Page 68 of Her Purr-fect Christmas Mate

Peony

“I’mbeginningtoworryabout my cat,” Peony admitted, nestling closer against Mordecai’s side.

They were snuggled into the same oversized armchair as the night before, this time for a post-lunch nap rather than a post-dinner one. Technically, they were supervising a gaggle of her younger cousins playing in front of the Christmas tree; really, they were doing about as good a job as Uncle Theo, who was wrapped around the Christmas tree in snake form and was beginning to snore.

“Your cat?” Mordecai’s concern flicked over her, the psychic equivalent of touching someone all over to see if they were hurt.

She wriggled happily. “I haven’t heard so much as a peep out of it since lunch.”

Not true,it said lazily.Peep. Zzzz.

“You’ve worn it out,” Mordecai suggested.

“Impossible.” She stifled a yawn. “It’s not even mid-afternoon yet. There are so many decorations it hasn’t pounced on yet. So many—ahhhh—bits of tinsel it hasn’t mauled.”

“Give it time.”

“Mmm.” She ran her toes up his leg. His hand tightened around her waist. Maybe going to the boat-shed cottage laterwasa good idea. “Sorry I didn’t get you any presents.”

He laughed softly. “Is this where I tell you the only present I need is you?”

*I didn’t even wrap myself nicely for you!*She fake-groaned and let her head fall back against his chest. *Worst mate ever.*

*I beg to disagree. And I haven’t bought you anything, either.*

*Um. You bought me an entire BUILDING.*

*That was yesterday.*

*Oh, well, fine. Have fun outdoing that for my actual gift.*It was a good thing he was behind her and couldn’t see her grinning like the Cheshire Cat as she grumbled away inside her head. Then again, he had a direct line to her heart; he didn’t need to see her smile to know she was drunk on happiness. *I don’t know how I’m going to compete.*

*Take a leaf out of your cat’s book and fall asleep,*Mordecai suggested. *Like your uncle over there. I didn’t know snakes could snore.*

“Bet you didn’t know they could have wings, either.” Speaking out loud had been a mistake—she yawned again, and her eyelids drooped. “You think you’re up to watching the kids by yourself?”

*They seem relatively harmless,*he said confidently.

She snorted. “You say that now. Wait until they realize two of their jailers are asleep and the one that’s left is trapped under a sleeping dead weight.” She’d been an adorable tiny child playing sweetly on the rug herself, once upon a time. She knew how it worked.

“You forget.” Mordecai’s breath tickled her ear tantalizingly. “I’m the terrifying dragon shifter who holds whole companies in my thrall. I can manage a few children.”

“Famous last words.”

*One moment.*Mordecai sat upright, holding her so she didn’t slide to the floor as he turned, frowning, to look in the direction of . . . the far wall?

“What are you—“

He swore and leapt to his feet, holding her tight. Tension ratcheted through his body, and a surge of dread flowed to her down the matebond. She reached for him psychically and stopped.

His shields were up again.

*Mordecai?*She reached out again, one careful tendril of love.

He looked at her, ruefulness battling with stress in his eyes. “I’m sorry for whatever’s going to happen now,” he said in an undertone. “Tell your family I’m going to take care of it.”

“Of what?”

A gleeful shout from outside interrupted them. “Another dragon!”

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