Unleashed by Katie MacAlister Page B

asked.
    He shrugged. “It’s been some time. Maybe six months. Why?”
    Rats. I think he’s suspicious , I told Avery.
    No. Just shrewd.
    Not his natural state, I assure you.
    That you know of.
    True. “I just wondered if perhaps something had happened that would leave them all a bit skittish around outsiders. Or rather, more skittish than normal. Say . . . some problem with their game.”
    â€œGame? Do you think they’re raising the animals for slaughter?” Greg pounced on my carefully chosen word, leaving me disconcerted.
    â€œNo, nothing like that. It was just a slip of the tongue.”
    â€œI see. Well, I haven’t heard of anything amiss with Baum and his group, but I don’t maintain much contact with them at all. Just the odd e-mail now and again, and of course, I hear about their interactions with hunters during the hunting season.”
    That tells us nothing, damn it. I can’t decide whether he looks innocent and is really guilty, or vice versa, I grumbled.
    You didn’t expect him to admit anything, did you?
    Expect? No. Hope . . . kind of.
    Greg turned the subject to matters of state policy, asking my opinion on a number of items, which I answered absently, all the while Avery and I trying to figure out whether we had any other conversational gambit to offer.
    We didn’t. “Thanks for your time,” Greg said some fifteen minutes later, giving Avery an odd look as we left his office. “And nice to meet your . . . er . . . friend.”
    Cora tugged on my arm as Greg toddled off to attend a meeting. “That was boring beyond human comprehension. So, inquiring minds want to know: What were you guys saying on your mental Instant Messengers?”

Chapter 7
    â€œHow do you know we said anything?” I wondered whether there was some way Cora knew when Avery and I were doing the mental thing.
    â€œ ’Cause you snickered under your breath a couple of times, and I fail to see how policy regarding wild salmon is enough to tickle anyone’s funny bone. What did you guys say?”
    â€œIs she always this nosy?” Avery asked as I made a decision and headed toward the entrance of the building.
    â€œHey! It’s called sisterly concern. And you’d better get used to it, bucko, because I’m not going to leave Jas alone so you can brainwash her.”
    Avery’s expression was one of weary resignation. “I’m beginning to see the charm of remaining unentangled.”
    â€œIf you’re referring to me, you’re more than welcome to be as footloose and fancy-free as you like,” I said with much dignity. “The last thing I want to do is entangle someone against his wishes.”
    Oh, really? So that thought about tying me down and licking various sticky substances off me wasn’t yours?
    I blushed remembering it.
    â€œSo, what now? We just go home and wait?” Cora asked as I gave Avery directions to my apartment.
    â€œYes.” I glanced at Avery, once again telling my mind to stop flinging itself around in wild abandon at being pressed up against his side. “We should probably stop at a store to get you some clothes that fit, unless you want to keep wearing those borrowed things. There’s an outlet mall about half an hour from here. And then . . .”
    â€œThen what?” Cora frowned at Avery when he casually dropped his hand onto my leg.
    You need to eat, don’t you? I can feel that you’re getting more and more hungry. How do you normally handle that?
    Feeding? I find someone isolated, feed, and give them a little mind push to forget that fact.
    I see. It sounds rather cold and impersonal.
    It can be, although usually it’s the opposite.
    I glanced at him in surprise. Feeding is stimulating?
    Arousing. Sometimes. Depends on the person.
    Irritation prickled along my skin at the thought of Avery’s drinking another