My Feline Protector (Middlemarch Shifters Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page A

line wasn’t as crowded as she feared. Two elderly ladies had everyone under control, barking instructions and not putting up with tardy racers. They found Henry and Jenny, and judging by the rash on Jenny’s neck and her swollen kiss-marked mouth, they hadn’t spent their wait running to and from the restroom or taking photos.
    She turned to check Gerard’s reaction to his friend and Jenny, her suspicions confirmed by his tetchy expression.
    “I hope you and Jenny have enough energy left to escape zombies.”
    “We’ll be fine,” Henry said, his voice a low rumble.
    “They retired early and slept late. I thought they’d spend the time recharging, not expelling more energy,” Gerard whispered in her ear.
    “Next,” an elderly lady barked. Her glasses sparkled in the sun and not a fingerprint marred the surface. Her gray hair curled with precision and everything in her appearance screamed efficiency.
    “Good morning, Valerie,” Henry said.
    The woman’s nostrils flared and her expression pinched with disapproval. “You, my boy, are a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You are a rogue.”
    Gerard barked out a laugh and Henry glared at his friend. Obviously, a private joke.
    “Where are your zombie ribbons and your racing numbers?” she asked. “I need to check them and make sure they are on a belt and easily tugged free by any zombie who catches you.” She counted each of their ribbons and supervised their placement. “Agnes will record your race numbers and tell you when you can start. Next!”
    London shuffled forward with the others and listened to their hurried strategy session. Gerard had studied their course map while waiting for her and had mapped out the best route, which he communicated to Henry in short-form. She understood little of their discussion. The plan—they’d try to keep together, but there might be times where it would be better to split into pairs. She listened and took several deep, slow breaths. Her palms grew moist, and she wiped them on her leggings.
    The next lady checked the placement of their numbers, wrote them on her chart, then lifted a timer to peer at the face. “Ten seconds to your start.” She studied her timer. “Five, four, three, two, one, go!”
    Henry, Jenny and Gerard bounded forward, London hesitating a fraction before forcing her legs to move. Too late to back out now. She had obstacles to conquer, zombies to escape.
    “London,” Jenny shouted.
    Her sister’s unspoken order prodded her into speed, and she ran, following the others along a grassy track. Spectators cheered as they passed. The other three waved. London was too busy breathing.
    On the plus side, she was fitter than she had been since she’d done a lot of exercise this holiday. She kept running, taking in the green countryside and the stands of pine trees plus the weird piles of schist rock. Up ahead, she could see flickers of color—perhaps the group of runners who had left before them. Moans and groans and screams floated on the air, and she slowed.
    “Zombies,” Gerard said, jogging at her side.
    “You look as if you’re out for a Sunday stroll,” she gasped out between pants.
    His smile made her steps falter, and she tripped over a rut in the ground.
    “Careful. I’m capable of carrying you if you sprain an ankle but it will be harder to escape zombies.”
    London splashed through a puddle, the cold water and mud clearing her fuzzy mind. “You couldn’t carry me.”
    “Yes,” he said. “I could. I’ll prove it to you after the race.”
    The ground became even wetter, and London concentrated on her footing.
    “First obstacle,” Henry shouted over his shoulder. “Looks like tires.”
    Tires? What did that mean? London scanned the course ahead and saw two women running through the tires with a bouncy spring. Ah, she could do that. She gave silent thanks she’d packed a decent sports bra.
    They ran faster down the slight incline and Henry bolted through the tires without hesitation,