Prince of Cats - Tasha Black Page 0,21

with delight and yanked on Piper’s hair for emphasis.

She laughed and Killian wrapped his arms around them both.

For a perfect moment she felt the reality of their small family.

For such a long time it had just been Piper and Kieran. Now he had a father around. And a bear for an uncle, for heaven’s sake.

Too soon, they reached the other side.

Heath dropped them off at the door to the cabin and then shook himself off, sending droplets flying like a rain storm.

Kieran squeaked happily again, and Piper kissed his soft cheek.

In a heartbeat, the bear was gone, and Heath stood before them once more, only his long, wet hair telling them he was the same creature that had carried them across the swollen creek.

Heath banged a sequence on the door and a man in the same uniform opened it.

“I found them,” Heath said gruffly.

Welcoming noises issued from inside and Piper found herself being guided into the dim cabin where a cozy fire crackled in the grate, the delicious scent reminding her of her grandfather’s cabin in the Poconos.

Three more men cheerfully rose to greet them.

“Come, sit,” Heath told her, leading her to a big chair by the fire while Killian greeted his men. “We’ll have a good meal prepared for you soon.”

“Tha… I mean, I’m happy to be here,” she said, correcting herself before she could thank him.

“It’s a pleasure to know you,” Heath said politely. “And in the ruckus, I didn’t get a formal introduction. Is this my nephew?”

“Yes, this is Kieran,” Piper said softly.

“Hello, nephew,” Heath said solemnly.

Kieran observed him wide-eyed for a moment.

“Bah,” he cried suddenly, and smacked his uncle’s cheek, a big smile on his sweet baby face.

Heath tousled the boy’s downy hair fondly, then straightened to join his brother and the others.

The warmth from the fire soaked into Piper’s tired limbs.

Kieran banged his head on her shoulder, and she lifted her shirt to nurse him, hoping the men wouldn’t be embarrassed by it.

For now it sounded like they were staying too busy catching up with each other to even notice her.

Two men were heading out to patrol the borders of the cabin. Two more would go out shortly to hunt some dinner.

Heath and Killian were already scheming about the best way to approach the castle without being set upon by whoever was pursuing them.

“The child is yours, brother,” Heath said quietly at one point.

“Aye,” Killian agreed. “Wynter asked me to start a child to bring back as our heir. I did not get one on her.”

“I knew it,” Heath crowed. “I knew she was just hiding in her rooms, pretending.”

“Well, you were right,” Killian conceded.

“And that’s his mother, there?” Heath asked.

“She’ll be his wet nurse as far as court is concerned,” Killian said. “But, aye, she is.”

Heath was silent for a moment.

“Yes, it’s as good a plan as can be in bad circumstances,” he said at last. “I will do all I can to help her at court.”

“Thank you, brother,” Killian told him. “She means everything to me.”

“That’s clear,” Heath said softly.

They went back to discussing the merits of various points of entry to the castle.

Piper felt safe and content with Kieran’s warm little form curled up against her. When her eyelids grew heavy, she allowed herself to drift slowly to sleep.

15

Killian

Killian paced the plank floor of the little hunting cabin.

Through two watches no one had seen the hound or its keepers. He had to assume someone had called off the hunt.

For now.

And now that the night was fully dark, it was the safest time to move.

“This is the right plan,” Heath told him, clamping a hand on his shoulder.

“I know, brother,” Killian agreed. “I don’t like it, though.”

“Which part?” Heath asked.

“I don’t like any of it,” Killian admitted. “I don’t like moving them at night. I don’t like her being at court. And I certainly don’t like the idea of calling another woman my wife.”

“You have choices,” Heath said, his voice deep and intense.

“Not when I think of the lives that will be lost if we go to war,” Killian said, repeating what he had said so often in his mind. “This is more important than my happiness. There’s a generation at stake.”

Heath nodded. “Time to saddle up then.”

Killian strode over to where his mate curled with their child by the fire.

For a moment he just watched them sleeping. The boy had a chubby fist curled around a handful of his mother’s hair, his other hand was splayed out as if he were showing