Free Wild Cat by Jennifer Ashley Page B

brother all right. He stood the same height as Diego, had the same square, handsome face, broad shoulders, and black hair—though Xavier wore his a little longer—and eyes so dark it was like looking at midnight. They had the same stance, the same way of moving.
    What kept the younger man from being a twin of the older was that he smiled more readily, moved more rapidly. Diego had learned to hone his energy while Xavier was still being ruled by his.
    Eric padded calmly to the pile of clothes he’d left in the dirt, shifted while Xavier’s eyes widened again, and dressed himself. Brody, instead of shifting, turned and walked heavily back into the darkness.
    “Where’s he going?” Xavier asked.
    “To meet up with the others and get home,” Eric answered. “He’s shy about shifting in front of people.”
    Xavier raised his brows but didn’t comment on Eric’s seeming lack of shyness. “And you’re all out here because…?” Xavier asked Diego.
    “Doesn’t matter now. I’ll explain it later.”
    Xavier watched his brother another moment, then shrugged and nodded. Not happy, but trusting Diego.
    Diego ordered Eric and Cassidy into his car and told Xavier to follow them back. Diego drove, hands firm on the wheel, Eric in the backseat, Cassidy in the front with Diego.
    Cassidy liked watching Diego drive. She enjoyed the way the muscles in his arms moved, how his eyes flickered as he watched the road, how he could give attention to all things at the same time. He was a good hunter, she thought. He’d trained himself to be.
    The butt of Diego’s pistol peeped around his flat stomach, within his easy reach but not Cassidy’s. Eric drowsed against the door behind her, his legs across Diego’s backseat. Eric often napped after an intense stalk, retrieving the energy he’d spent, and besides, his Collar had started to go off. He only rested like this when he thought himself safe, so he must feel safe with Diego.
    The moon was bright tonight. Cassidy’s neighbors were out, waiting for the ceremony for Donovan to start—on porches or in yards, a few already burning fires or lighting candles to the Goddess. Shane and Nell lounged on their porch next door, watching as Eric and Cassidy climbed out of Diego’s car.
    Jace slammed open the screen door and ran outside. “Dad, what the hell? Nell was about to have a clan roundup and go extract you.”
    “Shit happened,” Eric said. He grabbed his son in a brief but hard embrace.
    “You all right, Cass?” Jace took Cassidy’s hand, his familiar warmth already easing her tension.
    “I’m fine, sweetie.”
    Cassidy pulled him into a full hug. She’d held Jace when he was a tiny cub, when he’d been still in cat form. He’d liked to chew on her pant legs, insistently, until she picked him up and cuddled him, his true goal. That cute cub was a long way from Jace the man, but affection between nephew and aunt remained.
    Xavier pulled up in his truck and drew more Shifter attention. Cassidy sensed all eyes on the brothers, noses taking in scents.
    Eric didn’t invite Diego and Xavier inside, but he didn’t keep them out either. Which meant that Eric wanted to hear Diego’s view of what had happened.
    Diego and Xavier kept their weapons with them as they entered the house. Jace made more coffee, Eric yawning in the living room, as Cassidy ducked into her room and pulled on her clothes. For some reason she grabbed her cutest lace panties and bra before she covered them with jeans and a cropped top.
    Her friend Lindsay had convinced her to buy the underwear at a time when Cassidy figured there was no point. She was glad now she’d listened even though she’d be the only one who knew she had them on.
    Cassidy went back out to the living room as Jace was handing out coffee like a gracious host. Xavier gratefully accepted a cup; Diego declined his. The ritual was due to begin soon, but Eric yawned again as he collapsed to the sofa.
    “Sorry,” he said. “Hunting