“I might not be able to smell a lie like your mate can, but I know you,” Mica laughed back at her. “And I know good and damned well you’re more than capable of attempting it, and failing quite often.”
Merinus hadn’t yet seemed to have a success when she attempted to pair either Breeds with each other or human and Breed pairings. It still never worked out, because it wasn’t the emotions that mattered.
“Eat your breakfast,” Merinus said, chiding her, barely able to hold back her own laughter.
Mica followed her advice as Merinus began to catch her up on everything that had occurred since Mica’s last visit to the Feline Breed stronghold the year before. Especially where Jonas, his daughter, mate and sister-in-law were concerned.
“Diane is making his life hell, you can tell it,” Merinus related with a very satisfied grin. It was no secret that Jonas often had Merinus threatening to murder him.
She’d dared him to enter into her house on more than one occasion and, whenever possible, had ensured she didn’t have to be in his presence for long.
“Why would she want to do that?” Mica was listening in rapt attention. There was simply no soap opera quite so good as Breed gossip.
“Between you and me, I think she does it simply because she’s a bit jealous. She had Rachel and Amber to herself whenever she was home. Their entire attention was on her whenever Rachel wasn’t working.
When she was, Diane had Amber all to herself when she visited. And let me tell you, that is a woman who adores her niece.”
“Sounds definitely like jealousy to me,” Mica agreed.
Merinus leaned forward confidentially.
“Add that to the fact that Harmony is here as well, with her husband, Lance, and we both know how well she enjoys poking at Jonas. I’m telling you, Mica, we’re going to be attempting to push back the war of the Breeds any day now. Harmony and Diane would decimate Jonas.”
Mica shook her head. “Rachel won’t allow it.” Then she thought about it and grinned; it was a fight she would love to see.
Merinus grimaced with good-natured regret. “And isn’t that such a shame? I personally think she should simply stand back and allow those two to count coup and let it be done.”
Mica shook her head. “Come on, Merinus, Jonas isn’t that bad. He’s arrogant I’ll agree, but he adores all of us.”
The glint in Merinus’s eye assured Mica that the other woman might consider questioning her sanity.
“You and Cassie always take up for him.” Merinus waved her hand dismissively after a moment.
“Cassie’s influence on you isn’t always a good thing, Mica.” Merinus shook her finger at her then.
Mica couldn’t help but laugh at the admonishment.
“Nothing matters more to him than protecting us,” Mica reminded her. “Besides, the pressure he’s under right now has to be incredible.”
They both sobered then. Merinus looked down, her expression suddenly incredible saddened. “We try to find ways to take his mind off it, I believe,” she finally said softly as her gaze lifted. “And it’s easy to fall back on past habits to do so. But trust me, Mica, we all know Jonas well. As soon as he’s learned what that bastard did to Amber, then he’ll be up to his old tricks again.”
Mica could only shake her head. “I believe mating and fatherhood will make enough changes to surprise you. Besides, Jonas isn’t attempting to hurt anyone. He simply wants to protect everyone.”
“In the worst possible ways,” Merinus complained. “He’d lock every mate and child in an impenetrable area if possible and close us completely off from the world. We’re closed off enough as it is.”
And that was more than the truth. For all its beauty, its pristine neatness and sense of activity, as Mica had thought earlier, Sanctuary was little more than a prison. It didn’t just keep those who would harm the Breeds and their mates and children out, but it kept the rest of the world out as well. The experiences and socialization that were so important were denied the community in exchange for safety.
“At least the children can go to public school now,” Mica pointed out. “That has to be an improvement.”
“We have three new teachers.” Merinus folded her arms on the table and stared back at Mica somberly. “But I’m beginning to wonder if we simply created more problems in forcing this issue. As far as Callan and Jonas are concerned, protection is barely adequate, though the school board often calls it outrageous, and any Breed, Breed spouse or relative of a Breed spouse is barred from running for the school board for another five years, to ensure changes that aren’t beneficial to all the children can’t be blocked.”
“Hmm,” Mica murmured. “Can’t you just imagine Jonas or Callan on the school board?” she asked facetiously.
She could, and Mica was very aware of the fact that there wasn’t a chance in hell she would want to go head-tohead with one of them.
Merinus winced. “I believe that might be what they were frightened of when that rule was forced upon us, if the letters from the school board were any indication.”
No doubt. Mica couldn’t help but laugh at that one. Anyone who met Jonas Wyatt, let alone anyone who dared to come beneath the intent stare of those eerie silver eyes, learned quickly that he wasn’t a Breed one wanted to confront.