Read Online A Leopard's Path by Lia Davis - Free Book Online Page B

“I’m sorry, too.”
    Jon bobbed his head. “Yeah, me too.”
    A sense of pride swelled in Ana’s chest. “Good. Why don’t y’all go see if there is anything Rhea needs at the nursery?”
    They nodded in unison, but before they left, Ana added. “There’s a new jaguar in the den…”
    “Nigel,” Brenna said.
    “Jared introduced him to us this morning.” Bryce finished.
    Ana glanced from one twin to the other and shook her head. The link between them was strong and a little strange at times. “Good. Make sure you make him feel welcome.”
    “We will,” Matthew said as the group walked down the road toward the nursery.
    “You handled that much better than I would have.”
    Ana whirled around at Alec’s voice. She frowned. “Did I overstep a boundary?”
    “No, not at all.” His features softened, and she swore she saw a hint of a smile. Something Alec didn’t do often. “I can’t be everywhere, so I appreciate the help.”
    Silence fell between them, and she scanned the area, looking for an escape. She wanted to be alone, but what she really needed was a good fight. Or to kill a few mutants.
    “Look, I was headed to the gym. Do you want to join me? It’d help release some of the tension you have built up.” His request was soft and unsure.
    Studying him, she noted the dark shadows under his eyes. “When was the last time you slept?”
    One large shoulder raised. “I don’t sleep much.”
    She almost used her gift to read his soul, but didn’t. Alec had to open up on his own. She wasn’t going to be the one to violate his trust by being nosey. “I could use a good sparring session.”
    “Great.”
    Smiling, she followed him to the recreation building that had been added during the rebuild of the den. Out of everyone in her new family, Alec was the only one she felt a solid connection with. Somehow, he understood her without knowing anything about her.
    It was sad that her own mate didn’t. Her heart ached, but she pushed it away. She had a lot to consider when it came to mating Kieran Michaels. The main question was if they were even true mates.

Chapter Twelve
     
     
    Sable’s head felt like it was being squeezed in a vise. Throbbing pain made it hard to think and focus on the dimly lit, damp room her parents had thrown her in.
    Her parents. She’d expected as much from her father. Especially since his sanity had retreated over the last few years. As for her mother? Well, Sable had believed the woman was dead. A low growl escaped her as she forced her eyes open, pushing back the searing pain at her temples.
    The scent of lilies drifted in the air a moment before a female shadow fell over her. Sable ground her teeth. She wasn’t sure who to be mad at, her father or the ghost standing outside her cell. “You are supposed to be dead.”
    A soft sigh escaped the witch before she replied. “Well, I may as well have been. Those Ashwood bastards locked me in a deep sleep.” Savannah paused, drawing Sable’s attention.
    The woman was almost a mirror image of herself, except Sable’s skin tone was slightly lighter. Savannah still wore the white gown from earlier, the cotton fabric contrasting beautifully with her mocha skin. Skin that glowed with a divine power.
    “For good reason.” Sable bit out and returned her attention to the ceiling. “Your magick is too powerful.”
    “What do you know of my power?”
    It came out as a snarl, but Sable ignored it. Her father wasn’t the only one with secrets. “I know a thing or two about magick. I was raised by Felix, after all.”
    The female laughed, evil and cold. “So true, dear. Who do you think trained your father?”
    If it were sixteen years prior, before Sable had met Jared and given birth to Nigel, she’d find Savannah’s words intriguing. Not anymore. Sable wasn’t the person she used to be. Ana had helped her see the truth.
    Sable had fallen in love with Ana when Felix brought her home along with lies about who the baby’s