Amber Eyes (Amber Eyes #1)(36)

“Just remember it was your idea,”Jericho said mildly.

Hunter stopped in his tracks then swung around to stare accusingly at the cougar. He stuck out a finger and closed in on her, wagging it like an old schoolmarm. “You set me up. You did this so I wouldn’t want to come out with you next time. Devious heifer.”

The cat sank onto her belly and laid her head on her outstretched paws. She managed to look positively sorrowful as she gazed up at Hunter with those amber eyes.

“I’m going to buy you a collar and a leash. Then we’ll see who has the last laugh.”

Jericho lost the battle and died laughing. He laughed so hard, he had to clutch his middle as cramps knotted his midsection.

Hunter threw up his hands and stalked toward the cabin.

When Jericho had calmed down enough to catch his breath, he knelt on one knee in the snow and put his hand on the cougar’s head. “Come on, girl. We better get back to the cabin before he has a hissy fit.”

She picked up her head and eyed him balefully.

“Yeah, yeah, I know, he’s already pitched one hell of a fit.”

Still, he rose and started back toward the cabin, hoping Kaya had had enough romping around in the snow for the day. He and Hunter were gratified that she was spending less and less time in cougar form as the days passed. They liked it a lot better when they knew exactly where she was and that she was safe.

She trailed alongside him until the cabin came into view. Then she bounded ahead of him and butted against the slightly ajar door.

When Jericho entered, he saw Hunter wrapping a blanket around a shivering, naked Kaya. Jericho picked up the change of clothes they kept by the door and started toward her.

Something in Hunter’s gaze stopped him.

“Go get dressed, honey,”Hunter said in a low voice as he turned her toward Jericho.

Jericho frowned and held out the clothes to Kaya as he continued to stare at Hunter.

“K-man radioed. We’ve been called out.”

Jericho froze. It wasn’t entirely unexpected. They lived with the knowledge that they could be called away any minute of any day. But they’d spent the last weeks in denial of that possibility.

“Are we going?”Jericho asked evenly.

Hunter’s eyes held a whole lot of regret. “Yeah. We are. It’s a bad one. Members of Rebeccah’s medical team are trapped in a village being attacked. The U.S. basically told them if they went in not to expect any help. This one will be off the books.”

Jericho swore. “What about Kaya?”

Kaya, who’d remained a silent observer, stepped forward, still draped in the blanket Hunter had wrapped around her.

“You’re going away?”she asked quietly.

“You could stay here,”Hunter said to Jericho.

“Fuck that,”Jericho said rudely. “I’m not letting you go in alone.”

“I wouldn’t be alone.”

“Forget it. Not happening.”

They both turned to Kaya who watched them with uncertain eyes.

“We have to go away for a little while,”Hunter said. “We won’t be long. No more than a couple of weeks. Just like always.”

She drew into herself, her eyes flashing soft vulnerability. “Will you come back?”

Jericho swore under his breath and reached for her, pulling her into his arms. She trembled against him and clutched at his chest with small hands.

“We’ll be back, Kaya. Always. You’re ours. We want you to stay here. There’s plenty of food, and it’s warm. You’ll have shelter. When we return, we’ll bring more supplies and some decent clothing for you.”

She nodded against his chest, but he wasn’t sure if he’d convinced her.

Hunter cupped his hand under her elbow and pulled her away to look at him. He stared down at her, his expression utterly serious. “Promise me you’ll be careful. Stay close to this cabin at all times. No jaunts over the mountains as the cougar, and when you’re in human form, don’t step outside this cabin.”

“I promise,”she said solemnly.

Kaya sat on the couch in front of the fire, her knees hugged to her chest as she watched the two men prepare to leave. They worked methodically, as if they’d done this a million times before. And they had, she knew. She’d watched them from a distance as they’d donned their pack gear and hiked down the mountain.

Only this time they were leaving her, and it frightened her.

When the last of their supplies were packed, they turned to her. The moment she’d dreaded was here. The goodbye.

“Come here, honey,”Jericho said in a low voice.

She flew off the couch and into his arms, hugging him fiercely. He covered her mouth with his, kissing her with unrestrained passion. Then he tore his lips away and rested his forehead against hers.

“We’ll be back soon. You won’t even miss us.”

“I’ll miss you.”

He smiled. “We’ll miss you too. Take care of yourself until we can come back and do it ourselves.”

He walked around her to stand by the door and allow Hunter his goodbye.

For a long second, she and Hunter stood staring at one another. Her heart swelled and ached with every beat. She didn’t want them to go. Selfishly, she wanted to beg them not to leave her, not to go fulfill the legacy of a woman they’d loved before her.