Page 56 of Moon Tamed

“Like the cheetahs?”

“Especially the cheetahs. Do you miss the lions and tigers?”

“They’re getting to be huge, and I’ve seen what they do to steak. I miss them when they were extra little, but they’re not quite as little anymore. Honestly, I’m glad they were confiscated, because given a few months, they’re going to weigh more than I do.”

As tigers could weigh several hundred pounds, I winced at the thought of what they could do to someone if they decided they were hungry. “Cheetahs are a bit smaller than lions or tigers.”

“They’re significantly smaller. Tigers can get to be over four hundred pounds. It’s not uncommon for cheetahs to average a hundred and forty or so. Some can be smaller.”

“That’s a huge weight difference.”

“We are roughly the same size as a cheetah. We are small snacks for lions and tigers. My father is inconsolable because he loved his temporary feline children.”

“If he wants another child, tell him to adopt one,” I suggested.

“That beats the other suggestions he usually gets. I’ve lost count of the times someone has suggested he find a young baby momma to help him with that problem.”

“Well, he would not have a difficult time finding volunteers, I’m sure. You should definitely suggest he limit himself to one baby momma at a time, and that he’d probably be happier with a permanent baby momma rather than selecting a part-time one. He doesn’t seem the type.”

Calden snorted, his shoulders shook, and he dissolved into helpless laughter. “I will pay you to say that to his face.”

“What are you paying?”

“I’ll crush your brother for three extra weeks of camping.”

Well, I knew what I was doing before I left work. I would locate Calden’s father and inform him about the new requirement to locate a permanent baby momma before he stooped to adopting even more animals.

A child might keep him busy and restore Calden’s sanity.

A child would also solve more than a few of Calden’s problems, as if his father was busy with a new baby, he would not be as inclined to work himself to a near-death state.

“Before I locate your father, I feel it’s important to tell you that once a sibling does show up, you can’t flee the city-state. You father would be heartbroken if you ran away.”

“My father would lose his mind and turn the city upside down if I disappeared on him,” Calden admitted. “As I’ve been the target of numerous kidnapping attempts, let’s just say I’m the cause for half of his issues.”

My eyes widened. “You’ve been kidnapped?”

He made a show of posing, which did a good job of displaying his general physique, even when dressed in one of his more casual suits. “I’m just that beautiful, Coraline.”

“Your beauty aside, people really kidnap you?”

“It’s been a quiet few weeks because of the quarantine, but yes. You’ll probably get to enjoy the show as things start going back to normal.”

What was even going on in the Hunters of Moonriver? Spluttering, I got my things gathered, herded the hummingbirds out of my office, and went off in search of Calden’s father.

I found the man in his office, and he had his sock-covered feet propped up on his pillow, which was on his desk. “It seems you can be flustered, Coraline. What’s bothering you?”

I pointed at Calden, who trailed into the office behind me. “What do you mean he’s targeted for kidnapping at alarming frequency?”

“What do you consider to be alarming frequency?” Calden’s father asked, raising a brow.

“Once is certainly alarming, and more than once is definitely an alarming frequency.”

“A week? A month? A year? You’re going to have to help me out here.”

Beside me, Calden snickered.

“All of the above? Because those answers are terrifyingly frequent!”

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