His rough chuckle stroked over her almost like the caress of his callused hands. “I look forward to watching you and Gawain play chess.”

“What? I haven’t played chess since I was twelve.” Her lips curved. “Although I did usually win.”

Gawain looked at her with keen interest. “Challenge accepted,” he said promptly.

“I didn’t…” She glared. “The two of you are scary when you team up.”

The exchange of satisfied glances between them was…delightful, actually. Since she’d met them, their relationship had changed, evened out, until they now moved together better than a well-tuned engine.

Although it might be better if they didn’t collaborate to pick on her. She’d have to check out their new home and see what appliances could be sabotaged.

More voices added to the conversational hum. Alec, Shay, and Bree settled down on the stone bench near Vicki, leaving a space for Calum.

“Bonnie?” Owen asked Alec. “Is she all right?”

“My dispatcher is a tough female.” Alec smiled slowly. “She was shaken, but after I told her what happened tonight—and let her know you two were all right—she decided she was more pleased than not.”

Owen and Gawain let out relieved breaths.

Wakened by the noise, the resident pixie chirred in annoyance from the tall spruce. A couple of twigs were tossed out.

Shay chuckled. “Now you know why we put the fire pit on this side of the patio.”

The pixie clicked her fingernails at him rudely before disappearing into her hole.

The door from the dining area opened, and Calum and Zeb walked out. As Calum took a seat beside Vicki, Zeb leaned a hip on the stone wall beside Breanne. The frown on the Cosantir’s face made Darcy sit up straighter.

Alec studied his littermate. “Problems, brawd?”

“Tynan called. He’s narrowing down the possible locations of the Seattle prison.”

Darcy caught her breath.

Calum regarded her. “When we find the captives, we’ll act, Darcy. The cahirs—all of them—have requested they be permitted to rescue the females. Other males here also asked.”

Alec snorted. “Thorson demanded, actually.”

“We’ll get your villagers free,” Calum said gently.

Her hand closed around Gawain’s. Help. The Cosantir was offering help. She swallowed. “I’ll probably have to be the one to contact the shifter-soldiers, or they won’t believe you. I can do that.”

“Perhaps. We’ll make plans when we know what we’re up against.” His gaze met hers and the depth of understanding there made her eyes burn. “Whatever happens, you won’t have to return to the prison, Darcy.”