Free Talon (Ashes & Embers Book 4) by Carian Cole Page A

with a fat check and flipping me the bird.
    Fuck it. If it happens, it happens. I'll take my own fifty grand from this and party my ass off with every big-titted blond I can find.
    Somehow she has managed to transform this tiny, run-down space into a cozy little home that screams her . It's colorful. It smells like candy. It's clean and organized. Above all that, it reflects her unique creativity and ability to turn something plain, broken, and old into something pretty cool—giving it new life with her touch. What little furniture she has is hand-painted and distressed to make it appear antique. I don't even have to ask her; I already know she painted it all herself. Instead of typical curtains, gauzy fabric in a rainbow of colors covers the windows, hanging from birch branches. Not metal or plastic rods—white birch branches, and I can picture her walking through the woods looking for the perfect little branch.
    Colored plastic boxes, which must hold the supplies she uses to make the clothes and soaps she mentioned, are stacked in a mock stairway leading to the ceiling.
    As I stare around at all the little details she's added to her apartment, my interest in her kicks up a few notches. She's definitely not lazy or an airhead. She's driven and talented and completely self-supporting.
    "You've made this place pretty cool, Asia," I say, slowly walking around the small space.
    "Thank you… I'm kinda really into crafts."
    "It shows. You've got a gift."
    "I'll be right back." She disappears down a short hallway to what I assume to be her bedroom and comes back a few minutes later holding two things. One is the smallest cat I've ever seen in my life—that's also wearing a little sparkly tiara on its head—and the other is a black scarf with white X's randomly dyed into it.
    "No one said a cat was part of the deal." I'm only partially kidding.
    She holds the tiny silver creature with huge green eyes against her chest. "Well, she is. I've had her for three years. I'm not about to part with her. I love her."
    "Three years? That's an adult cat?" I swear this cat would fit in one of my hands.
    "Yes. She has a form of dwarfism. She hasn't grown since she was eight weeks old."
    "Shit. Why is it wearing a tiara?"
    "Her name is Princess Pixie. I dress her up and post pictures of her on social media sites. She has a huge following, over eighty thousand likers and followers."
    This cat has more fans than my personal fan page. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
    "No. She even has product sponsors. They send me food, outfits, and toys for her, and then we review and post about them."
    Fuck me in the ass. Just when I thought things were looking up, now I have a diva dwarf cat with fans to deal with.
    "Well, she better not blog about my band or be all up in my shit," is all I can mutter as she gently places the miniature cat on the floor.
    "Kat's been taking care of her for the past two days, but if we're moving in together, she's coming."
    "Fine. Just keep her out of my stuff and don't let her claw up the furniture."
    "She has nail guards in five colors. She won't scratch anything." She stands in front of me and hesitantly puts the scarf around my neck, fluffing my hair out over it, then grins up at me in approval. "There."
    "Did you make this?" I ask, touching the thin fabric.
    "Yes. It looks good on you."
    "Everything looks good on me," I tease, getting me yet another eye-roll from her. "I dig this, though. I'm gonna wear it on stage."
    "Oh, cool. That would be awesome."
    I pull the scarf off and quickly throw it over her, capturing her tiny waist with it and pulling her against me, enjoying the startled look on her face. "Or…I can tie you up with it and have my way with you." Her hands instinctively press against my chest, and she gazes up at me from under her dark lashes.
    "You could." She swallows nervously and licks her lips. "But, wouldn't it be more fun if I were a willing participant?"
    "I'd like to find out."
    For a quick moment, her