Too bad he didn’t believe in her.
He started the truck and drove away.
37
Zach sat in the lodestone glade and soaked up the peace that permeated every leaf.
He often started his days here. Up before dawn to feed the animals, then a short walk through the pasture. Because it was the weekend, he had a long day of training planned for the horses.
It would be a good day.
Buffy always accompanied him to the glade. Spike preferred to lie near the pasture gate. Willow, Storm, and Tucker usually came as far as the fence and then grazed until he emerged. They’d been granted access to the pasture. Their old corral featured two new additions. One was privately owned, brought to him for help with some issues. The other was a rescue.
Word had spread over the last few weeks. Zach had a waiting list of eager clients. And he was much better at handling the storm of emotions the owners sent his way. His walls were stronger than ever before, but it was still a relief to visit the glade. Here, he could relax and drop the walls. Let nature soothe and heal. Cara’s presence was strongest here.
He hadn’t seen her since Kitani’s babies were born. Had he pissed her off to the extent she’d never visit again? In some ways, Buffy and Willow were reassuring. If Cara cut all ties, it would hurt like hell.
Zach stretched, and Buffy echoed him. He rose, cat at his heels, and left the glade.
Willow and Storm waited by the gate. The donkey swung a boot in her teeth. Not one of his. Lately, she’d appeared with various footwear and placed them on the porch. Most were likely from the Sabres. Zach had no idea what Willow was trying to tell him, but he was developing quite the stash. He could open a footwear store if this kept up.
But at the moment, neither equines’ attention was on him. They were staring at a figure striding across the pasture. Tucker was long gone, galloping to the far end of the fence line. And Spike was standing stiff, every hair on end.
The approaching Sabre was moving oddly, almost staggering. Hardly the usual graceful movement. A quick drop of the walls identified the visitor.
Kitani, in Were form. And she wasn’t alone.
As she drew closer, the reason for her odd gait became apparent. Two tottering balls of fluff slowed her progress. They stumbled, pounced, and tumbled through the tall grass.
Zach took mercy on her and walked to meet them.
At first glance, the twins looked like lion cubs. Only bigger boned, with enormous paws and heavier heads. Heads that caused them to overbalance every time they gained momentum. Or paused to wrestle. One had fur so dark it was almost black. The other had a reddish cast to its hair.
“Stop chewing on your sister,” Kitani admonished, but her eyes glowed with affection. She guided them almost to his feet before shifting to human.
Okay, now he had a naked human female in his pasture. Zach kept his eyes on the babies who also shifted in sync with their mom. Two adorable youngsters that sat on plump butts in the grass. They were much less mobile in this form than they were as Weres but way more advanced than humans at that age. Humans would still be lying in a squirming heap.
“Hello, Zach,” Kitani said.
No way he could have a conversation with her nude. Zach peeled off his shirt. “Can you please put this on?”
Kitani rolled her eyes as she pulled it on. It was marginally better—although still distressingly short. He couldn’t imagine either Ryan or Cody would appreciate him ogling her. And he’d rather not lose a body part.
“How are you?” he asked. Why was she here?
“Thought you’d like to see the girls.”
Girls? He’d been so preoccupied that day that he hadn’t bothered to make the connection that what he’d sensed was female. Twingirls. He had some idea of just what that meant to a population on the verge of extinction.
“They’re beautiful, Kitani. I didn’t congratulate you guys. Sorry about that. I was preoccupied.”
“Preoccupied?” Kitani snorted. “Angry, thick headed, and stubborn as hell, was what I saw.”
Zach’s brows furrowed. “Stay out of it, Kitani.”
“See, everyone keeps telling me that. But Cara’s miserable, they’re miserable, and you’re miserable. So I don’t see the point in staying out of it.”
“I’m not miserable. I’m getting my life back on track.”
