good deal of heat into the space that was both a living and dining room. Three couches filled up one end of the room, sitting on thick rugs. And the floor below was perfect for the boys, with lots of room.
“They’re back,” Hashtag told them, looking up from his laptop screen.
Horvan gazed at the image from the camera nearest to the property’s boundaries with the road and smiled. Hashtag’s defensive system included an alarm that would tell them if someone approached the cabin.
They weren’t taking any chances.
Dellan was investigating the cabin’s nooks and crannies, strolling around the floor and peering into every corner.
Hashtag chuckled. “Looks like Dellan is checking out his defenses too.”
Dellan paused at the foot of the ladder, staring up at the mezzanine where the bed was located. He crouched low, then sprang into the air, landing on the upper level with a thud. The floorboards beneath him creaked.
Hashtag gasped. “That was some jump.” Dellan stared down at them from his new lofty height.
Rael laughed. “When it comes to high jumps, tigers are the undisputed kings. They can easily jump over ten feet high. And you should see them spring vertically up a twenty-foot pole.”
“Seriously?”
Rael nodded. “In fact, no one knows how high a tiger can jump, because every time one sets a record, another tiger breaks it.”
The door opened, and Roadkill and Crank entered the cabin, both carrying heavy-looking boxes. Hashtag went to help them. Crank put his burden on the countertop and glanced at Horvan.
“I got something for Dellan from the store.” He walked out of the cabin.
Horvan snickered. “Unless it’s a crate full of meat, I can’t see much impressing Dellan.”
Crank came back into the room, carrying a large box.
“What’s in there?” Horvan inquired.
“Nothing. It’s empty.” Crank set it down on the floor and took a step back. “Cats love playing with empty boxes, right?”
Horvan snorted. “Maybe house kitties do shit like that, but—”
Dellan landed nimbly and ran over to the box. He jumped into it and sat there, staring at Crank.
Horvan turned to Rael. “Did you know he’d like…?” His words died at the sight of Rael’s frown. “What’s wrong?”
Rael glared at him. “I’m pissed, that’s what’s wrong. I was two seconds from shifting so I could play in it. Dellan beat me to it.”
For a moment, no one said a word. Then all five men were laughing while Dellan got on with the serious business of playing in his box.
Horvan had to hand it to Crank. He knew his kitties.
HORVAN WOKE to an insistent nudging. He cracked his eye open and came face-to-face with Dellan’s large round striped head, visible in the light that filtered up from the floor below.
“Hey, you need to go out?” he asked, then yawned. He had no idea of the time. They’d all headed for bed around nine.
Then he realized Dellan had jumped up to the loft again.
Sleep.
“Okay, go to sleep, then.”
It seemed all Dellan wanted was permission. Before Horvan could say anything, 440 pounds of tiger plopped on top of him. What the fuck?
“Rael?” Horvan gave the sleeping Rael a nudge. “Goddamn it, Rael. Wake your ass up.” Dellan weighed a ton.
“Whaaaat?” Rael was lying on his side facing the wall. “Do you know how long it’s been since I had a good sleep?” he whined. He rolled over, and even in the dim light, Horvan saw his eyes widen. “Holy shit,” he whispered.
“And heavy shit at that,” Horvan agreed.
Rael reached out and stroked Dellan’s paw. “Dellan? What’s going on?”
No sleep without Dellan.
The words were firm, insistent, and to Horvan’s mind, they showed the first signs of possessiveness. They also sent a pang of guilt through him.
“You’re right. We shouldn’t be sleeping without you. How about if we all go into the living room and sleep together? Now that we’re a… family, it makes sense to be together, right?”
Dellan got up, climbed off the bed, walked over to the top of the ladder, and leaped into the air, landing on his front paws with a soft thud. Rael rubbed his eyes and followed, climbing down the wooden ladder, Horvan behind him. When they reached the spot where they’d heaped blankets for Dellan, Rael sighed.
“You know what? Let’s make him really comfortable.” He stepped out of his shorts, pulled his tee over his head, and shifted.
Instantly, Dellan approached him, sniffing, and Rael flopped onto his back. Dellan studied him, brushing his head against Rael’s mane. Mate. My mate. Lion. Lion and human.
Horvan watched them, his heart lighter than