Allegiance of Honor (Psy-Changeling #15) - Nalini Singh Page 0,48
to let go and trust his pack to watch over that which mattered most.
• • •
HAVING driven the jetcycle to DarkRiver’s Yosemite territory with a delighted Naya safely tucked up inside his zippered leather-synth jacket, only her head poking out and her eyes squinting against the wind that ruffled her fur, Vaughn parked the vehicle in a designated spot just inside the forest. Unlike when he traveled alone or with Faith, he’d logged this trip with Jamie and Desiree; the two senior soldiers were in charge of keeping track of pack children moving in and out of the city.
No cub was going to disappear and not be immediately missed.
Still straddling the powerful body of the jetcycle, Vaughn used his phone to check in, informing his packmates that Naya was safe inside the heart of DarkRiver territory.
He’d ensured they had no tail, his senses on high alert.
Swinging his leg over the jetcycle after sliding away his phone, he spoke to the cub who was a source of living warmth against his chest. “I hope you appreciate that I drove like an old lady for you.” He’d never forgive himself if Naya came to harm while in his care.
A tiny panther head nudged the bottom of his chin.
Scratching her under her own chin, he smiled. Truth was, it still hurt to see Naya, to hold her. She reminded him so much of Skye. His baby sister had been jaguar, not leopard, but she’d had the same mischievous spirit, the same affectionate sweetness. Vaughn might’ve been tempted to keep his distance from his best friend’s cub, protect himself, but it was impossible. From the instant he’d picked her up after her birth, Nadiya Shayla Hunter had owned a piece of his heart.
“Yes, we’re home,” he said when she made questioning sounds. “Down. Stretch your legs.” Placing her on the ground with careful hands, he watched as she got her shaky feet under her.
Then she “ran” beside him while he walked at a pace slower than a sleepy five-year-old’s. Tail curled up in pride, Naya growled at all sounds from the forest, the big predator who was going to eat anything that dared encroach on her territory.
Vaughn added his growls to hers, got an approving look in response.
He’d left his jacket with the bike in preparation for his run, but Naya lasted longer than he’d expected. Finally exhausted, she permitted him to pick her up and hold her against his chest as he broke into a full-speed run, the tall firs of Yosemite passing by in a greenish-brown blur while beneath his booted feet, the grass was a lush green that sprang back after the feline lightness of his steps.
Tiny claws dug into him, but he didn’t censure her as he would have had she used them in play. She was just holding on. But she wasn’t scared. Of course not. She was the daughter of an alpha.
She was exhilarated.
Slowing to a jog when he was almost home, he was down to a walk when he entered the cave system within which lay his lair. The scent he caught in the air made him grin, his jaguar rising to its feet inside him in wild welcome. “Hello, Red.”
Faith looked over from the sofa, where, clad in nothing but a short slip of a dress, she was eating a big bowl of cereal. “Naya!”
Her delighted cry had Naya scrambling down to run over.
Climbing up onto the sofa beside Faith through sheer grim effort augmented by a little help from Vaughn, she put her paws on the bare part of Faith’s thigh and peered curiously at the bowl of cereal. Clearly deciding that the brightly colored flakes looked delicious, she licked out her tongue.
Faith pulled the bowl out of reach just in time. “No, you don’t. I am not getting in trouble with Lucas and Sascha by teaching you bad habits.”
Plopping down on her butt, Naya shifted and tugged at Faith’s sea-green dress while making sounds that might’ve been her name. “There you go.” Faith fed Naya a spoonful after checking to make sure the cereal was soft enough with milk that it would be easy for her to eat.
Vaughn watched Naya eat it up, then ask for more. “She’s hungry after shifting so much today.” It took significant energy for the young, likely because their bodies were mid-development and because the shift did odd things at this age.
Like giving Naya the cub far more dangerous teeth than Naya the toddler.