Page 47 of Dangerous King
"May I?" Cat asks, curiosity overcoming her skittishness; she points at one of the kennels.
"Don't go inside," I warn. The dogs are well-trained, but they're also extremely territorial. I watch her looking through the Plexiglas, taking in the inside. Her lips curve up in a sign of approval, and a weight drops off my chest. One I didn't even know was there. But for some reason, I want her to like this place.
Cat returns, and her head tilts slightly. "You care for them."
I nod. "Of course I do. I care for everyone under my protection, which includes my dogs."
She is about to say something, but a yapping sound reaches us, and her eyes widen. "Puppies?"
I grin and nod.
With a small cry, she races toward the sound. I nod at Julio to go on and start the feeding, then follow her. By a closed kennel, she stops. Inside, Anka is feeding her six puppies and five of Lolita's. Anka's are six weeks old, and Lolita's are eleven.
"Dio mio, they are adorable," Cat exclaims predictably.
I stand next to her and watch the puppies squirm around Anka. I've always loved German Shepherds; my dad swore by the breed, and I've always been around them. But my interest in them doesn't usually start until they're around three months, when I can start training them. And then it's their mind that intrigues me, not their looks.
Puppies… I could do without. They're loud, noisy, and messy. They constantly want attention and to be played with. But I'm not above using them to impress Cat, who seems mesmerized by them.
"Do you want to go in?"
Her eyes turn as big as saucers. "May I?"
I open the door and lead her in. This kennel is larger to accommodate the mothers, and a removable barrier divides Anka's section from Lolita's, which is currently open. Anka lifts her head but is too weary to pay us much attention. She trusts me, and she trusts that I won't bring anybody here who would harm the puppies.
I pull Cat down on the floor with me. "Just wait."
It doesn't take long for the first one to finish his meal and come toddling toward us. His little tail is wagging, and small noises escape him as he makes his way to Cat.
It's not him I watch, though. It's her. Cat. Her features turn soft, and the smile curving her lips is nearly ethereal. Slowly, she holds out her hand, and the puppy licks it.
Attracted by something the puppies haven't experienced, one by one, they abandon Anka and make their way toward us. An especially feisty one barks at me, his tail going a hundred miles an hour.
A small giggle that sounds like a symphony to my ears turns my attention back to Cat.
Dio mio, being surrounded and mauled by a bunch of the most adorable puppies was not something I'd ever expect. But here I am, sitting on the ground, having my toes, fingers, hair, anything within reach mauled and gnawed at and loving every second of it.
My eyes move toward one puppy, all black, pressing himself against a wall, watching me.
"Come here, puppy," I cajole.
Enrico notices where my attention has gone and rises from his position to grab the puppy. The baby whines when he lifts it off the ground and unceremoniously dumps it into my lap. Ears go back, and large puppy eyes watch me warily.
"Hey, I won't hurt you," I say, gently petting his back. He lets out another yelp, and I notice a cut on his side. "Oh no, Enrico, he's hurt."
"Let me see."
I want to slap his hands when he manhandles the little thing, turning it this way and that, making it yelp again. "Don't hurt it."
"Ah, here, that's a nasty little gash. Looks like you're the runt of the litter, mister."
"What's going to happen to him?" I rise, carefully stepping over the many tiny bundles of fur around me.
"Julio will have him stitched up in no time. We might have to separate him from the others, though."
"Oh, poor baby." My heart goes out to him. "He's going to be all alone?"
Enrico shrugs, "Better than being mauled to death by his brothers and sisters."
