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being called in more than a month after the rescues had arrived. “And you didn’t call me earlier because they only came to today?”
    Pirou nodded and Jag followed his brother to the mauve room on the second floor.
    “Have they let anyone near them since they’ve been awake?” he asked.
    “They don’t seem to care. The only response anyone has seen was when they tried to separate them. The bigger of the two had to be sedated.”
    “All they’ve had is each other, so that’s not surprising. Poor babies.” He gave Pirou a hug, knowing they both needed it after discussing what had happened to these latest rescues. It was always awful to see a shifter abused, but the cats in particular struck a chord. “The mauve room has a suite attached to it?” He was pretty sure he was remembering the layout correctly, but he’d hate to have to move the lynxes, and he’d need a separate living area, and a kitchen, possibly even a bedroom for himself, though he could curl up in any corner and get some shut-eye.
    “It does. With two of them, I thought we’d need space.”
    “My clever brother. You always were good at anticipating everyone’s needs. Do we know their names?”
    “Not yet.”
    They arrived at the door and he took a couple of deep breaths, steeling himself for anything. “All right. Let’s do this thing.”

Chapter Two
     
    Cather didn’t open his eyes when the door creaked. He had Hill in his paws, and nothing else mattered. He wrapped tighter around his mate, protecting them both.
    “Hello, kitties. My name is Jag and I’m here to help you.” The voice wasn’t a soft whisper like they’d been surrounded with so far. No, this voice was sure and confident, the words spoken loudly.
    Of course, they didn’t need help. They needed to be left alone. Peace was coming. He could feel it like a promise. Darri was there in the light, waiting for them. They just had to wait.
    “I’m not going away, either. I’m sorry you’ve been mistreated, but that isn’t going to happen here.”
    Like they worried about the beatings. Darri was gone. Killed with an arrow right through the tiger’s huge, beating heart.
    Cather could feel the covers over them getting lighter, someone digging into their cave. “I’m uncovering you now.”
    Cather growled softly, the sound rousing Hill, who began to vocalize in harmony with him, adding his own warning.
    “Easy, boys. Easy. I promise I’m not going to hurt you or make you move.” The covers kept coming off, their dark cave becoming lighter, brighter.
    He squeezed his eyes shut and held on as tightly as he could. No one would make him leave Hill. Not ever again. Finally, he felt the air and the light touching his skin, but he didn’t open his eyes. He didn’t look, not for a moment.
    “Oh, look at you two. Such pretty kitties.”
    They had been once. They had been loved and cared for, well used and needed.
    Something touched him. A hand. Sliding over his head. Cather bared his teeth. He was dangerous. Mean. A vicious animal, and he bit. Lots.
    Silly Cather . Hill’s voice was a balm against his mind, no matter the words or the tone.
    Shut up. I can be, for you .
    You’re not, though , his lover insisted.
    Nobody knew him like Hill did. No one.
    “Easy, boy. I’m not going to hurt you, not at all.” The touches continued, firm but not hard, sliding over his fur. Then the touches slid from him to Hill. Cather tried to cover every inch of Hill, to protect his dear lover, but he wasn’t big enough.
    “He’s yours, is he? I can respect that. I’m not going to hurt him, either, though. Or try to take him away from you.” The bed dipped with the weight of the interloper and now he was petting Hill with one hand and Cather with the other.
    Is he nice ? Hill asked.
    Cather growled softly. Does it matter? Darri is gone .
    Hill stilled beneath him, and for a second Cather thought Hill had gone to join Darri without him.
    “I won’t hurt you,” the man said again,