Rodney: Marshall’s Shadow – Jaguar Shapeshifter Romance by Kathi Barton (books for new readers TXT) 📕

“They were acting like children.” She told the older lady she’d thought so as well. “Their momma, she would have smacked them all with the broom had she been here. I have no doubt about that.”

She said she’d clean up her mess, but Molly told her she had it. It had been worth the little bit of work to see her put them boys in their place. Going into the living room, where the other women were, and sitting on the couch, they acted like nothing had just happened and that they’d been planning this meeting all afternoon.

“I was just telling them the rest of what I was able to get from Thomas. For a recently deceased, he seems to have a handle on his power better than most.” Rebel asked if he was still there. “No. I’m sorry. He must rest a little before he can return. He wishes to see you as well. I’ll make sure I call you when I need to speak to him again.”

“Thank you.” She sat back in the chair. “As you might have guessed, I didn’t get an answer from the idiot. I haven’t any idea why he thought that getting pissy with me would have any other effect on me than what happened. He doesn’t own me.”

“I doubt if he thought of that as well. And cats are a very jealous lot.” Harris stretched out her legs and smiled at her. “I nearly wet my panties when you went to get water. And the fact that you beat me to getting them out of the house is going to be something I’m jealous about for weeks to come. I doubt very much any of them are going to be very happy when they come back in. If I let them.”

“I’d not. They’re being big babies. It’s not like I hurt her when I moved her.” She looked at her hands, then at Lach. “I don’t have any idea how I was able to do that. I mean, I’m sure it was me, but the thought of what I did scares the crap out of me. Anyone have any idea why that happened?”

“You were feeding from the others.” The man appeared in the room with them, and Rebel knew immediately that he was a vampire. Thinking he was the man they’d been waiting on, she waited on him to speak again before she said too much more. “There is a bit of witchcraft coming off you. I’d say that long ago, more than likely from the Salem witch hunts, one of your ancestors was a strong witch. You could, perhaps, use some of the other magic you have and get stronger with it. However, today we’re here for me to tell my friend Harris what I have found out about her. Are we having the men come in to hear this as well?”

“No.” They answered him in unison, and Jason laughed. Then Bella explained what had happened. “So we sent them outside, where they might have to live for a while if they don’t straighten up their shit. Christ, you should have seen them, Jason. They were like wild animals simply because Rebel got a little overzealous with moving Lach out of the way.”

They were laughing when Harris went to the door. Going out onto the deck, Rebel wondered what she was telling them. Hearing Harris getting a little loud, Rebel laughed. Whatever was going on, it was enough to piss Harris off again. When she came into the room again, she smiled at them all and began telling them about why Jason was there.

“Shep felt it might be good for us to know, in the event one of our children was born with the traits of whoever it was. It’s nothing I’ve been concerned about but for that reason.” The door opened, and the men came in, Shep leading the way. “Are you planning on starting a ruckus again?”

“No.” They came in and sat down on the other chairs in the room. Oakley looked at her, as did the others. “I’m sorry that things got out of hand earlier.”

“I didn’t hurt her. I wouldn’t have hurt anyone in this room unless they provoked me. As the six of you did.” Rodney came and sat on the floor in front of her. While he didn’t touch her, he was close enough that she could see he was having a hard time keeping his humor under control. “What do you think is so funny?”

“You. Christ. You looked amazing when you dumped that water on us. I wanted to be pissed off, but I just couldn’t. Every time I think of you standing there giving us a piece of your mind with that bucket in your hand, I’m going to laugh my ass off. It was amazing.” She grinned with him but was still stern when she told him she’d been pissed. “Oh, I don’t think any of us thought you weren’t. And with good reason too. We overreacted. Or worse, I guess, we didn’t think about what was going on before we acted. I will next time. I think we all will.”

“Rodney is right. We should have let you handle what was going on in the first place. If you’d like to tell us the plan again, we’ll listen. Offer our opinions too.” She nodded at Shep but told him she was used to making decisions on her own. “Yes. As have all of us. We, as cats, should have been more supportive than jumping in where we weren’t needed.”

“I think we should allow Jason to tell us what he knows about Harris. Then, he mentioned that I might have some witchcraft in my blood. That was why I was able to catch and hold Lach. On my own.” They dropped their heads again and nodded. “Go ahead, Jason. Tell us what you’ve been able to find out.”

“Of course.” Jason sat