Feral Magic Read Online Free PDF

the beings around him.
    "Fine."  She turned, scooped up the slinking black cat by the stomach and rump, and closed the door.
    Dak subsided back onto the flowy bed.  He thought he liked the sensation.  Relaxing, he listened to her footsteps as she went down the stairs...and to her voice talking to the small cat.  "What is the matter with you?”  Her tone scolded the feline.  “Can't you see he could take you out with one swipe of his paw...or one blow of his fist?  And he's fast.  Leave him and the baby be."
    Growls, general telepathic protest Dak couldn't tune into because it was private between the cat and the woman.
    Everything he'd observed about the woman indicated she'd protect him – at least for the next three hours as he slept.  Odd thought matched by an odd, warm feeling.  He hadn't had a female stand to protect him, stand at his back for...years.
    And this one wasn't even a trained warrior – that had been easy to see.  Nor had he noticed any weapons in her house; the closest that she had were her cooking knives and those appeared dull.
    Not much choice but to let himself sink deep into sleep, to heal the last of his wounds, to refresh him for any battle that might come.  He supposed he'd have to tell the woman about Bretine.
    Tell Brandy of Bretine.
    A pity such a beautiful woman had an ugly name.
    With the last of his strength, knowing the effort would make him pass out, he drew upon the scratchy and irritating power of the sun to place a large magical boundary around the house that would alert him to danger.
    *~*~*
    Deciding not to wait to talk to Dak about his – and little Favel's – food needs, Brandy found a grocery who'd deliver and ordered pounds of meat: hamburger, whole turkeys, lots of sausage – that she didn't like – and a couple of hams.  She wasn’t sure about shapeshifters, but jaguars only ate meat.  She muttered something to the store about a relative's birthday, suppressed a gasp at the price, and confirmed she'd be around for a couple of hours to accept the delivery.
    After that she opened the back door for Gypsy to stand and stare out at the summer day, then watched him saunter out, tail flicking with irritation that interlopers to his house remained.  Tom-Tom was already out and sulking in his dirt wallow.
    Then she couldn't resist temptation…or maybe she just wanted to confirm with her own eyes, while the shapeshifter wasn't awake to distract her, that she had such a unique person in her house.  In her bed.
    So she went back upstairs and peeked into the bedroom.  The baby opened his eyes, but continued to suck on his fist – and, hell, if they were going anywhere with Favel, like driving anywhere – she'd need baby outfits.  There must be a discount store that delivered things like that, too.  Car seat, diapers, wipes for his human behind, stuff.
    Favel gurgled, took his hand out of his mouth and gave her a drooling grin.  She found herself sighing, walking into the room and settling back in her rocking chair.  After all, Dak wasn't used to sleeping on a water bed, especially with something as small and fragile as a baby.  Though she wasn't quite sure how fragile Favel actually was.
    The baby seemed happy, so Brandy turned her attention to the man.
    She stared at his naked body sprawled face down across her bed.  He appeared completely out.  As handsome and buff as Ross, but with that different build.  Broad shoulders, lean hips and a truly world-class butt.  She was a connoisseur of butts and his was the second…yes, second ...best she'd ever seen naked in real life.
    Dak, former regent of the Dark Panther Klatch.  From.  Another.  Dimension.
    That concept still plodded around in her mind as she grappled with it.
    Then the baby wriggled.  Leaning against the man, Favel bounced up and down on the bed, crawled over Dak as if he was a well-loved play area – and a sneaking temptation to play some adult games with the man lured her.
    The baby appeared