Page 34 of A Secret Promise

And so, of course, she said yes, since no other answer was acceptable.

"Are you sure about this?" Juno asked worriedly when Vixen informed her about her plans. "I don't think it's safe—-"

"It's just a routine checkup. We should be back soon."

"What about Rule? Can't you call and have him drive you?"

Shehaddone that, but her calls had gone answered. She knew he had asked her to call him -andthe police - if something was amiss, but...

It's going to be okay,she told herself.

It was just a short drive.

So it should be fine.

Won't it?

Vixen waited for His voice as she started preparing Salt and Light for the journey ahead, but even when she was already behind the wheel, she couldn't hear a single word.

It should be alright, though.

It's just fifteen minutes.

Right?

Vixen breathed a sigh of relief when she and the birds got to the clinic safe and unscathed.

So far, so good.

But as soon as she stepped out of her car and reached for the travel crate in the back—-

Something doesn't feel right.

Vixen couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched, but she told herself she was only imagining things.

Sienna welcomed Vixen with a smile of relief. "Oh, thank goodness. You made it."

"It's exactly what you said," Vixen said ruefully. "I can't afford to miss this appointment, and I really appreciate Dr. Small making time for us."

"Who do you want us to start with?" Sienna asked.

"Um, Salt, I guess?"

"Then let's get his weight checked at the lab. Do you want to leave Light out on one of the perches?"

"Um..." Unease stirred anew inside of her, but since this was something they did all the time, Vixen told herself this was simply Rule's paranoia getting to her. "Yes, sure."

Salt hopped onto Sienna's hand while Vixen got Light to step down on one of the steel perches. "Be good, Light."

The way he immediately chirped back made her smile, but her heart remained uneasy, and Vixen couldn't help but glance over her shoulder one last time.

Light was staring at her, and this time, fear made it all the way to the pit of her stomach.

Something wasn't right.

She followed Sienna inside the lab. Salt was already on the measuring scale, and Sienna cheerfully reported to her a healthy increase in his weight.

The adjoining door between the lab and consultation room opened, and Dr. Small soon strode in.

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