A smile crossed Talen’s rugged face. “Now that’s a fine idea.”
“No,” Cara said.
Talen and his son shared a look.
“We’ll see about that,” Talen said.
Chuckling, Katie maneuvered around Garrett and strolled by windows showcasing a tumultuous Pacific Ocean on her way to the game room. She found Janie chalking a pool stick in front of the only pool table, the balls already racked. Several dartboards adorned the side, while a huge, fully stocked bar lined one entire wall.
“Katie.” Janie hustled past an air hockey game, giving a strong hug.
Katie leaned back, taking a good look at the gorgeous teenager. Intelligent blue eyes set in a heart-shaped face with her mama’s delicate features. Her hair had deepened to a light sable. “You forgot to grow.”
The grin was all imp. “I know, right? Stupid Garrett is almost four inches taller than me already.” She shook her head. “He picks me up just for fun sometimes. But ... I can still kick his butt.”
Probably because the hulking vamp didn’t want to hurt his big sister. “Of course you can. We women are tough.” God, she hoped Janie mated a vampire or shifter someday so she’d be immortal. The girl was human and had been adopted by Talen when he’d married her mother. Katie grabbed a pool stick.
Movement by the doorway caught her eye.
Maggie dodged inside. “Hey, I found some grape energy drinks.” She grinned, her brown curls bobbing and dark eyes dancing. “The king didn’t hide these very well.” Hustling forward, she plunked the cans on the bar and grabbed Katie in a hug. “I’m glad to see you.”
Katie returned the shorter woman’s hug. “Our apartment has been way too quiet since you left.” When Jordan had rescued Katie from the Kurjan research facility, he’d rescued Maggie as well. The two women had been the best of friends since. Maggie had only been gone a few weeks, but it had been a lonely few weeks without the wolf shifter.
“Kane and Emma have been using me as a pincushion.” Maggie hopped onto a bar stool, reaching for a drink. “Though, if my blood will somehow help Jordan ...” She lost her smile. “I’m sorry he was infected.”
“Me, too, though I’m sure Emma will find a cure.” Katie chalked her cue. Shrugging off the pain, she forced a smile. “How are the panic attacks? Any better?” Maggie had suffered from terrible anxiety attacks since being rescued from the Kurjans, and not much helped ward them off.
Maggie grimaced. “No. Kane has been trying to hypnotize me and teach me how to meditate, but so far, I really suck at searching for the calm within.”
Katie wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think many wolves are able to meditate.” Something in their wild natures kept them from relaxing enough. She took in Maggie’s sad face. Time to lighten the mood. So Katie focused on Janie. “Rumor has it you’re dating a shifter.”
Janie grinned, lifting a shoulder. “Just a friend. We’re going to the movies next week.” She pursed her lips. “Though I may kiss him.”
“God. Don’t let your dad hear that.” Katie leaned over, aimed, and shot the break. A striped ball fell into the corner pocket. She lined up the next shot and missed. It had been a while since she’d played.
“I won’t.” Janie surveyed the table, leaning over and easily making a bank shot. “I miss Uncle Jase—he’s the best pool player here.”
“What am I? A clumsy wolf?” Maggie swung her legs back and forth.
“Yes.” Janie sent her a grin. “Everyone knows wolves can’t play pool worth beans.”
Katie fought back a snort. Wolves were notoriously bad at pool. “Where is Jase?” She eyed the table. If the youngest Kayrs brother had taught Janie, then Katie needed to get serious.
“Off on some mission.” Janie frowned. “Something about demons. I get visions, but nothing concrete.”
There was nothing concrete when it came to demons. Katie forced a smile. “So, about that shifter ...”
“I’m not serious or anything.”
“Because of Zane.” Concern had Katie concentrating to keep her voice light.
“Yeah. Someday I’ll see him again.” Janie missed the next shot and straightened up. “But, well, I can see why Zane stopped visiting my dream world as a teenager. I mean, with the six plus-year differences in our ages.”
“Yeah. It’d be creepy for a twenty-two-year-old man to visit your dreams, sweetheart.”
“Jordan is three hundred years older than you, Katie.” Janie flipped curly brown hair over her shoulder. “Like, that’s old.”
“I’m not with Jordan.” Besides, it wasn’t like shifters aged. Geez. She missed an easy bank shot, her mind on the lion.
Janie snorted. “Please. You are so with Jordan.”
Katie smiled. “The older we get, the more complicated life gets.” She frowned as Janie cleared the table. “And yes, that sounds like a cop-out, even to me.”
Maggie set down the grape soda, stretching her neck. “You want to be with Jordan. Mr. tall, feline, and solo watches you exclusively whenever you’re in the same vicinity. What’s his deal, anyway?”
Katie shrugged. “I always figured leading made him kind of solitary, like Dage but without brothers. But ...”
“But what?” Maggie and Janie said in unison.
“The werewolf, Brent. He called Jordan ‘cousin’.”
“Interesting.” Maggie rubbed her chin.
“Yeah. I didn’t even know he had family.” Sure, she knew his parents had died in the last Kurjan uprising, but had figured they were Jordan’s only relatives. What else hadn’t the lion leader shared with her?
Janie sighed. “I’ve been having bad visions lately of something dark pursuing you, but I can’t get a full picture.”
“Oh, I’ve had the picture. Probably.” Katie exchanged pool sticks with another one in the holder on the wall. “Brent has a serious ... ah ... interest in me.”
“It’s more than one werewolf.” Janie smoothed the triangle along the table, neatly lining up the balls.
“Great.” A chill swept down her spine even as Katie found the right pool stick. “Sometimes I want to shift back to cougar so badly I think I can make it happen. I need the ability to fight what’s coming. Somehow I just know that.”
“I wish I could shift.” Janie stepped away, tilting her head for Katie to break.
Katie leaned over, aimed, and shot. Balls went smoothly rolling, but not one sank. “I miss feeling the change from human to pure animal, so much.” She sidled out of the way so Janie could shoot.
Maggie sighed. “I can shift, but only once a month when the moon is full. Each time I feel a little stronger, so I keep hoping I’ll go back to normal someday. I mean, whatever normal used to be. It’s not like I remember.”
“That totally sucks.” Katie gave her a sympathetic smile. Whatever the Kurjans had done to Maggie had destroyed her memories.
Janie lined up a shot and dropped a colored ball. “You’re stripes.” She aimed again. One shaking hand rubbed her forehead.
“What’s wrong?” Concern had Katie pausing.
“Vision about Jase, somewhere near a sea. Scotland, I think. I’ve tried to get him to come home, but he won’t come.” Janie leaned over to concentrate on her next shot. Aiming carefully, she cleared the table, straightening with a tight smile. “I’ve been practicing.”
Obviously. Katie slid the stick back into the wall holder. “Maybe you should tell Dage about Jase.”
“I have. He nods, but says Jase needs to get a line on the demons before they attack. We’ve both seen the attacks coming. It’s bad.”
Demon attacks might rip the Realm apart. “Like we don’t have enough to worry about with the Kurjans.”
“It’s difficult keeping everyone safe.” Maggie sighed. “Where is your mom now, anyway?”