Page 63 of Kidnapping Their Third

Pike looked wary as he tucked Cora under his arm and reached out to pull Kimble behind him. “Are you a cupid?”

“Well spotted,” she said. “What gave it away?”

“Silver glow,” Pike murmured. He didn’t stop moving until they were several steps away. Cora noticed Kimble didn’t resistPike’s movement. That told her very clearly that Mama Monroe was a powerful creature. “Cora hasn’t agreed to be part of Kimble’s flock yet, but she loves us. Please don’t take her away.”

Mama Monroe frowned. “Why y’all always thinking we’re going to steal your love? That’s not how it works. We break bonds that were never meant to be, that’s all. Your Cora is safe. And I don’t like that cupid nonsense. We were around before that word, and we’ll be around long after it’s gone out of fashion.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Pike answered quickly. “I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s all I know you by.”

“That’s fair,” she agreed, then turned her gaze on Cora. Monroe’s expression didn’t change, but Cora felt as if some weight was being pressed down on her. She sucked in a breath and found she couldn’t look away from the woman’s eyes. The way Pike and Kimble tensed told her they were experiencing something similar.

“Ah, that’s good,” Monroe cooed. “Not only is this a good match, but all of your souls have matched before.”

Another woman appeared next to Monroe. She had long, light brown hair pulled up in a high ponytail. Her tank top and tight jeans showed off her heavily muscled body as she held up a shirt and shorts combo. “Honey, what do you think?”

Then she noticed the three of them basically huddled together in the dressing room. “M, are you scaring people again? We’ve talked about this!”

Monroe laughed and pulled the woman into her embrace. “I didn’t mean to, Ellie. I was only making sure that sweet child knew she looked great in that dress. Then I gave her my card and the bear got a little fearful. That’s all.”

Ellie turned in Monroe’s arms and took in Cora’s dress. “Damn girl! You’ve got some nice muscle definition, you work out?”

The moment Monroe hugged Ellie, Cora was released from whatever magic had been weighing her down. She cleared her throat before answering. “Not deliberately, like at a gym or anything. My job’s really physical.”

“Nice!” Ellie said, then turned to look at Monroe over her shoulder. “If we’re going to make dinner with Jo, we need to buy this stuff and get going.”

“Oh, yes,” Monroe agreed, letting Ellie go and snatching the shirt and shorts from her. “I’ll get these for you and meet you out front. Tell these three they’re safe, will you?”

Monroe bustled off, grabbing one more item off the rack as she moved to the cashier’s station.

Ellie gave them a little shrug. “She means well, I promise. It’s only that she can get a little enthusiastic when she sees soul mates. She’s had to lose and find me so many times that it makes her sensitive to others.”

“Uh, find you?” Cora asked.

“Her kind are immortal but only have one soul mate. Every time I die, she has to wait for me to be reborn and then hope she can find me before I die again. It’s cruel but also beautiful in a way. I’ve gotten to fall in love with her thousands of times, and she swears every incarnation is new and different. She says the pain makes our time together all that much sweeter.”

“That’s nice for you two,” Cora said, then winced once the words were out of her mouth. That was by far the stupidest thing she could have possibly said!

Ellie’s smile didn’t waver. She was probably used to people responding in odd ways. “You really need to get that dress. Then you guys should visit Sanguine over in the Gas Lamp district. They have the best drinks and all three of you will be able to enjoy something. Have fun! Please do everything I’d do!”

With a laugh, she turned and rushed off. Monroe was standing at the open door of the boutique with an indulgent smile on her face. The two of them linked arms and strode out of the store. Cora could’ve sworn that the moment they touched, both were glowing faintly.

“Woah,” she whispered, relaxing against Pike. “I’ve had more interesting experiences after meeting you guys than I have my entire life, and that includes the time I almost accidentally joined a cult.”

Before either of them could respond, the clerk came up to them. “Your friend paid for your dress,” she explained, handing Cora a receipt and then handing her a soft pashmina shawl with jet black beading on the ends. “And this. You can wear it out or you can change.”

Cora accepted the piece of paper and shawl. She wasn’t about to chase down some immortal and demand to pay her back. It looked like she was getting a fancy dress today.

“I should probably change,” she said, and the clerk started to nod, but Pike spoke up.

“Or you could keep it on,” he said. “You know, the Gas Lamp district isn’t very far, and I’ve been wanting to see inside Sanguine. Kimble could change into one of the outfits you bought him, and I’ve got a nicer shirt in the car. We could finish this date night in style.”

Kimble nodded with enough enthusiasm to send his untidy hair flopping in his face. “Yes. Must agree.”

Cora wasn’t about to argue because she really didn’t want to take the dress off. She looked at the clerk with a smile. “Got any shoes to match this?”

Pike and Kimble cheered.

Chapter 24

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