The Gathering (Darkness Rising 1)

He didn't do it. He isn't guilty.

No, I just didn't want him to be guilty.

I stepped into the room. His head tilted, as if he'd heard me and he turned. He saw me there and he stepped forward with a spark in his eyes that made my insides flip and an inner voice scream, "I can't do this!"

The smile disappeared fast, gaze dipping as he mumbled, "Hey."

"You wanted to talk to me?"

He nodded. "Can we ...?" He looked around and I knew he was going to say "Can we go somewhere

and talk?" then realized how that would sound, under the circumstances.

"We can step out on the porch," I said, then called. "Mom? We're on the back deck. Is Dad out there?"

"Somewhere."

Rafe nodded. He got the message. When I whistled for Kenjii after we went outside, I was probably overdoing it, but I wasn't taking any chances.

We sat on the edge of the deck. Kenjii tried positioning herself between us, but that was a bit much so I nudged her down. She sat at my feet, watching Rafe. I almost hoped she'd growl at him or give some sign that she distrusted him. She didn't.

I was about to speak when a yowl cut me off. Rafe jumped. I looked up to see Fitz in his favorite tree, staring at me, yellow eyes slitted, like I'd been the one who'd put him up there.

"Hold on," I said.

I walked toward the tree. Seeing Fitz, Rafe swung into my path.

"That's a lynx," he said.

"No, it's a bobcat, and he's going to keep yowling until I get him out of that tree."

"Get him out?" Rafe said. "I really don't think--"

"It's okay."

I grabbed the lowest branch and swung up. When I glanced down, Rafe had his hands on the limb, like he was ready to follow.

"Stand back," I said. "He doesn't like strangers."

"So he's a pet?"

"I don't keep wild animals." Which was true.

Rafe stood there, gripping the tree. "Maya, I really don't think--"

"I'm serious. Unless you like the ripped look for that jacket, get out of the way."

I shimmied along Fitz's branch. Rafe climbed onto the bottom limb and stood.

"Maya, seriously. Don't--"

I grabbed Fitz. He harrumphed, giving me hell for taking so long. I hefted him up, which is not easy with a twenty-pound cat. Then, holding him by the scruff of the neck, I lowered him toward Rafe. Fitz's three legs shot out, claws extended. He spit and snarled.

Rafe backed up fast. Then he looked at me, crouched on the branch, holding a spitting, three-legged bobcat. And he laughed. Laughed so loud that Fitz let out a chirp of surprise and started struggling. I leaned down as far as I could and dropped him onto Rafe's branch.

The branch dipped and Rafe nearly went flying.

He motioned at the stump of Fitz's rear leg. "Former patient?"