“Fourteen.They sent me to live with my uncle.My father’s brother held me responsible, too, but he told me he’d see that I reached adulthood.He owed it to my father.On the day of my eighteenth birthday, he forced me to leave.I haven’t seen or talked to any of them since.”
Hedrek snorted.“You are an honorable man and exactly the sort of mate I’d wish for my daughter.Sienna might not have approached you correctly, but I couldn’t ask for a better son-in-law.I hope you and Sienna can reconcile, but I don’t want to pressure either of you.This is one problem you must solve together.”
“Thank you,” Liam said, wanting to sob at the simple acceptance.The only other person to show him this level of support was Saber.And his father.He’d been proud of Liam and had told him so.
Liam had survived the accident because of his feline genes, which were passed down to him by his mother.His father had been human and more fragile, especially when the other vehicle had hit their car because of low visibility.
They’d hit an animal.He hadn’t remembered that, and no one else had mentioned the cow because it had run off after the collision.Liam rubbed his temple again and realized his head wasn’t as sore as earlier.Liam didn’t know if it was because he’d remembered minor details of the accident he hadn’t before, or if his feline was helping him to heal.He yawned, and Hedrek noticed.
“Try to sleep, lad.The boys and I will work a little later to get a head start on our work for tomorrow.Sleep tight.”
“Thanks, Hedrek.
Hedrek patted his shoulder.“Thank you, lad.Thank you.”
Chapter 14
Siennawalkedtothemarket the following day with her mother and Jamie.She helped them unpack before heading to work.
Liam.
The man wouldn’t leave her mind.They’d been together since leaving the gathering, and she missed him.Weird.Whatever they were, and whatever came next—her heart ached for him.Jamie’s claim that he’d hit his head again worried her.Had he truly required rest, or was he injured and in need of medical attention?She should’ve grabbed his phone before fleeing the castle, but leaving it meant no one could add theft to the charges of abduction.
Still, she wished she could contact his home and let them know Liam was alive.Whether he was okay was another matter.
She fisted her hands until her fingernails dug into her palms, took a deep breath, and pushed through the double doors leading into the council offices.After yesterday, they were eerily quiet.Sienna glanced askance at Molly, who stared grimly at her computer screen.
“Is something wrong?”Sienna asked.
“Those bastards broke into the Pascoes’ house last night.”Molly’s hands shook as she gripped her tea.“Sophie was…she’d shifted for the first time.They took her.”
Sienna gasped, shock walloping her in the chest.She slid into her seat, stunned.“In her leopard form?”
“She’s only thirteen.The first shift is terrifying enough without…” Molly shuddered.“God, I hope she stays in leopard form.Those men with a young girl.”
It was easy to imagine what might happen, and the horror of it had Sienna’s pulse racing.
Molly turned away, dashing away the moisture before anyone else noticed.“If her family acts recklessly, we’ll have a bloodbath.Then more investigators will come, and possibly government agencies.”
“What is the mayor up to?”Sienna demanded.
“Nothing,” Molly said with harsh disapproval.“He says he warned everyone.If they didn’t listen, it’s their problem.”
Sienna’s skin crawled.“Really?”
“He says he’s going to France for a prolonged holiday.”
“A holiday?Now?”
“Probably guilt.Sophie is a child!She shifted in the privacy of her home,” Molly said, glancing at the mayor’s closed door, her expression one of distaste.
“We didn’t receive a warning about the hunters.If it weren’t for Jamie, we wouldn’t have known.”
Molly paled.“No one told you.”
“No one,” Sienna reiterated.“We were lucky the hunters didn’t swoop down on the locals’ homes earlier.They don’t have authority, yet that isn’t stopping their high-handed methods.”
“The mayor is ignoring complaints,” Molly said in disapproval.“Something else is going on with him.He hasn’t been himself.”
