Catastrophic Attraction - Eve Langlais Page 0,66
some mittens.”
The cat uttered a pitiful meow, which resulted in a head popping through the opening in the floor. “Sachi, what’s wrong?”
He showed pity for the wrong thing. Casey growled. “Your cat hates me.”
“I highly doubt that. Sachi doesn’t hate anyone.”
“Really? Then explain why your fucking cat passed gas in my face.” She pointed at her offended nostrils.
“I highly doubt it was on purpose.” He entered the treehouse, his wide presence consuming the space.
“Says you. I saw the way she looked at me.” Casey glared at the feline now playing innocent and licking her fur. “It is on.”
He appeared as if trying to not laugh. “My cat doesn’t hate you.”
“How would you know? Have you read her mind?” She narrowed her gaze on him. Could he do that?
“No. I can only relate to human minds.”
“Axel can kind of read the ones of the wolgar.”
“Less reading and more like he talks to them. They communicate on a frequency most humans can’t hear.”
“But some Deviants can.”
“All of humanity is deviant. But like the color of skin and eyes, even the shape of the nose, their abilities are all different. So Axel can speak with wolgar, I can do it with humans, and you can fool the eye of both.”
She blinked. “I hadn’t thought of that. So wait a second, since my powers work with just about everyone, and yours don’t, does that make me better than you?”
“You wish.” He winked. “Now, were you planning to lounge here all day or get your lazy ass moving?”
“It’s the crack of dawn.”
“I know. The day is passing, and you’re not moving. Good thing Sachi already caught breakfast. It’s gutted and skinned, ready to go.”
“You want me to eat raw meat?” Her nose wrinkled.
“Judging by your face? Apparently not. But we can’t have a fire here. We’ll head for the bluffs first.”
She didn’t take long to pack her things, not that he stuck around to wait.
“I’ll go get started on that fire.”
He left, and she should have appreciated the fact he didn’t feel like she needed his aid. Should have, and yet instead, she simmered.
When she emerged from the tree, she found him sitting cross-legged by a bright blaze formed of broken sticks set as a base for a cracked open nut. The fire danced from it and licked the meat skewered and dangling over it. He looked entirely at ease, despite the cat perched on his shoulder.
It became more and more obvious the king didn’t actually need her on this mission. Which made her wonder why he’d agreed to bring her along.
Could it be he wanted in her pants? He had, after all, kissed her first.
But did last night mean anything? She’d barely spoken to him since their—she didn’t know what to call it. Encounter? Lapse of reason? Memory that kept igniting the spot between her thighs?
He didn’t seem affected. Didn’t seem to care. What was wrong with her that she grumbled at the fact that, unlike her brother, he didn’t hover? Surely, she didn’t miss someone fussing over her?
“I can’t believe you cooked. I had rations still,” she noted, sitting beside him and sliding her pack to the ground.
“I prefer fresh when possible.”
She looked out at the ocean instead of him, admiring the glassy sheen, seeing the reflection of the skies above on the surface. “It’s like a mirror.”
“According to history, before the Fall, the oceans used to move in and out of the shore in never-ending waves.”
“Why did it stop?”
“There are a few theories. The religious believe it was because the gods living in the waters died when the old world ended.”
“Gods!” She snorted.
“I’ve heard a story that says the broken moon is to blame.”
“How can something in the sky cause waves?” She shook her head.
“You might like the last theory that claims monsters must have eaten or broken whatever machine caused the waves.”
“There’s monsters in the ocean?”
“Yes. Massive ones. Never trust what you see on the surface because it hides what’s underneath. The seas are a dangerous place. Don’t ever go swimming alone.”
As if to punctuate the point, something soared from the water. A massive body suddenly emerging and arching, mouth open wide, in time to snare a passing bird. It hit the water with a splash that sent out ripples that stilled quickly. The mirror returning once more.
“That’s insane.”
“And delicious. This, I’m afraid, will only be passable.” He handed her the stick so she could tear off a strip of meat.
It proved quite yummy despite what he said. As they ate,