“Leonie?” Lola snorted in derision. “She could be on her last legs with her right arm hanging by a thread, and she’d still insist she’s fine. She takes care of everyone other than herself.”
Shan let out a pained sigh. “I am aware.”
“Hmph. Good.” Lola narrowed her eyes at him. “Just so we’re clear, if you don’t make her deliriously happy, I’ll rip off your balls and shove them down your throat.”
The corner of Shan’s mouth curved up. “Truth.”
“And don’t you forget it.” Lola turned to her. “You really like this overgrown hunk of man-meat, Catbutt?”
“Yes, I do,” she said, grinning. She slipped an arm around Shan’s waist. “And I prefer him in working order, thank you. Please don’t maim him.”
“No promises,” Lola said ominously. She glared at Shan for a few more seconds, then stuck out a hand. “Glad to meet you, Shan. Don’t screw this up.”
Shan hesitated for a second, clearly self-conscious. Nonetheless, he clasped Lola’s hand. She didn’t flinch from his claws. As if coming to some private agreement, they shook hands.
“Well, Catbutt.” Lola released Shan, but kept her hand outstretched, palm up. “Let’s get rid of the last obstacle keeping you from your happily ever after. Shall we?”
Pushing back a strange surge of reluctance, Leonie placed her hand on her sister’s. Lola’s fingers curved around hers.
This was never exactly comfortable. But normally, she could separate her animals without too much difficulty, peeling her two halves apart.
Now, however, she felt…resistance. The griffin fought her, sliding away from any attempt to grasp it.
*Leonie?*Lola’s voice sounded very far away. She could sense her sister reaching out, like she was groping through thick fog.*Nothing’s…happening…*
*Don’t worry.*She tightened her grip, concentrating.*It’s going to be okay.*
She had to do this. Shehadto. Her sister needed her. Shan needed her. She gritted her teeth, finding, pulling,ripping?—
No!
The griffin’s shriek split, turning into a lion’s roar, an eagle’s cry. Even then, the two animals clung to each other, fighting to stay together.
No, no, no!The eagle beat its wings, refusing to fly to her sister’s soul.You will split us forever! You will change us too much, we will no longer fit together, no!
She grimly thrust between her struggling animals, mentally pushing them apart. With a final despairing scream, the eagle fled.
Lola gasped, yanking her hand back as though she’d just received an electric shock. “Shit, Leonie. What the hell?”
She couldn’t reply. She felt like she’d just run a marathonuphill. While being beaten with broomsticks. She collapsed against Shan, struggling for breath.
“I’ve got you,” he murmured, supporting her weight. He glanced at Lola, frowning. “Is it always like that?”
“It’sneverbeen like that,” Lola replied, slightly breathless. “She practically flung the fucking thing at me. Felt like being smacked upside the head with a fastball.”
“Sorry,” Leonie managed to gasp. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Lola touched the middle of her chest. “Just took me by surprise, that’s all. Are you all right?”
With a surge of relief, Leonie saw that her sister’s eyes were back to their usual piercing, bird-bright yellow. That was right, at least.
Not right,her lioness growled. It prowled underneath her human mind, bereft and angry.Not right at all.
“I’m fine,” Leonie said to her sister. She bit her lip, glancing at Shan. “But we have a problem.”
CHAPTER 32
“All right,” Lola said, after Leonie had finished pouring out coffee for them all. “Spit it out. What’s going on, Catbutt?”
