“He just doesn’t need to go with her, Lachlan,” Kian hissed with his face red. “Who would need a squirrel to go to the bathroom with them, anyway?”
Nightshade squeaked and scurried off Kian to come back to me.
I held him comfortably in my arms, almost like a baby, and he started to make a purring sound. “Aw, I don’t mind if he does.”
Kian hid his face in his hands. “Yes, you would,” he mumbled a protest.
“I’ll phase to you at the slightest hint of fear within our bond,” Thorn said, and I nodded.
“But I can shadow travel faster,” Damien gloated.
“Unless there are no shadows,” Thorn muttered. “I can always phase.”
The squirrel let out what sounded like a snort, and Damien leaned over and glared at him snuggled in my arms. “Laugh now, Nightshade. But I’m the one who will be in between her thighs tonight.”
I gasped. “Damien! He’s just a squirrel!”
Nightshade crossed his arms, and Kian shook his head over and over again.
“That squirrel is a pervert,” he told me and pointed toward Kian, who looked like he wanted to bury himself in a hole to hide. “Kian’s reactions to his familiar tell me that much.”
Nightshade shook his head and looked up at me with pleading green eyes that reminded me of Kian’s.
I frowned, snuggling him against my cheek. “Don’t be mean to him! You’re not a pervert, are you?”
He shook his head and let out what sounded like a sob, and Kian choked on his spit before launching himself into a coughing fit.
Damien’s hand twitched. “How attached are you to your familiar?”
“I’m attached,” Kian croaked urgently, and I could see the panic in his face.
I grabbed Damien’s arm and shook my head. “Don’t joke about hurting Nightshade.”
“I wasn’t joking,” Damien muttered, but my shadow whipped out and slapped his chest. He rubbed it with a frown before looking at Kian. “Oh, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t ever kill your familiar, Kian. But… can we tie him up if he tries to catch a peep of our mate?”
Kian grimaced. “How about a cage?”
Nightshade gasped, and he burrowed down into the top of my shirt for protection. All of my mates jumped and started to approach me to get him out, but I frowned and turned, cradling him.
“Stop it! He’s just scared.”
“He’s not scared,” Kian muttered with his face still red.
“Get your familiar,” Thorn told him, but Kian’s face turned an almost purple color of red before he covered his face.
“He doesn’t mean to grab him out of her shirt,” Lachlan assured him with a pat to the back.
“Actually, I did, but I’m happy to do it for you.” Thorn stepped forward.
“Nobody is getting him! He’s fine!” I scowled at my mates.
I didn’t understand why they were so worked up over a cute little squirrel, but I loved that they all seemed to agree on something.
Nightshade reached his little paw up and patted my cheek. I smiled down at him.
His eyes were the same shade as Kian’s, but I had a feeling that their personalities couldn’t be more different.
TWENTY-NINE
