Chapter 5
Her mother’s smile was the brightest Sienna had seen in months.
“Best market day we’ve ever had,” she announced, setting down a platter of chopped vegetables. “We sold everything except one chipped plate.”
“Everything?” Sienna looked up from stirring a sauce.
“Every cup. Every saucer. A lovely couple from Bath bought half our stock in one go.” Mama’s eyes sparkled. “We can stock the pantry this week.”
“Could you make small heart shapes?” Liam, who had sat quietly, spoke to her father. “In blue or blue and white. You could thread a ribbon through the top and sell them as pendants.”
Sienna’s mouth dropped open. A brilliant suggestion. She wanted to say so, but her brothers beat her to it.
“Yes!” Caden whooped with excitement. “Easily. They’d be quick to make.”
Jago nodded. “Yeah, all we’d need is the ribbon.”
“What color?” Kitto asked.
“Black might work best.” Sienna turned to her mother. “Can we afford to purchase some tomorrow?”
“We can. Create a few larger hearts to attach to cards with heartfelt poems. Tourists love sweet sentiments,” her mother said.
Sienna’s attention shifted to Liam, and her conscience prickled before she could shut it down because he’d scrunched his brow and furtively rubbed his temples.
“Liam, it’s worth trying to shift. I could show you our swimming hole.
” Should she tell him the truth? They weren’t mates, and she’d brought him here without asking his permission.
The urge to scream gnawed at her, but she pushed back because this plan of hers was working.
He’d suggested a fantastic idea that might become a successful income stream and…
“Ahem!” Mama paused until everyone was silent. A soft smile formed, making her mother seem much younger. “Remember those tumblers we predicted would sell well but flopped?”
Papa sighed. “A miscalculation.”
“We sold them today! Thanks to Liam’s quick thinking, we struck a deal with Tony. We sold the tumblers filled with his lemonade.”
Jago frowned. “But doesn’t the lemonade seller set up near the car park?”
Her mother sniffed. “The woman who organizes the tables gave away our spot. But it turns out the place she put us is much better.”
Sienna’s chest squeezed tight, and gratitude stung her eyes. Her plan was working, and she needed to overcome her self-doubt. Liam hadn’t met a mate. He’d probably be pleased if he understood what she’d done.
She resolved to become the best mate ever. Unwittingly, she’d picked the perfect shifter. If she’d followed her plan and abducted Scott, the other one…
Her cheeks heated as a profound realization struck her. Her choice of Scott was based on his ability to avoid attracting attention from nearby shifters. She’d judged Liam, with his scarred face, as inferior.
Shame had her bowing her head. She’d done a terrible thing, even if his presence was to help her family. What did she do next? A question for which she had no answer.
“Thank you, Liam,” her father said.
Caden clapped Liam on the shoulder, and Sienna caught Liam’s wince.
“Hey, watch it! Liam, will you try shifting again, or did you want to sleep?”
“I’ll shift,” he whispered.
She could practically feel his suffering. “All right. Mama, do you want us to help with the dishes?”
“No, your father and I will set everything to rights.”
“What about the boys?” Sienna asked.
“We’re running with you.” Jago rose, jerking his head at his brothers. “Mama and Papa want private time.”
“And what if Liam and I want to be alone?”
“Tough.” Cadan’s furry brows bobbed up and down as he tried to wink.
“They can come with us,” Liam said.
But she and Liam needed to get acquainted. Wait. Would anyone be searching for him? Work had been busy, but she should check the internet during her lunch break. She wasn’t sure what she’d do after learning more, but at least she was taking action.
“All right. Liam and I will meet you out front. And a reminder. Don’t get too rough with him.”
“Aw, Sienna.” Caden pouted. “Where’s the fun in that?” And laughing, he sprinted into the cottage to remove his clothes.
Ten minutes later, five black leopard shifters trotted from the cottage.
Her brothers led the way, sprinting ahead, while she stayed by Liam’s side.
Her priority was his health because his injuries were her responsibility.
He seemed better in the morning, but by sundown, fatigue dragged at him.
She suspected the witch’s drug hadn’t helped, either.
If not for her, he’d be home now. Was anyone waiting for him?
The thought bounced back like it always did, but this time she faced it head-on.
Her conscience whispered guilt; her counterargument stood firm.
Liam’s presence was helping them. He was giving support they desperately needed.
She let the fresh air and exercise burn away her worries, increasing her speed to match Liam’s pace.
They ascended a tree-clad hill, the air rich with the scent of damp earth, wildflowers, and crushed grass, before racing around the tor jutting from the ridge.
As always, she paused to enjoy the village spread out below in untidy rows, the outlying farms and orchards, and the rolling hills beyond.
The grass looked lush down there, and productive farms filled the valleys.
Old copper mines dotted the land around their cottage, rendering the ground far less fruitful.
To her right, she caught flashes of the sea.
Sometimes, they ran as far as the cliffs and descended to a cove accessible during a low tide.
Smugglers sailed along the coast, but her family steered clear of the business.
Her father had declared the smugglers dangerous men.
The Teagues would not align themselves with thieves and brutes, not even if they were desperate.
Her brothers disappeared down the hill, and Liam followed without hesitation.
He didn’t seem to have any trouble keeping up, and she mentally crossed her fingers that the exercise would help rather than set him back.
And she was turning into a worrywart, but the situation ate at her because, at heart, she was an honest person.
The idea of crafting new items had excited her father and brothers. Their faces had lit up as they discussed the possibilities, and her mother’s quiet satisfaction had made Sienna want to cry. She couldn’t recall when her family had last shared a moment of genuine happiness.
But every kind word, each shared smile, felt tainted by her lies. She kept telling herself the outcome would justify everything, but her methods themselves were wearing her down.
The insight stopped her cold. This wasn’t her. A sneak and a liar. Not who she wanted to become.
Sienna slowed to a walk, automatically scanning her surroundings as her mental gymnastics delved to the core of her problems.
A flash of light on the valley’s far side snared her attention.
It was on their land, and she halted, staring at the spot.
The flash repeated seconds later. A set of binoculars catching the light?
Maybe. Maybe not. But whatever it was, the unexpected sight was enough for her to grunt a warning to her brothers.
She crouched, slinking forward until she could see farther into the valley, and barked out another demand to hide.
Her brothers melted into the cover of scrubby bushes and rocks, and Liam followed suit.
The flicker reappeared from a different position. Sienna lifted her head to sniff the air, but detected nothing unusual. While she’d been watching and waiting to learn more, Liam had joined her. She jolted and then mentally cursed because she hadn’t heard his approach.
He nudged her and issued a soft, inquiring grunt. She scanned the valley, and Liam edged close enough for her to feel the heat emanating from his body. His feline scent was already familiar, his presence comforting, despite every one of her senses screaming danger.
They resided in a shifter community, but humans lived amongst them, mainly those who had taken a shifter as a mate.
They held shifter secrets close and didn’t speak to outsiders.
But humans visited the market or purchased goods from shopkeepers.
They tramped across the moor. Locals swiftly explained away any suspicious sightings with a mixture of lies and crafted half-truths.
That was where the rumors of the Bodmin Moor Beast had started.
And yes, there were periodic hunts for the beast. The locals knew when to take extreme care and stay in their two-legged forms, for who knew what they’d do to any unfortunate captured beast. Mostly, there were warnings.
Plenty of warnings, and maybe she was worrying about nothing, but her gut screamed otherwise.
Jago shifted and scanned their vicinity. “What’s wrong? Whoa! Did you see that?”
Sienna eyed the valley slopes before shifting herself. “Someone is trespassing on our land.”
“Yeah. But who?” Kitto asked.
The land was sparse, windblown moorland, except for this beautiful valley.
Sienna scowled. “Someone either doesn’t know it’s private land, or they’ve intruded on purpose.”
“Any village gossip?” Kitto asked.
“Nothing unusual. The baker is having an affair, but no one is sure if it’s with the launderette owner or the grocery store cashier.
Locals have seen him with both. The Forbeses are having another kid, which makes seven.
And the mayor keeps holding meetings and making secretive phone calls about his mall project.
” She didn’t mention the usual whispers about her family or fresh ones about Liam.
She hadn’t been forthcoming, and apparently, neither had Liam nor her mother.
“Okay,” Kitto said. “Let’s go home now, and we’ll come back before dawn to see if we can spot anything to suggest what is happening. And Sienna, you need to double down and ask questions. Someone might know something.”