Page 95 of Catch a Tiger

Looking to Mylo, Vix was relieved to see his suspicion was gone, but she didn’t like the way his eyes were narrowed either or howsharphe smelled even without a single hint of his emotions in his scent.

Vix looked back at Samuel and released Rune. “I couldn’t take the risk she’d kill you.”

“Is that the only reason?” Samuel asked, sliding one hand into his pocket, the other holding the blades she’d thrown at him.

Vix almost felt bad about the blood on his shirt, but he was a stubborn asshole when he wanted to be and it had been the only way to get him to stop.

“No, that’s not the only reason.” She trailed her claws through the snow to make little patterns, knowing he was going to be annoyed, and it was already so difficult to get him to like her.

“Tell me.” No alpha command this time, but there wasn’t really a way for her not to answer him either.

Not without making all this worse.

“Without a collective, she could have just told you why I couldn’t trust her but chose not to. Even hid behind that witch, who’s a mind reader and couldalsohave told you since she’s not a raven. They werelyingto you, Alpha. Seemed like enough of a reason to kill her.”

Amusement paired with lemongrass reached her nose, but Vix didn’t dare look up from the snow just yet.

She studied Mylo from under her eyelashes, unable to resist her burning curiosity.

Golden eyes glimmered as the sweet scent faded back to nothing more than his essence and she decided he didn’t need to make expressions if he was going to look like that. She’d learn to read him just like she had the emotionless ravens.

Mylo would be easier though, because he was definitely not emotionless.

“Is that everything?” Samuel asked.

Vix snarled softly, irritated he chosenowto be so meticulous when he should have been this careful with the raven.

“To be honest, she rubs me the wrong way sometimes and I’m not exactly a patient person.” Looking down at the raven, she bared her teeth in challenge. “But it was the way she believed I couldn’t belong that made me want to kill her. It was just rude.”

“You’re not a raven,” Valentina stated, completely unbothered by Vix’s challenge. “But you’re not an outsider either. It’s your life to risk. Mine wasn’t worth it, even without a collective to punish me. I can’t keep my oath to my partner if I’m dead.”

Ugh, of course she’d say something so ridiculously logical.

“You could be lying again,” Vix snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. “Show me proof of your oath, and I might believe you.”

Valentina gave Rune a pointed look and the tiger reluctantly released her, but he didn’t go far. Then the raven held up her hand, palm up. Vix took it in both hands, poking at it with her magic until she found the right one.

A glimmering line on her palm, which meant the oath was still intact and her partner was alive.

“And yours?” Valentina asked, yanking her hand away.

It was the most emotional she’d seen the raven get so far and Vix grinned as she considered how much it would take to get this raven to flip that switch and lash out at her.

“Did you think norealraven would want me?” Tilting her head to the side, she pulled the neck of her sweater down so the raven could see the rune carved into her skin. “My oath is right here, for the world to see.”

“Always rubbing it in, aren’t you? This is why people don’t like you.” Kenji dropped his hand on top of her head and tugged on her hair to get her to look up at him. Vix could see the teasing affection in his eyes, and she grinned. “What’s the plan then, Vixen?”

“I’ll stay.” For now.

Kenji nodded, seeing the truth in her eyes. “Try not to put me in an early grave, hm?”

“I would never put you in a grave,” she promised. “I’d cremate you and turn you into a tree so I could talk to you forever.”

The raven paled at that thought and pushed her head away. “Please don’t. Just burn my soul to ash so I can finally have some peace and fucking quiet.”

She snickered when he turned to walk past the alpha, heading for the tiger’s dwelling.

Her guardian would inspect the house as well as the surrounding area before speaking to her mates. Kenji always stuck his nose in her business, but she liked how much he cared enough to let him do it.

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