The Kitten Has Claws

The Kitten Has Claws [Chapter 19]

Violet snorted, "That's an understatement. The kingdom and his good image come first and anyone who is a threat to either is no longer in his good favor. Another words: me."

"I don't want you to get the wrong impression about him, he's not a bad man," Clover defended quickly, "just very overbearing. He relishes his power, but would never abuse it. As soon as Basil tells him where we are and whom we're with, he'll be here the next day, for more than one reason. First of all, he'll want to create a solid alliance with the panthers. Second, he'll need to lecture Basil and I on our stupidity, after checking to see that I'm all right. Thirdly, he'll work on bringing Violet back into the kingdom, now that he's ready to forgive and forget."

Basil cleared his throat uncomfortably and gave Clover a sheepish look, "I, uh, I already let him know where we are. He said he'll be here as soon as possible."

"Basil! How could you? I asked you to wait a little bit, I'm not ready to face him," Violet cried. She shot him a glare and rubbed her forehead angrily. Great, now her father would arrive, with Sage. She was not ready to face either of them.

"I'm sorry, Vi, I'm already in enough trouble for letting Clover get caught, I couldn't lie to him anymore."

"Wait," Ryder said, holding up a hand, "Why were you captured?"

Both Clover and Basil shifted uncomfortably and looked at each other. "We were supposed to be finding the Vessel, seeing where she was and then assessing the situation from there. Somehow the Hunters overheard us talking one day in the forest and took us unaware that night. We never even felt or heard them. It was like they had some cloak over them. Anyways, they grabbed me and in a fit of panic I tried to change into a hawk but the Hunter didn't release me. He seemed unfazed by my change." Ryder eased a hand over Clover's clenched fists and smiled encouragingly. She nodded her thanks and continued.

"They brought me back to their camp and said that they would torture me until I told them what they wanted to know. I refused to say anything and refused to change back to my true form. They forced a burning liquid down my throat that caused me to change. After that, the Hunter told me that I was under his control and only he could release me." She let out a bitter laugh, "I thought he was kidding, there's no way to control me. But I was wrong. I was forced to travel with them daily, keeping an eye out for the Vessel. When I came across the panthers the first time, I wasn't with the Hunter who had originally bound me, so when the Hunters were all killed I was forced to fly back to the camp.

"He wasn't very happy with me and told me that next time he was going with me. According to him, I was going to be the perfect bait. We headed out a few days later for the panther's estate. And from there you know the rest. Thankfully they never knew what I really was. They just assumed I was a shape shifter like the panthers."

By the time Clover had finished telling her story, Basil, Violet and Ryder were all sitting rigidly in their seats. They were all livid and ready to kill the first Hunter they came across. "Do they know who the Vessel is?" Ryder asked slowly.

Clover shook her head, "As far as I know they don't. Basil and I were careful not to say her name, in case someone did overhear. I feel so stupid; I should never have let myself get caught." She turned to look at Violet painfully, "Can you imagine what Father will say when he's here?"

"A pox on what he says," Violet scoffed, ignoring Basil's horrified look, "He should be more concerned with how you're doing than a silly mistake you made."

"You know how he is," Clover replied. "But maybe he'll be more focused on you than me." She grinned evilly when Violet stuck her tongue out. "I can dream, can't I? Plus, Sage will be here. Yet another distraction away from me!"

"Sage?" Ryder asked, surprised at the sudden bolt of jealousy he felt.

"Violet's fiancé, didn't she tell you?"

Ryder sighed inwardly in relief, "Does Finn know about this? He won't be too happy."

Violet shook her head guiltily, "Not yet. I haven't even thought about Sage for a long time. I assumed after I left the engagement would be canceled, but I guess I was wrong. I'll deal with it when my Father and Sage arrive. Please don't tell Finn yet."

"I won't." Ryder stood up from the couch and inclined his head politely. "You shouldn't keep this from him forever though. He's bound to find out and when he does, he won't be happy." With that ominous warning, Ryder left the room in search of Ingrid. He had something important he needed to tell her.

"Hey baby, you must be a light switch, because every time I see you, you turn me on!" Tamsin giggled at Jed's antics. He was ruthless in his mock seduction of her; sometimes it was hard to believe that he was just kidding around. Whoever his love was would need a deep sense of humor along with a strong backbone.

"Cheesy pick-up lines, Jed? I expected better of you," she said mockingly. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Fletcher watching them angrily. It made her laugh, how jealous he was. Finally he was getting a dose of his own medicine. Well okay, he had never outrageously flirted with another woman in front of her, but he did drive her crazy. It was only fair that she did the same to him.

"Come over here and keep my lap warm," Jed grinned sexily. They were planning on watching a scary movie and the only spot open was next to Fletcher. Or Jed's lap. Grinning like a Cheshire cat she plopped down on his lap and snuggled close to him. Next to her, Ingrid grinned and winked. She approved of the fake flirting, men needed to be taught a lesson. Women were not to be controlled.

Ignoring the burning glares from Fletcher, Tamsin let Jed wrap an arm around her waist. He used his other hand to play with her hair. She shivered at his touch and leaned in closer. It felt so good to be touched, as wrong as it seemed. As a child, she was never held close or hugged. Her parents were rarely home and her nanny's weren't close enough to her. It had taken years for her to let Noelle hug her and since then she had craved even the smallest of bodily contact.

When the movie was over, Tamsin apologized to Jed for cutting off all the circulation in his arms. "I don't usually get that worked up over scary movies."

"It's okay," he grinned, "I like holding you. Sweetness is my weakness."

Tamsin smacked his arm, "No more cheesy pickup lines, you sound like a desperate drunk guy."

"I'm not drunk, I'm just intoxicated by you," he shot back smoothly. Ingrid smothered a laugh when she saw the look on Fletcher's face. He looked ready to hurl.

"For Christ's sake," Fletcher muttered, storming out of the room angrily. He couldn't watch them anymore, it was making him sick.

"Did you see his face?" Ingrid laughed, after he left. "Oh my word he looked like he was going to throw up all over and then punch Jed in the face." Tamsin laughed weakly. He was reacting the way she wanted him to, but then why did she feel so bad? It was the stupid weakness she felt towards him. Whenever he smiled at her, she felt her insides melt and immediately she thought back to their steamy kiss. Stupid hormones. No matter how much she tried to forget him, he just wouldn't leave her alone. Maybe she wasn't being fair to him by flirting with Jed.

?jqT<@