Page 63 of Peacock Me Like a Hurricane

I’m surprised to feel his tail slide up my back slowly. My purr kicks in and my eyes close as I cuddle against him.~You know we will. ~

The tail moves again, and he rumbles in amusement.~Bloody hell, the things you do to me. ~

Hopefully, by the time it’s time to close the circle I have enough energy back to stand. As of now, I’m wiped but good. Maybe I’ll have Taurus prop me up. That’ll underline the fact that he showed up tonight and piss off the others.

It’s probably time to admit that I alsolookfor trouble; it doesn’t just find me.

That’s what makes us a perfect match.

The Coyote Howls At The Moon

SARI

Look, it’s easy to run around a field and say you’re a pagan. Hell, it’s what people do in college all the time. They see two movies from the Nineties or visit Burning Man and suddenly, they’re a witch.

Give me a break.

I wasn’t aware that the cat was as into this as she is. Mostly, I figured all this planning was an elaborate excuse for an orgy.

She’s been hiding something big, and it’s not hanging off a clone somewhere, if you get my drift. I canfeelthe fucking energy in the air here. This shit just got real and I’ll be straight with you: I don’t have a damn clue how to handle it.

I reluctantly agreed to come at her plea, knowing full well she hasn’t reached out to me or my clan since that flashy, flighty flirt arrived. I yearn for a glimpse into her mind, to understand what’s troubling that crimson-haired beauty and how I can restore the peace we once had. My optimistic partner believes we can control the situation by replacing the backstabbing blondes with Talia and Taurus in their former positions.

I know better than that.

Talia is like a wild, sleek stallion, untamable and valuable. No jockey can match her power and grace, no matter how manyHollywood films tell otherwise. She’s a force to be reckoned with, and I relish every moment of the chaos she brings.

This group of women is like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. Every call made to the wrong person or unwanted individual will set off an all-out brawl. Yet, I find myself following the woman my mate adores, despite her infuriating ways and misguided intentions.

She’s simply the best show in town.

It’s unclear what Deli hoped to achieve with this gathering. Perhaps she wanted to cleanse our palate from our ex-family members, which I support. However, I would much rather rid ourselves of the prancing prima donna that she seems fixated on. But in an effort to maintain peace and unity, I held my tongue and accepted the branch he extended as a peace offering.

I’ll try really goddamned hard not to stake him with it.

Now she’s all in for him, which is a mistake I’ve seen others make. She says she’s not, but she frets and fritters, so I know she’s full of it. I’ve seen her fall for a fellow or two, and this is what it looks like. That girl is subtle like a neon green unitard and she thinks she’s an emotional ninja.

I think she knows I’m here because I love her, not because I believe in this mumbo jumbo. She invited Lily, who I believe is odd enough to have a passing fancy for this shit; Amanda, who will pretty much pretend she’s into anything for attention; and Calista, who’s programmed to think she can do this. Yeah, I know all her magic is science masquerading as a miracle, but I don’t tellherthat.

The power to change your life lies within yourself, not some magic bean counter in the sky that helps you if you say the right words or sacrifice the right cows. I’ve survived for years by making sure that number one—me—will always benefit.

That’s why I’m ignoring the bloody advice they gave and calling Kali, the Hindu vengeance Goddess. I look inside myself,finding plenty of need to exact revenge for slights that have gone unaddressed. I raise my arms to the sky, demanding that the Universe show me the way to get what my mate and I need.

My inner instincts take over, and I sniff the air, my gaze honing in on a familiar scent. It’s Veruca’s, which is surprising because I didn’t think this technique would be effective on droids. Belle’s people don’t believe in these superstitious practices. Plus, Deli and Belle are like oil and water—they don’t mix well and it’s easy to manipulate them against each other with strategic moves. They barely communicate unless it involves Hex dating Chaos. I prefer it that way because it makes achieving my goals much easier.

I don’t see nearly as well as the cat in the dark, nor is my mutation as developed as hers. While I’m still learning, she’s almost a full shifter. However, whatever Deli’s passed on to me in the DNA department makes my coyote senses on point. My olfactory nerves are working overdrive tonight. Veruca’s on the other side of the fire, staying away from the dangerous column of flame as it shoots into the air. She’s stopped and the scent of daisies fill the air. I know why she’s here now: Calista.

The cynic in me has a serious freak out. The cat’s called both a mate and a hell of a pyrotechnic show. We’re dancing like fools in this clearing waiting for the unknown to arrive. After everything that has happened in the past few months, I shouldn’t bat a lash at magick, butdamn. I knew that girl was either a powerful ally or enemy from the moment I met her, butthis is not what I meant. It seals the deal, confirming that the kitty’s been hiding things despite the mating bond. I have to know what else she’s hiding.

Wilde has to get her under control.

Twitching my nose, I tilt my head when the scent of expensive tobacco, Bulgari cologne, and leather hits the air.Well, well, well. Looks like there’s more than magic being hidden. The kitty’s brought a bird to the nest.

While I’ve always liked the scent of that irritating fowl, I’m aware of how serious things are between them for this to pass muster with Talia. She’s the type to chain him in the basement to keep him out if she didn’t agree. There will be explaining to do when my fancy pants mate finds outthistidbit.

The night air is quiet. The fire is crackling and jumping, but we’re in a bubble. There’s no nighttime symphony of insects and birds and other animals—it’s eerily silent. It makes me wonder what kind of mojo is going on in this circle. Is this the kitty’s work? I never wondered how the Resistance stayed hidden from the Cabal or how members could go in and out and stay off the radar until now.

This is troubling and I need to talk to?—

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