Page 28 of Pretty Kitten

“Show me the mist,” she asked Hsu.

“That might not be the best idea,” Daunte stated, concerned about frightening her with visions of hundreds of enemies.

“I can handle it,” the kid replied, rolling her eyes. “And, more to the point, I think I know what’s blocking you.”

That made everyone in the room more sceptical than hopeful; to their credit, she was thirteen.

“Sweetie…”

“No,” Clari interrupted Rain, with a firm authority. She turned to Hsu, and smiled. “Show her.” When Ace waggled an eyebrow at her, Clari just shrugged. “We’ve been talking about attacks for hours, anyway. I’m pretty sure that what Niamh’s imagining is worse than reality. Besides, if there’s a chance she can help, we need to listen to her.”

Niamh looked like someone had just announced that they were pushing Christmas forward, and, after a second, Daunte smiled, pretty proud. Clari probably doubted her just as much as the rest of them, but she didn’t let it show, treating Niamh like any other member of the pride.

The previous day, she’d suddenly become Beta of the pride because of their mating; most females who accessed the rank through bonding to a Beta, rather than fighting for it, were ill suited for it. Not his girl. She’d taken to it like a fish to water.

Hsu’s hands went to Niamh’s face, on either side of her forehead, and they remained perfectly immobile for a time.

Then, Niamh broke into a grin.

“That’s what I thought,” she said, straightening her spine.

She turned to the Alpha, and announced, “That red and black mist? I’ve seen it before. It’s Tria’s signature.”

Chapter 18

Betrayal

Tria. Clari immediately recognized the name, but no one else seemed to.

“The woman who saved you when you were ten?”

She’d only heard the story a few days ago, yet it felt like a century had passed since. Last Monday, she’d been human. Now, it was Saturday, and she was a feline shifter mated to the Beta of a small, yet powerful pride in danger.

Headtrip.

Niamh nodded.

“Yes. First time she appeared, there was a black and red mist - and she burst out from it, out of nowhere. I asked her about it, later, and she said it was how her power manifested itself. It was pretty cool, so I said I wanted to do the same thing, but she just laughed and said no one could. That it’s her symbol. God knows I tried - but when I make mist, it’s either gray, or the red is lighter, or darker. Basically, I can’t copy her mark. Trust me, that was hers.”

Niamh beamed when no one questioned her word.

“Doesn’t she work for the Paranormal Investigation Agency?” Daunte asked, and the rest of the pride stiffened.

Clari felt compelled to take his hand and squeeze it, as some of his anxiety bled through to her. She could feel it in her bones, although she knew it didn’t come from her; she didn’t know enough to be suitably worried.

Her confusion must have hit him, because, he turned to her and explained, “The PIA is run by humans. If they hear about this, it means our secret is out. Our kind might want to kill you and Zack, but the PIA would probably make you test subjects.”

“Right. Well, for the record, that was one of the instances where I would have felt better not knowing why you were freaking out.”

He bumped her shoulder, and smiled. “No one is going to touch either of you. We just have to figure out how to survive. We always do.”

Being bonded to him meant she could tell he wasn’t feeling nearly as confident as he liked to appear, but she also saw that he had hope.

“Look, I know the PIA sucks, but we’re not talking about them, we’re talking about Tria. If she spoke for them, I’d be in a cell right now. Or dead.”

Niamh got her phone out of her back pocket and held it up.

“So, we can just assume she’s the enemy, and let her come against us without knowing what she’s been sent for, or we can give her a call now and see if she’s shielding us to help us. Remember, Hsu isn’t the only Seer in the country.”

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