Katie's Hope

A gust of wind flung snow into her face. She retreated to the castle, up the back stairwell off limits to everyone but her, and to the warmth of her chamber. Toby's giggles reached her before she opened the door. She walked in to see Rhyn's jaguar form sprawled across the bed, shredding a down pillow. Her bed looked as if a flock of geese had combusted over it, and she counted at least ten dead pillows.

Toby laughed and tossed Rhyn another pillow, delighted when he snatched it from midair and shredded it in an explosion of white feathers. Reining in her emotions, she tried to distract her dark thoughts by focusing on Toby.

"Toby!" she exclaimed. "Where did you get all these pillows?" The baby angel and half-demon turned toward the door.

"From our neighbors," Toby said. "I had two and you had three and the fat lady down the hall had four, so then I got hers and that mean man's pillows."

"Just what I need," she grumbled, wondering what other insults the castle's Immortals'

mates would fling at her after this incident. She didn't fit in; they made it clear every chance they could, just as their leader did. "Wash up for dinner."

"Okay, Mama!" he sang and sprang away. She bent down to pick up a yet unscathed pillow, startled to stand and see Rhyn had changed to his human form.

"Yougot stuck with the baby-angel?"

"Maybe that should be wegot stuck with the baby-angel!" she shot back. "He's all yours. What smells like shit?"

"I think I like you better as a jaguar. Much easier to get along with," she said with a shake of her head, unable to help the warmth that spread through her whenever she saw him. "Gabriel left for good today."

"He always comes back." "Not this time."

He was quiet, digesting the news. Still shaken from her discussion with Gabriel, she couldn't decide if she wanted to run to the comfort of Rhyn's arms or send him away for good, before Gabriel took her away.

"Mama, I'm ready!" Toby said, reappearing.

"Okay, come on," she said. She held out a hand. He took it and tugged her to the door. Rhyn gazed at her, and her whole body responded despite her fear. The memory of his kiss made her insides warm. "If you want, you can come by later."

His gaze flared with heated interest.