Page 52 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

“Then let’s sit and play.” Jake squatted on the bare ground and beckoned Jamie. “Hey, you want a game?” It was their favorite way to avoid attracting too much attention.

“Sure,” Jamie said with a shrug. “I was gonna get my nails done, but they’d double-booked me.” He joined Jake and Seth on the ground, the three of them in a little huddle.

Jake chuckled. “That’s my boy. Humor is the only thing that gets me through the day.” He leaned back on his hands and watched as Seth dealt the cards. “Anything new to tell me?” he murmured.

“Not much. Except….” Jamie glanced at the compound. All the inmates were outside, the morning sunlight falling on them, a warm breeze stirring hair and clothing alike. “I’m being watched.” He delivered the words in a whisper.

“By whom?”

“The captain of the guard.”

Jake frowned. “And whatever did you do to attracthisattention?”

“Are you kidding?” He gestured at his body. “I’m fucking gorgeous.Allthe men are watching this.” He grinned. “And no, I’m not being serious. I can’t think of any reason why he’s got his beady eye on me, but I’m sure of it. I’ve felt his gaze boring into my back all morning.”

Jake recalled the captain from their last camp. Sure, he was a Geran, but he didn’t seem to possess the Pure Bastard gene that some of the guards exhibited.What’s his name? Yeah. Keppler.

The same Captain Keppler who was heading their way.

“Don’t look now,” Jake whispered, “but we have company.” He studied his hand of cards, snorting. “Gee, I’m sure glad we’re not playing for money, because I’d be fucked.”

Keppler came to a halt behind Seth, his eyes watchful. He pointed a finger at Jake and Seth, the other hand resting on his rifle. “I remember you two from the last camp. Tigers, right?”

Jake merely nodded. Seth said nothing but kept his gaze locked on his cards, Jamie too.

Keppler nudged Seth’s shoulder with his knee. “Didn’t you have a boyfriend back then?”

Seth scowled. “Still do. All you did was force us to be apart.”

Jake flashed him a warning glance.

Keppler cleared his throat. “So is he your boyfriend—or your mate?”

Holy fuck. Jake jerked his head up and stared at Keppler.

Things had just gotten interesting.

Seth put down his hand and twisted to meet Keppler’s intense stare. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yeah, he’s my mate. Well, one of them.”

Jake expected to see surprise or shock reflected in Keppler’s features. But Keppler bit his lip, gazing at Seth with something that seemed a lot like….

Hopefulness.

You’re seeing stuff that isn’t there.

Keppler cleared his throat again, and Jake’s skin prickled.

Whatever was coming, this was part of it.

“What would happen if your mate died? To you, I mean.”

Ice crawled over Jake’s skin. “You bastard. How cold-hearted do you have to be to threaten someone’s mate?”

Keppler paled. “What? No. That isn’t what I meant at all. I need to know about this… connection.”

Seth frowned. “I don’t know, all right? And I hope to God I never know.”

Jake’s anger reduced itself to a simmer as he stared at the handsome captain. “What interests me is why you’re asking.”

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