“How did it go?Did you bring us lots of beautiful things to sell?”Sienna asked.
“We did.”Kitto, the youngest, adjusted the tail of black hair at his nape, a silver hoop glinting in his ear.“These should sell well.”
Jago’s nose twitched, and he frowned.“Did someone visit?”
Sienna’s gaze darted to the bedroom where Liam slept.
“How was the gathering?”Cadan asked, more curious than suspicious.
Quiet tension weighed on her shoulders anyway.She hesitated.Her fingers curled into fists at her sides.Just tell them.They’ll find out eventually.
“About that.”
Kitto stopped in his tracks, his cat ears pricking through his black hair.“Who are you, and why are you wearing my clothes?”He turned to Sienna, mock scandalized.“Did you and Mama adopt a stray while we were gone?”
Sienna closed her eyes briefly before rushing to Liam’s side.He still looked as if a strong wind could bowl him over.She slipped her arm around his waist.“Liam, this is my father, Hedrek Teague.My brothers, Jago, Cadan, and Kitto.Everyone, this is my mate, Liam.”
“He’s not a healthy specimen,” Cadan muttered.
“He was in an accident and has a concussion,” her mother said, still in her father’s embrace.
Her father gave her and Liam a long look before nodding.“Welcome to the family, son.You make sure you look after my daughter.She’s my pride and joy.”
“Oi,” Kitto protested.
“I’m a lucky man,” Liam said without hesitation.
Sienna’s mouth dropped open, then firmly closed.Liam drew her closer, and she spoiled the moment by stiffening because he was essentially a stranger.She hadn’t even kidnapped her preferred target.
“What’s for dinner?”Cadan asked.“Jago was in charge this week and is the worst cook ever.”
“Hey!I resent that,” Jago said, nudging his brother with an elbow.“You’re not French chef material either.”
“Enough,” her mother said.“Dinner won’t be long.Why don’t you boys wash up and set the table for me?”
“Yes, Mama,” her brothers chorused and burst into action.
Sienna rolled her eyes and turned to Liam.“How are you feeling?You slept for a while.”
“My skull is still tender, but I’m hungry.”
“A good sign.We’ll eat soon.”
“Why are your brothers and father covered in fur?”He blinked as he processed his words, frowning.
Sienna scrutinized him but didn’t see distaste, only curiosity.
“My father and brothers can shift to black leopards, but when they revert to their human form, they still bear some cat characteristics.Papa and Kitto keep their tails.Jago and Cadan don’t.And all of them, like my father, have patches of black fur on their arms and legs, and feline ears instead of human ones.”She watched his expression, wondering if he remembered his own shifter nature.If he did, perhaps the drugs she’d used were playing a bigger part in his memory loss than she’d suspected.
His frown deepened, but he nodded.“That must make their lives difficult.”
“It does.”She kept her answer simple when the situation was far more complex.
“Can we walk outside?”
“Let me check to see if Mama needs help first.”
Her parents spoke in low voices and stopped when she poked her head into the minuscule kitchen.
