Read Online Claws by Karolyn Cairns - Free Book Online Page B

divorce!”
Vivvie exclaimed, hating the hysteria at the edge of her
voice.
    “Probably just to satisfy his need to
punish you, nothing more,” Ty mused and shrugged. “You two are very
much stuck with one another under our laws. He can’t marry again
and neither can you. Given the fact we’re now immortal that could
be a long time.”
    Vivvie digested this with an angry
look. “So were stuck together forever? Great! No death do us part
for us.”
    “Pretty much,” Ty informed her. “My
guess is that he comes to his senses and takes you back. He isn’t
free to take another mate. Just wait and see. I give him a
month.”
    “Well he can just forget it! He’s back
with Tania! I don’t want him back!” Vivvie snapped and her eyes
glowed with fury. “He didn’t even wait until my side of the bed was
cold before he moved her in.”
    Ty digested this without a trace of
surprise. “Vivvie, my sister and Eli share a very long history. I’m
sorry if you’re hurt by it. Your exile from Denver doesn’t include
Florida though. You still have rights. You just don’t have them
there.”
    “What does that mean?” Vivvie asked and
felt scorned to think of how easily Eli tossed her out of his
life.
    “You’re entitled to all the benefits
and privileges of a Chief’s wife. That means I’m within the law to
offer you amnesty. He can’t cut you off. His money is your money,”
Ty explained and eyed her sideways with a dark look. “Did you
listen to any of Jericho’s teachings at all?”
    She fumed to know she hadn’t paid the
greatest attention to those details. She didn’t expect her marriage
to end four months into it. This was all news to her. Knowing she
still had rights made her ask the most obvious.
    “What about my children? Can he keep
them from me?”
    Ty’s hands tightened on the wheel.
“He’s got you there, Vivian. He has exclusive rights to the
children. You can’t see them unless he allows it.”
    “We both know he won’t,” she said in a
small voice and looked out the window.
    Ty looked like he wanted to say
something more. He remained quiet throughout the drive to
Okeechobee. She looked out the window, wistful to see the exit for
Sebastian come and go.
    She thought of her Father and Marsha;
of her friends at G’s diner. It seemed a lifetime ago not just six
months. So much happened since then it didn’t seem real. It was
unbelievable she was back here now.
    “Where do I go from here, Ty?” she
asked hoarsely as he turned off and headed to the
compound.
    Ty reached over and covered her hand,
squeezing it reassuringly. “You don’t look back, Vivian. Just go
forward. The rest is out of your control.”
    She nodded, reassured by his words.
When they arrived at the compound; she was in awe. It was a huge
hacienda-type structure surrounded with barbed wire fencing and
armed guards at the gates. Cameras were everywhere. The security
here was heavier than in Denver.
    “How is it the authorities don’t
question us being here?” she wanted to know.
    Ty shrugged and grinned slyly. “Money
helps. We bribe the local cops. The feds don’t even know were here,
Vivian. They think it’s a reserve for wild panthers, endangered
species and what not. We maintain the security is necessary for
thieves and poachers.”
    Vivvie got out of the SUV and looked up
at the mammoth house Ryken built with trepidation. This would be
her home now. She waited for the dam holding up her misery to break
as Ty took her suitcases in. He saw her pale features and looked
concerned.
    “When was the last time you hunted,
Vivian?”
    “Too long,” she admitted with a hunger
pang, ravenous and salivating at the mention of chasing down her
supper for a change.
    He grinned as he walked her to the
front double-doors leading inside. “We’ll get you settled in and
you can go out on a run with me.”
    She was suddenly excited to explore
this new domain. Ty’s acceptance warmed her heart. They passed
several members of the