Echoes of Fire (The Mercury Pack, #4)

by Suzanne Wright

“They’re right in what they say—pallas cats are crazy motherfuckers.” “Only when shitheads have the nerve to pollute our presence.”

“Someone ate a full bowl of Bitch Flakes this morning.” “Dude, I ate two.”

“And I’ve worn heels that are longer than the dick you appear to be packing,”

“I don’t hate you. But if you’re ever pushed into traffic, there’s a good chance that it was me.”

“Why? What exactly would you do to him?” Madisyn averted her gaze. “I don’t want to tell you.” Dawn frowned. “Why not?” “You’ll start using words like ‘forgiveness,’ ‘empathy,’ and ‘conscience.’” Madisyn shuddered. “I hate those talks.”

I definitely did not think she was one of those snuggly little death dealers.”

You never startled them. You never cornered them. You never touched their food. And you never fed them after midnight.

Willow cocked her head. “Bracken, did you know that Cassidy’s a virgin?” Bracken stiffened. “Um . . .” He looked at the others for guidance, but they were all staring at Willow with a kind of horrified amusement. Cassidy rolled her eyes. “It’s ‘Virgo,’ Willow. ‘Virgo.’” “Oh.” Willow frowned. “Then what’s a ‘virgin’? Daddy, do you know what it is?” Eyes wide, mouth bobbing open and closed, Nick thrust a hand through his hair. “It’s, um, a business. It has airlines and other stuff.” “Oh,” both girls said in unison.

He tilted his head. “You had a therapist?” “Dawn has one come to the shelter every Thursday. She sent me to see him when I wouldn’t stop setting fires.” “And you made him cry?” “Not on purpose.” It wasn’t her fault that it creeped him out when she sang “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.” Over and over. In a dreary voice. Cackling whenever she said the word “die.”

he’d found that his mate could be quite inventive with curses when she was forced to wait for what she wanted. So far, she’d called him everything from a mothershitting son of a bitch to a shit-for-brains sheepfucker.

“The number thirteen is an unlucky number and a bad omen. Everyone knows that.” When her mate glared at her, she went on, “Hello, there were thirteen steps to the gallows. Thirteen people at the last supper. Women menstruate, like, thirteen times a year. And is it a coincidence that Charles Manson, Theodore Bundy, Jack the Ripper, and Albert DeSalvo all have thirteen letters in their names? I think not.”

Introverted, yet not soft-spoken or careful with words. Caring, but not physically demonstrative. Fine with crowds, but not a great lover of attention or socializing.

I don’t blame you for being possessive. Madisyn’s like a candy bar—half sweet, half nuts.” Bracken narrowed his eyes . . . mostly because that was a fairly tame line for Dominic. The enforcer tended to come out with some truly inappropriate stuff. Grin widening, Dominic added, “I’m happy for you, Brack. I am. Though it really does pain me that I’ll never get to use her thighs as earmuffs.” Yeah, that was more like Dominic.

Settling back on the sofa’s arm, he said, “Hey, I’ll give you a nickel if you tickle my pickle. I’ll even chuck in a dime if you take your time. Ow! Why do you always go for the nipple?”

“The more you treat someone like they’re broken, the more they’ll feel like they are, and the less capable they’ll be to help themselves. Maybe your need to smother him comes from a good place, but it doesn’t help him. Just because he’s not the same as he once was doesn’t mean he needs fixing.”

“Can we have a magician?” asked Willow. “You and Bracken don’t have to watch the show if you don’t like magic. We could have the show when you two go home to do . . . What do you call it, Daddy? ‘Bushwhacking’?” Nick’s water spluttered out of his mouth. Willow’s nose scrunched up. “I don’t know what it means,” she told Madisyn. “But I heard Daddy say it to Mommy, and she was smiling like it was fun.” Cassidy rolled her eyes. “Duh. It means sex.” Willow tilted her head. “What’s that?” “It’s when adults nap. How could you not know that?” “Well, they don’t sound like they’re napping when they’re in their room. I think they’re bouncing on the bed, because I heard the springs going like crazy.” Nick’s head fell forward onto the table with a bang. “And I think Mommy bounced too hard and hurt Daddy last night, because he said he was gonna spank her.” Willow looked at her mother. “What did you do, Mommy?” Her face a fire-engine red, Shaya cleared her throat. “Eat your food, Willow.”

knowing someone isn’t just possessing the facts about them,” she pointed out. He nodded. “That’s right. It’s learning their strengths and flaws, seeing them at their best and their worst. It’s learning their quirks, habits, mannerisms, and totally useless shit about them. Discovering their hot buttons and how they came to have them. Developing the ability to anticipate what they’ll say or do or feel. It’s knowing how to calm them when they’re pissed or make them smile when they’re sad. Learning what makes them unique and therefore totally irreplaceable.”