Page 46 of Winter Break

The last step is my incredible roar that shakes the roof. That’s all it takes for Vincent to lose his footing and end his own life.

Chapter Seventeen

Cora

The moment I hear the truck pulling up, I run toward the door. I’ve been sitting at the kitchen table with Brea, pretending to care about coloring while freaking out inside.

Brea pointed out that my picture was going to be hilarious because I used no rhyme or reason for my choice of colored pencils. I just picked one up and filled in the small spaces. The picture is ridiculous. I’ll have to throw it away, but it occupied me to a certain extent.

I also got to spend some time with Brea, who is so much fun. I haven’t had a girlfriend in four years. I’m looking forward to having a relationship with her. Plus, she’s the only person who will understand the life I’m living.

We didn’t go into great detail, but I gathered that Daddy wasn’t fibbing me when he told me that Brea lives as Navin’s Little girl in the same type of relationship I have with Orion.

“Slow down, Little girl,” Navin calls out, beating me to the door and stepping in front of it. “Don’t ever open a door without one of us with you.”

I stop short. “Sorry.”

He smiles. “I know you’re anxious. I just want you to be safe.”

“Okay.”

Navin turns and opens the door. “Stay on the porch. It’s dark out. You can wait here for your Daddy to return.”

I step outside just as everyone piles out of the truck. My gaze darts from one man to the next. None of them are Daddy. What if something happened to him? Maybe Vincent shot him or something. I’m about to cry when one of the men approaches.

“Hey, Little one. I’m Ronan. Don’t you worry. Your Daddy will be here in a few minutes.”

“He’s okay?”

“Yes. Not a scratch on him. I promise.”

“Why didn’t he come back with you? How is he going to get here?”

“He had a lot of pent-up frustration to work through, so he decided to return on foot.”

I gasp, my eyes going wide. “On foot? It’s miles away? He walked? He won’t be here for two days.”

Ronan chuckles. “Sorry. I misspoke. I mean on paws. He’s in his lion form, Little one. I’m surprised he didn’t beat us here. He’s fast when he’s shifted. He can run faster than the truck can go on these windy mountain roads. Plus, he didn’t have to take the roads. His route was more direct.”

I’m still absorbing this information as something catches my attention to the left. Sure enough, a giant lion leaps into the clearing, landing on all four paws.

I stumble backward, nearly falling on my ass. Luckily, Navin catches me from behind. “Easy, Little girl. He won’t hurt you. Would you like to see your Daddy in his lion form up close? Maybe pet him?”

I’m uncertain for a moment. The giant lion stalking toward me could absolutely tear me limb from limb in seconds. But he’s not moving in an aggressive manner. His gait is slow, and his head is lowered. His teeth are not elongated. As he gets closer, I can hear him purring softly. He’s not growling.

“Go ahead,” Brea encourages me from my right. “Pet him. It’s fun. You’d be surprised how soft his fur is. He would never hurt you. Don’t be scared.”

If Brea thinks it’s safe, then it surely is.

The giant lion, who is presumably Orion, stops at the edge of the porch. He doesn’t put his paws on the steps. He’s so big that we’re at eye level, and I slowly inch closer until I can reach out and touch his mane.

It’s soft, and he dips his head to give me better access. My heart rate slows. Even in his lion form, he’s comforting me. I can feel our connection. I could curl up against his fur and sleep for two days. That’s how safe I feel. And I bet he’s warm. He’s hot even in his human form, but all that fur would feel so nice wrapped around me.

Navin sets his hands on my shoulders. “He’s going to shift back now, Little one. Step back a bit. You can watch.”

I’m startled as the lion also backs up into the clearing a few feet. In only a few seconds of what appears to be shimmering magic, my Daddy is once again standing in front of me. He looks exactly like he did when he left the house. He’s not even sweaty or winded from running hard for miles to get here.

He leaps onto the porch, sweeps me into his arms, and kisses all over my face. My legs are dangling, but he carefully covers the hem of my dress against my bottom with his forearm. I’m not flashing anyone my panties.