Page 35 of Warlander Beast Cat

“She dragged him. She built him. She was hot and cold and kept him on the line, and she moved on time and time again while demanding he be loyal. The reason his animal is the way it is…” Jenna gestured to the woman across from him. “Is because of her.”

Cadence searched Jenna’s face, but she just seemed resolved and a little sad. “Where did Lucas go?”

“To the exit.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m probably going to beat that bitch’s ass. Have you heard what she’s saying to him?”

“No, I can’t hear anything over the noise,” she admitted, straining her ears and attention.

Jenna’s face screwed up with anger. “Manipulative. You’ve never heard manipulation like this. It’s gross. I’m glad you can’t hear it.”

“Why?” Cadence asked.

“Because,” Jenna said, looking at her with an earnest gaze. “You would want to kill her, and I believe you could.”

“Isn’t her animal a saber-toothed tiger?” Cadence asked.

“Yep.”

“Then what makes you think I could kill her?”

Jenna frowned over at her. “Because you’re Cadence. You could take on anyone.” The way she said it was so confident.

It touched her heart. Jenna did this a lot—where she made Cadence see herself and the world differently. Jenna was magic.

The white tiger inside of her dragged Cadence’s attention back to the table where Sasha and Kru were talking. The insecurity faded away, and it was replaced by protectiveness.

“Time!” the announcer said, but Sasha was leaning over the table now, talking fast.

Cadence narrowed her eyes at the woman’s back and turned to the bartender. “Can I have lane four? Or is it reserved.”

“Uuuuh,” the bartender said, checking the computer behind the bar. “Lane four is open. Do you need axes?”

“Just one.”

“Yep, just need a credit card, and when you’re ready to close out, you’re good. There are no reservations on that lane tonight.”

“Thank you so much.”

She winked at Jenna and strode for Kru and Sasha, who were clearly jamming up the rotation.

“Ready?” she asked him.

He looked absolutely frustrated and flustered.

“Yep,” he growled, standing.

“Who are you?” Sasha asked, bright and angry eyes boring into Cadence.

“I’m your replacement,” Cadence growled, and led the way toward the last lane of axe-throwing against the wall. “He upgraded.”

Kru chuckled behind her. “That was awesome.”

Why were her hands shaking? Anger? Frustration? Excitement?

“You said the night couldn’t get any worse,” she said with a dark chuckle as she took the axe from the axe-throwing officiant looking over the lanes.

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