her. The clan had offspring but not as many as they wanted. She knew the subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle need to reproduce that drove male and female jackals alike. With a delegation of Isis witches coming to stay at the compound, it was just a matter of time before another jackal-witch union took place. The pressure would be off of her, as the newest female, to do her part to secure the clan’s future. Being with Rashon and Kurik would help as well.
Unless they wanted children.
Why would they be different from any other mated pair? They’d been together for a century. She couldn’t believe either had been without a woman before that. If they’d wanted children, surely they would have approached one of the other females who only had one mate long before she’d joined the clan. They hadn’t as far as she knew, so maybe they didn’t want children. That wasn’t likely to change just because they were now intimate with her. Was it?
Her heart sank as she watched Rashon chat with a couple of Isis witches who seemed interested in every word he spoke. Rashon and Kurik were gorgeous. They could have any woman they wanted, but they’d chosen her. Maybe it was because she was convenient—she already lived with them, after all. She couldn’t help but wonder if they would have made a different choice had they known the Daughters of Isis were coming.
They could still make a different choice, she realized. She’d have to tell them that she’d been kicked out of her old clan because she couldn’t have children. And wonder if they’d kick her out of their lives in turn.
* * *
Kurik watched Amarie watch Rashon with the two Isis witches. He saw the exact moment dismay filled her eyes before she turned away. Didn’t she know she had no reason to be jealous? She outshone every Daughter of Isis in the room and her dress had him growling at any man that even looked in her direction. Her soft smiles were a treasure, her body an altar at which to worship, her heart a comfort. No, Amarie had nothing to fear. He, however, had a heart to lose.
He crossed the room, snagging an arm around her waist. “Hey, beautiful.”
She glanced up at him, her lips curving in a smile that didn’t crinkle her eyes. “Hey, yourself. Having a good time?”
“Sure.” He shrugged. Parties weren’t his thing, though he knew the clan needed the opportunity to let off steam. He’d rather be home, kissing the worry from her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
She jerked, and her false smile faded. “I-I think I’m going to go home. Tia doesn’t need guarding, I feel naked without my gun, and I’d really like to get out of these shoes.”
He leaned closer to her. “Doesn’t answer the question.”
“It’s the only answer I’ve got.” She gave him another overly bright smile. “Besides, everyone’s having such a good time. I doubt anyone’s going to miss me.”
“I’d miss you,” he whispered in her ear. “Which is why I’m coming with you.”
“Kurik, no.” She turned toward him, putting her hand on his arm. “Don’t leave on my account. You should stay and have fun. Enjoy the party with Rashon.”
“I’d rather enjoy alone time with you.”
She stared up at him, as if trying to decide if he told the truth. He took a risk. “Does the idea of being alone with me make you nervous?”
“Of course not. I just thought—” she broke off, then leaned against him. “Alone time sounds wonderful. This many people in one place makes me edgy, even if they are having a good time.”
“Agreed. Let’s go home.” He caught Rashon’s eye, gestured to Amarie, then toward the door. Rashon nodded, a knowing smile on his lips. Kurik knew Rashon wanted him to convince Amarie to give them forever, but first Kurik needed to see if she could be as into him without Rashon between them. If she wasn’t...he refused to think about it.
Gathering her hand loosely in his, Kurik maneuvered them along the outer perimeter of the large room
Unless they wanted children.
Why would they be different from any other mated pair? They’d been together for a century. She couldn’t believe either had been without a woman before that. If they’d wanted children, surely they would have approached one of the other females who only had one mate long before she’d joined the clan. They hadn’t as far as she knew, so maybe they didn’t want children. That wasn’t likely to change just because they were now intimate with her. Was it?
Her heart sank as she watched Rashon chat with a couple of Isis witches who seemed interested in every word he spoke. Rashon and Kurik were gorgeous. They could have any woman they wanted, but they’d chosen her. Maybe it was because she was convenient—she already lived with them, after all. She couldn’t help but wonder if they would have made a different choice had they known the Daughters of Isis were coming.
They could still make a different choice, she realized. She’d have to tell them that she’d been kicked out of her old clan because she couldn’t have children. And wonder if they’d kick her out of their lives in turn.
* * *
Kurik watched Amarie watch Rashon with the two Isis witches. He saw the exact moment dismay filled her eyes before she turned away. Didn’t she know she had no reason to be jealous? She outshone every Daughter of Isis in the room and her dress had him growling at any man that even looked in her direction. Her soft smiles were a treasure, her body an altar at which to worship, her heart a comfort. No, Amarie had nothing to fear. He, however, had a heart to lose.
He crossed the room, snagging an arm around her waist. “Hey, beautiful.”
She glanced up at him, her lips curving in a smile that didn’t crinkle her eyes. “Hey, yourself. Having a good time?”
“Sure.” He shrugged. Parties weren’t his thing, though he knew the clan needed the opportunity to let off steam. He’d rather be home, kissing the worry from her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
She jerked, and her false smile faded. “I-I think I’m going to go home. Tia doesn’t need guarding, I feel naked without my gun, and I’d really like to get out of these shoes.”
He leaned closer to her. “Doesn’t answer the question.”
“It’s the only answer I’ve got.” She gave him another overly bright smile. “Besides, everyone’s having such a good time. I doubt anyone’s going to miss me.”
“I’d miss you,” he whispered in her ear. “Which is why I’m coming with you.”
“Kurik, no.” She turned toward him, putting her hand on his arm. “Don’t leave on my account. You should stay and have fun. Enjoy the party with Rashon.”
“I’d rather enjoy alone time with you.”
She stared up at him, as if trying to decide if he told the truth. He took a risk. “Does the idea of being alone with me make you nervous?”
“Of course not. I just thought—” she broke off, then leaned against him. “Alone time sounds wonderful. This many people in one place makes me edgy, even if they are having a good time.”
“Agreed. Let’s go home.” He caught Rashon’s eye, gestured to Amarie, then toward the door. Rashon nodded, a knowing smile on his lips. Kurik knew Rashon wanted him to convince Amarie to give them forever, but first Kurik needed to see if she could be as into him without Rashon between them. If she wasn’t...he refused to think about it.
Gathering her hand loosely in his, Kurik maneuvered them along the outer perimeter of the large room
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