Page 29 of Kidnapping Their Third

“That’s good because I found out I lost all my other jobs today.” He meant the words to be playful, but they came out hurt instead.

“What?” Cora asked, outraged. “I’m sure you’re the best employee they have. Why would they fire you?”

Her words helped soothe his wounded pride. “I guess that doesn’t matter when you miss two shifts in a row without calling in.”

“Did you tell them you were busy rescuing me?” Cora asked, eyes flashing with anger as she pounded her fist down on the table, making her plate jump. “I bet you didn’t say anything about that. You didn’t have to say anything about vampires or shifters, you could have just said some guys kidnapped me.”

Pike’s eyes went a little wide at Cora’s vehemence. “There was no news about it or police report to show them. They’ll think I made it all up.”

Cora’s expression turned hard. “I’m going to the Gas Lamp district tomorrow and getting your jobs back!”

Pike covered her clenched hand with his own. “I’ve had to call out sick a lot in the last nine months because of Kimble. All my bosses think I’m flaky. They were probably relieved to have an excuse to get rid of me.”

“Still, it’s not fair,” Cora argued.

“Maybe it’s a good thing,” Pike insisted. “Kimble is steadier now that we have you. I could look for a better job.”

Cora tugged her hand out from under his with a frown. “I’m not ready to do the soul thing yet.”

Pike shook his head, upset that she misunderstood him. “I didn’t mean it like that. Even if things stay as they are right now, you’ve made a huge difference in our lives. You’re helping me keep him fed and accepting his affection. We’ll do everything on your timeline, no rush or pressure.”

“I feel pressured,” Cora muttered, then held up a hand before Pike could apologize. “But the pressure is coming from inside me, not you or Kimble.”

“That’s the magic,” Pike explained, wishing he could make Cora understand something that came naturally to him. “You know how water will always flow to the lowest point?”

Cora nodded.

“Magic is a little like that.”

“Are you telling me I’m the lowest point?” Cora asked with a raised eyebrow.

Pike shook his head. “Magic likes balance, that’s what water and magic have in common. They’re constantly striving for equilibrium, and that’s why you feel the magic pushing at you.”

“Flock,” Kimble added with a sage nod of his head.

Placing her hand flat on her sternum, Cora rubbed it back and forth a little. “I feel it right here when I’m away from you guys. Like there’s a hand pushing here and making it hard to breathe.”

Pike knew from talking to a few people that the pressure would only get worse over time. He didn’t want her to feel like she had no choice, so he looked at Kimble.

“Our mate is uncomfortable during the day when she has to work. I’m going to go with her to help her feel better.”

Kimble blinked a few times, as if he was translating Pike’s words in his head. Then he looked hurt. “Flock stay.”

“Damn it, he breaks my heart when he looks like that,” Cora muttered, reaching for one of Kimble’s hands and holding it in hers. “But I’ve got to work or we’ll all starve.”

Kimble leaned his body over until his forehead was resting on her shoulder and made a whining sound. Pike had never seen him do that before. When Pike tried to leave him during the day, the vampire would throw a tantrum and threaten to walk out into the sun. Now he was acting like a kicked puppy who only wanted to love his human.

“You’re a lying liar who lies,” Pike muttered under his breath knowing full well Kimble would be able to hear him, but Cora wouldn’t.

Kimble didn’t react, only whined again and snuggled his head closer to Cora’s neck.

It turned out Cora was tougher than Pike.

“I’ll try to make it so we can come back here between jobs and check on you,” Cora said, petting Kimble’s head. “But I’m not giving up my company. I’ve worked too damn hard to build it.”

“You have a company?” Pike asked.

“Perfection Connection Electrics, PCE,” she said, her eyes sparkling with pride. “I’m a licensed general electrician so I can do commercial and residential. I used to do new construction sites, but I’m starting to specialize in updating old houses instead. I don’t make as much, but there’s a lot less bullshit to deal with and women love to hire me. Business really picked up in the last six months, and I’m thinking of taking on another apprentice.”

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