Serrif did not hesitate. He changed in mid-air, landing where Kane had stood, only Kane had already moved away, jumping sideways and then spinning round to lash out at Serrif, taking first blood from the older lion.
Serrif roared in rage, and leaped after Kane, catching his flank but not drawing blood. Even so, his legs swayed under him and he had to fight to keep upright. He couldn’t afford to fall. If he did, Serrif would be on top of him, pinning him down. That conjured up unbidden thoughts of Serrif on top of Amara, making her submit to him. That would never happen, not while he still had breath in his body and teeth in his jaws.
With his breath coming hard, he circled Serrif, biding his time, waiting for him to make a move, but he didn’t. Kane had to remember Serrif was a seasoned fighter, he was the one who had killed Remus, so he must have a high level of skill. Think, make no sign you are going to move, and then pounce, he told himself.
And that was what he did. When he made his move, he was surprised Serrif did not move, or try to attack. He just stayed still until Kane slammed into him. Serif fell to the ground, and Kane leaped on top of him, pinning him down, his sharp teeth on his jugular, cutting off his breath, but still expecting some kind of retaliation. Yet Serrif lay still, looking bewildered.
Amara and his mom rushed forward, as he sank his teeth into Serrif’s neck. Beneath him, the man appeared scared, his body trembling. “Don’t kill me.”
Kane’s sharp canine teeth split his skin. He tasted blood, and found he liked it. This man, this thing that had taken his father from him and treated his mom like a whore, this man who had threatened Kane’s mate, deserved to die.
“Let him live, Kane,” Amara said, and from out of her purse, Amara pulled the collar. He shook his head. “Really, you beat him fair and square, why not use the collar to make sure it stays that way? Even if it’s only temporary.”
“She’s right,” his mom said. “I wouldn’t trust him to not turn on you once you release him. Put the collar on.”
Kane didn’t want to put the collar on Serrif. He wanted to kill him and feast on his bones. The look in his eyes must have told Amara this, or did she feel it, in the same way he felt her emotions. She placed her hand on his thick fur, winding it around her fingers. “There has been enough death because of this man. If you kill him, the authorities will hunt you, Kane. And I don’t want our child to be a fugitive.”
He turned to her, trying to comprehend what she was saying. And in that split second, she placed the collar around Serrif’s neck and snapped it shut.
Kane turned back to his human form, his eyes filled with wonder. “A child?”
She nodded happily. “I was trying to find the right time to tell you.”
“Why did you come here and risk yourself and our child?” he asked.
“Because I wanted to see your mom. I wanted to know if there was a way to end this without you being in danger,” she said, falling into his arms. “I should have thought it through, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Frasier wanted us to leave, and I didn’t want to run. I want to have our child here, where he belongs, surrounded by his family.”
Kane held her close, his face buried in her hair as he remembered the long, lonely days of his childhood, and he said, “That’s what I want too.”
30
“I thought you deserved breakfast in bed,” Amara said, placing the tray down on the edge of the bed.
“I know what else I think I deserve,” Kane said, and she knelt down beside him, kissing him gently.
“I’m afraid I’m going to hurt you,” she said, her fingers running over his cheek, while she looked at his black eye, and the various other bruises that coloured his face.
“I am a big, bad lion, a little kiss won’t hurt me,” he said, pulling her down next to him. “Damn, I thought I was going to lose you.”
“Never,” she said, kissing him again.
His hands went to part her robe, tugging it open to reveal her pyjamas. “These will have to go too.”
“Is that the new law, o great and mighty lion?” she asked, giggling when he tried to put on a stern face. “It doesn’t work when you look like that. You are not going to make a good first impression when you go to meet your loyal subjects.”
“Will they be loyal?” he asked, pushing her top off her shoulders, and throwing it down on the floor. He kissed her breasts, and she sighed, cradling his head in her arms.
“I think so. When I spoke to Leandra last night, she was convinced that most people will be glad to see the back of Serrif. He nearly destroyed your father’s business. The pride is poor; they will follow you if you can turn their economy around.”
“And there was me thinking you were just a pretty lioness to be petted and stroked.” He pushed her pants down and turned her on her back. She eased her thighs apart, letting him move between them.
“I like to be stroked,” she said.
“Here?” he asked, his fingers covering her mound and then slipping down to stroke her clit.
“Oh yes,” she said.