Claw

by Skye MacKinnon

  Ah. Yes. I've not told them anything about what happened to me. I've not felt strong enough to do so yet. And I only want to talk about it once, which means I won't do it until I've got all the important people gathered around me. The guys will just have to wait.

  "Yes. What do you know about him?"

  "He's only the most influential advisor to the Prime Minister. How have you not heard of him? He was never elected to any political role, but he's got more power than most career politicians. He whispers in the PM's ear and everything he wants is done. He has some kind of power over the Prime Minister that makes him untouchable. According to the rumours, anyway. I doubt anyone would be brave enough to accuse him of that directly."

  I shrug. "You know I'm not interested in politics. But yes, he was the one who made me self-kidnap myself."

  "Self-kidnap?" Ryker interrupts. "What the hell?"

  "It was my choice. I walked into that cage. I wasn't taken. I chose to do it."

  Ryker grips my shoulders and makes me turn to him until I'm staring right into his intense yellow eyes.

  "He forced you. You didn't have a choice. He was threatening your little sister and of course you would never have let him hurt her. You were kidnapped, Kat. You didn't do it to yourself, if that's what you've been telling yourself."

  Lennox hugs me from behind, turning this into a Kat sandwich. "Listen to him. You have no fault in what happened to you. Don't you dare blame yourself."

  "I don't," I protest, but it's a lie. "I don't say that to put the fault on me. It made me get through it. It gave me control over the situation. Saying that I self-kidnapped puts the power in my hands. Do you understand?"

  "I'm not sure I do," Ryker mutters. His eyes bore deep into mine as if he's trying to discern whether I'm telling the truth. I don't even know myself. If I did, then I didn't just lie to them, I also lied to myself. It's all a bit of a mess. My mind must be the most chaotic place on the planet just now.

  Lennox runs his hands over my stomach in a strangely soothing motion. Not so soothing is the fact that his dick presses against my back, reminding me once again that all three of us are naked. Resist the temptation, kitty. No milk for you until later.

  I untangle myself from the sandwich and continue walking, pointedly not looking back. Without a word, they join me, each reaching out to take my hands. I let them, and yes, I do enjoy the feeling, although I wouldn't admit that to them.

  Together, we walk over the bridge. My feet sigh in relief at the change of terrain. The cobblestone is so much more comfortable to walk on than the uneven, muddy ground that's full of hidden rocks and sharp grass. My shifter healing is almost back to normal, but it still hurts.

  We must make a curious sight. Three people, naked, strolling hand in hand over a bridge in the middle of the night. Luckily, there's nobody out to see us. The night is our friend and gently hides us from view until we get to the cottage where Gryphon is waiting for me.

  Chapter Sixteen

  He doesn't say anything. He simply pulls me against his chest and captures my mouth with his, kissing me like he needs it to survive. My tiredness disappears a little, enough to return his kiss with just as much passion. The other two guys disappear into the house, giving us some space. They've already had their turn. Gryphon is the one who's had to wait the longest. We'd been so close yet I never made it to him. Not until now.

  I pour all my regret into the kiss. All the love I have for him. And he gives back as much as he takes. He makes me feel like I'm the only woman in the entire universe.

  "Ew, get a room!"

  Sophie has appeared behind him. Gryphon chuckles but doesn't end the kiss; in fact, he turns even wilder. He nips at my bottom lip, just the way I like it. No, not just like. Love. I'm on fire and he's the one stoking the flames.

  "Where did your clothes go?" Sophie asks with the tone of an exasperated mother.

  "Yes, where did your clothes go?" Gryphon whispers and runs his hands down my naked back until they come to rest on my arse. I hope Sophie didn't see that. "Not that I'm complaining."

  "I'll get you something to wear," Sophie announces and runs off. I almost forgot how intense she can be.

  Gryphon presses one last kiss on my lips, then steps back but still keeps an arm around my waist. "Let's go inside. It's cold out here."

  I'd love to reply with a line about him making me hot, but he's right, and besides, we're kind of exposed out here. The only other house nearby, the inn, is a ten-minute walk away, but you never know who might pass by. Not that I'd be embarrassed of my nakedness, no, but it would raise undesired attention.

  He pulls me inside the cottage. The door is so low that even I have to bow my head. It's cosy inside, with an open fireplace giving both light and warmth. The cottage is one big room that includes a kitchen area to our left and old-fashioned sofas and armchairs to our right. Raised platforms on either side just below the roof, accessed by ladders, hide the sleeping quarters. There's only one door that I hope leads to a bathroom with a shower. This place looks kind of rustic so I hope there's hot, running water.

  Sophie waves down from one of the balconies. "I found a nightie for you!"

  She waves a white, frilly thing that I am most definitely not going to wear.

  Gryphon chuckles. "She's quite a force of nature. It's clear that the two of you are related, even if you didn't look alike. We need to talk about her eye, but that's for later. Let's get you warmed up. Want me to help you shower?"

  "I don't need-" I begin, but then think better of it. "Yes, I think I'm feeling a little weak. I'll need help. I absolutely can't shower on my own."

  "I'd join you, but the bathroom is a little small," Lennox calls from one of the sofas. "But I'll make us some food while you're...cleaning yourself."

  His words are one big innuendo. There's no jealousy though. He wants us to do this, and I don't feel any animosity from Ryker either. They're fine with sharing me. Not that I'd give them a choice; they're all mine, but it's nice that we don't have to argue.

  Gryphon leads me to the bathroom and locks the door behind us - I assume for Sophie's sake. Lennox was right, it is tiny, just enough space for a shower, a narrow washing basin and a toilet that's seen better days. Let's hope those cracks in the porcelain don't mean that it'll collapse as soon as I take a seat on it.

  As soon as Gryphon rips off his clothes, all thoughts of our surroundings disappear. All I have eyes for is him. Has he always been this gorgeous? His scars only highlight his beautiful grass-green eyes and strong jaw. And that hair...I run my hands through it and tousle his mane. His beard has grown long while we were apart. I like it, it makes him look a little more rogue.

  "Lily has been telling me to shave it off," he mutters. "I told her I'd only do it once we'd found you. Now it's your decision."

  "How romantic," I tease. "You're offering me your beard? Will there be classical music in the background as you shave it off?"

  "Of course. And rose petals on the floor. But do you really want me to shave it off? I think it makes me look more masculine."

  I can't help but snort. "You always look masculine, beard or no beard." I tousle my fingers in his coarse beard hair. It's not as spiky as it used to be when his beard was a lot shorter. I kind of like it. If he lets it grow even more, it might become soft. That will feel nice while kissing...

  "Keep it, but if you get mites or bedbugs in it, I'll shave it off myself."

  He rolls his eyes. "I'm not intending to make it a home for critters. Unless you're one of them." He winks in the most cheesy way possible. I think it's time to end this conversation and focus on the more important things.

  "Didn't you want to help me shower? I'm feeling a little too tired to do it on my own."

  I give him an innocent smile and flutter my eyelashes.

  "Are you having a stroke?" he asks with a frown.

  "Huh?"

  "Your eyelids are twitching weirdly."

  I groan. "That was supposed to look endearing. M
aybe alluring."

  Gryphon clears his throat. "Maybe stick to just smiling next time. You're not really the fluttering type."

  I punch him in the stomach - lightly. More of a nudge. He takes the hint and pulls me close until our naked bodies mould into each other.

  I lean up to kiss him, the shower all but forgotten. It's him I want. More than hot water. More than food. More than anything. I need him. He's mine and I want to show him. Despite everything that's happened, it feels like no time at all has passed when he slides into me. It's like he's coming home.

  It takes two showers before we emerge from the bathroom. One to get clean, and the second after Gryphon seduced me into another round of sex. Not that I'm complaining. I'm exhausted but in a good, pleasant way. The hot water has softened my muscles and I'm all relaxed now, for the first time in months.

  "That took a long time," Sophie complains. "The food went cold."

  She's playing some kind of board game with Lennox, while Ryker is curled up on the sofa with a book. My heart aches a little at the sight. It's so...family. Mundane. Beautiful.

  Yet I stand there, not quite sure what to do. Shall I join them? Will that destroy the illusion of peace? Maybe it's better if I stay apart. I don't want this moment to end.

  Gryphon gently pushes me forward, towards the closest sofa. "Sit down, I'll get you some food."

  I'm glad he's told me what to do. I let him steer me to the sofa and sit down with a soft sigh. I'm suddenly really tired. I need to sleep as soon as I've eaten something. I truly want to make plans for what to do next, but the presence of the guys gives me the confidence to put that off until tomorrow. If something bad happens, they'll be here to help me. It's strange how I've come to trust them. Now even more than before the kidnapping. I guess I've realised how much they mean to me, how much I value them. Before, I kept trying to persuade myself that I didn't need them, that I could be happy on my own if I wanted to. Our long separation has shown me how important they are. How much I love them.

  Look at me, all sappy and emotional. Talking about love. Old-Kat would puke up a hairball at seeing me like this, but I think I've changed for the better.

  Gryphon hands me a plate of sausages, mash and cabbage. I look up at him in surprise. That's some surprisingly good food. I was expecting canned beans and bread.

  "I got some supplies at the local market when I picked up Ryker in Lakeside," he explains. "That's the closest village. Technically, both this cottage and the inn by the bridge are part of it, although it's a brisk half-hour walk from here. Far enough to have privacy but close enough to get some decent food."

  I tuck in and forget the world around me. These sausages are my new best friends. I devour them in record time. Two new ones appear on my plate. I don't look up to thank whoever got them for me; I'm way too busy eating.

  "I can make some more," Lennox offers. "We need to get some meat on your bones again. You look starved."

  "Way to compliment a lady," Gryphon snickers. "Have you no manners at all?"

  "Just telling the truth. I don't want to fear that I might break her when she's in my arms."

  "You're not going to break me," I protest, but only half the words are audible thanks to me still chewing on a particularly large piece of sausage.

  "My mother said Kat should be kept hungry," Sophie mutters without looking up from the game. "The servants made sure not to give her too much."

  An uncomfortable silence falls. I don't know how much Sophie has told them about how she was brought up, but judging from their stunned looks, she's not spoken about what her so-called parents did to me.

  "Did she say why?" Gryphon asks, sounding as if someone's strangling him.

  "She said Kat would get angry if she got too much food, and that would make the process slower."

  Lennox stops playing and stares at her. "What process?"

  "They wanted to make her my friend, but she was too naughty. My father said that she'd try to hurt me if they let me play with her, so they had to change her. They wanted to stop her from being naughty."

  Okay, that makes no sense whatsoever.

  "I would never have hurt you, Sophie, I hope you know that," I tell her while looking right into her remaining eye. The other one is hidden behind a red scarf that she's wrapped around her head. "You're my sister and there's no way I could have harmed you. Or would harm you now."

  "But they said-"

  "Not everything your parents said is true," I interrupt her. "They didn't like your name. They didn't want you to have a favourite colour. And you instinctively knew that wasn't right. Listen to your heart, Sophie. You know that it wasn't right of them to let me starve. You know it wasn't because I was naughty."

  She looks at me for almost a minute without speaking, then nods.

  "I like having a sister," she says quietly. "And you didn't like the lab either. We're the same. I know I said you weren’t my sister, but I lied. I really like you."

  "The lab?" Ryker asks sharply. "What did they do to you, Kat?"

  "The lab?" I repeat. "I was in no lab. I was kept in a cell the entire time and was only transferred into a different room in the last few days before we escaped."

  Sophie shakes her head. "You were in the lab many times. I watched you. Sometimes, I had to be there too so they could compare us. You were always sleeping, though. You're quite the sleepy head."

  Fuck. I knew they'd sometimes knocked me out with that gas, but I had no recollection of ever being taken out of my cell. There had never been any signs that I'd been moved. Whatever they'd done to me had left no traces.

  I shake my head to get rid of all the images popping into my mind. What they may have done. So many possibilities. All of them scary.

  Gryphon puts his hands on my shoulders and squeezes them softly. "We'll figure it out, Kat. Don't freak out."

  "I don't freak out," I protest, but my voice shivers close to the hysteria spectrum. This isn't the first time I've been treated like a lab rat. And it's also not the first time that I can't remember it. Grandma Doctor, Mystery Man, they'd all experimented on me without me having any recollection of it. It makes me feel more vulnerable than I'd like. I think I'd rather have memories of whatever they did to me than have it left to speculation.

  "What did they do to you both?" Ryker asks Sophie.

  You could hear a grain of sand hit the floor.

  To my surprise, Sophie looks at me with excitement. "I'm going to be an aunt."

  Chapter Seventeen

  "What the fuck," Ryker curses, vocalising exactly what I'm thinking.

  Sophie can't mean what I think she means...right?

  "What are you saying?" Lennox demands forcefully. I'd tell him off for speaking to my sister in that way, but I can't focus on anything but the echo of her words still ringing in my head. I'm going to be an aunt.

  "You're going to have a baby," she says to me as if that's the most natural thing in the world. "That means I'm going to be an aunt."

  All three guys look at me, just as confused as I am.

  "I'm not sure how much you know about how babies are made, Sophie, but I can't be pregnant. There's no way."

  As far as I know, shifter pregnancies are pretty similar to human ones, which would mean that since I've been away from the guys for several months, I should show signs by now. I look down at my belly. No bump. Definitely not. And I can't hear a heartbeat either. I have no idea when a foetus’s heart first starts beating, but there's nothing to be heard.

  Besides, I don't know if I even can get pregnant. I'm a clone; I wasn't born like normal people. I might be compatible with Ryker since he's a cat shifter too, but he's a house cat while I'm a panther. I doubt I'd be able to have a child with Lennox. I've heard rumours of shifters having kids with humans, but is Gryphon human enough for that?

  I've never really thought about having children. I'm not the maternal type, not in the slightest. I'd probably teach my child to kill before they can even walk. No, Sophie is not going to be a
n aunt, I can guarantee that.

  "Yes, you are pregnant," she insists. "My mother showed me on the screen. It didn't look like a baby yet but she said that's going to change before it's born. Are you excited?"

  I want to shake her and force her to tell me what the hell is going on, but at the same time, I'm sad at her innocent excitement.

  I feel sick. And it's not morning sickness. I can't be pregnant. No fucking way.

  "Sophie, did your parents say who the father is?" Lennox asks gentler her than I could.

  She nods, still smiling. I can't look at her.

  "It's my father," Sophie says with more innocence than I can handle. "But that's okay, because I'm adopted, so I won't really be the babies’ sister. I'll be their aunt because I'm Sophie's sister. My mother explained it all. We were all going to live together. Kat as my friend and the babies-"

  I run to the bathroom and just about manage to reach the toilet before I throw up. I heave and heave, almost grateful for the acid burn in my throat. It distracts me from what I just heard.

  It can't be. She's lying. Or they fed her wrong information. It can't be true. I'm not pregnant. And I'm definitely not carrying that murderous siren's child. I never even saw him while I was held prisoner. His wife was the only one who visited me.

  No. I refuse this to be true.

  Ryker's scent announces him moments before he wraps his arms around me. With one hand, he holds my hair back while I throw up again, while he soothingly rubs my belly with the other. I hiss at the touch and he immediately realises his mistake. He moves his arm up until he's just below my boobs. Far away from uterus territory.

  Gryphon joins us in the bathroom, making it seem even smaller.

  "Are you alright?" he asks in his doctor voice. "I'm going to get you a pregnancy test as soon as the shops open in the morning."

  Instead of an answer, I throw up again. My knees are wobbly with exhaustion and shock. I'm glad Ryker is holding me or I might end up on the floor. Although that would fit the way I feel. Absolutely rotten.