The Chimera’s charming smile did nothing to ease Kat’s anxiety.
“Everything is fine, kitty cat. I just borrowed you and the sapling for a little while.”
“Where’s Rance?” His voice came out as a whisper, and his throat ached from the effort. He sat up, searching for his missing dryad.
“I’m over here,” Rance called out. His focus was on the television and the controller in his hand.
Some of the tension eased out of Kat, but not entirely. They were still at the mercy of someone he’d just met. He might be Xavier’s brother, but Kat didn’t trust his intentions. “Why did you kidnap us?”
“Because you were going to be foolish. If you’d gone back home, one or both of you would be dead. My brother would be fucking depressed, and I wouldn’t get my gems. So, I kidnapped you. Have some water.” He pointed to one of two cups on a round glass coffee table. A glance from beneath his lashes revealed a modern living room with a lot of glass and shiny chrome. The television on which Rance was playing a driving game dominated one wall.
“That’s a damn big tv,” Kat muttered.
“Thank you. It’s the biggest one I could find. All that experimentation fucked up my vision.”
Kat thought over the animals that make up a chimera. “How is your night vision?”
“Pretty good. It’s the rest of the time I have problems. My bodyguards and magic help, but I’ll never have it as good as I did originally.”
Kat picked up the glass of water and pretended to drink before setting it back down.
His captor gave a frustrated huff. “I’m not going to poison you.”
“Is that where you draw the line? Because it clearly isn’t at kidnapping.” Kat wished he could revoke the words as soon as they were spoken. He was halfway prepared to be hit.
A loud laugh pulled him from his wayward thoughts.
“You’re a feisty one. My brother must have his hands full.”
“They’re disgustingly in love,” Rance called out.
“Hush you.” Kat tried to make it sound teasing, but he didn’t want to give Jared any information he didn’t already have.
“I’m glad Xavier found someone, even if they’re a handful.”
Kat sniffed. “Do you usually kidnap your family?”
“Some members deserve worse than a kidnapping.” His smile took a sharper edge. “Some deserve annihilation.”
“Is Xavier one of them?” Rance asked.
“Nah, I just need Xavier to do me a favor. I figure the best way to get him to agree is to keep you and the little tree safe. That way, I look altruistic.”
“Don’t you mean opportunistic?”
Jared shrugged. “Different sides of the same coin.”
“What are you going to do with us?”
“You’re my failsafe.” His smug smile dared Kat to punch him.
“Ouch.” Jared stepped back, clutching his nose. “That was uncalled for.”
“You kidnapped me and Rance, and you’re purposely upsetting my mate. You’re lucky I didn’t use claws.”
“Keep in mind, kitty cat, that I have claws too.”
“What are you?” Rance asked.
