I closed my eyes and concentrated on the sound of the footsteps approaching my cage. They belonged to Julie, Kate’s cub. She showed potential, moving well for a human child, quiet and careful despite the dim and unfamiliar surroundings. Kate would have stormed into the dark stabbing at shadows. I wondered briefly where or from whom she had learned to sneak. She had not survived on the streets by being slow or stupid. Derek seemed fond of her and it was obvious she was smitten with the kid. To her, he was older and good looking.
Damaged Derek, laying somewhere now with his good-looking young face forever ruined. Would she even look at him the same way?
A fresh wave of rage and grief almost overcame me, and I had to fight the urge to roar in frustration. No, hold it together. There will be a time for fur and fury, for the rending of flesh and the taste of blood on the tongue. Not the now. Take a deep breath, keep it together. Don’t scare the kitten. Convince her to let you go.
Come closer, Julie, that’s it. You’re almost there.
When she was near enough that I could hear her breathing, I called out to her in my best not crazy voice, “Ok, Kate, you win, I could not break out, let me go, and I will give you that hundred bucks I owe you.” Kids liked money right?
She walked into the room and sat on the floor. A tiny thing, skin and bones, narrow face, pale hair.
“Nice try. You know I am not her, and you should know she’s gone now where you can’t get her.”
Smart girl. “Look kid, I don’t want to get anybody. Just let me out of here please.”
“Julie. My name is Julie. Why?”
“Why what, Julie?”
“Why should I let you out?”
“Because, I asked you nicely, and it would be better for you and your…” – Psychotic guardian, terrible role model, bad influence- “…Kate, if you release me.”
“Why do you do that?”
Ok, I would play along but my patience was growing thin. “Do what, exactly?”
“Bully people. Threaten them in that calm scary voice. They are all afraid of you.”
Ridiculous. “I don’t threaten people. I am nice. I don’t yell or scream.” Keep going though and you will see how terrifying I can be.
“Bullshit. They are all scared of you. Jim, Derek, even though he looks up to you. Kate too, and she is not afraid of anything.”
That was interesting. “First, watch your mouth, child. Second, what makes you think Kate is scared of me.”
“Screw you, I am not a child and you are not the boss of me. She said you broke into her house and stole things.”
I crossed my arms on my chest. The last thing I wanted to do is to explain the mating rituals to a human girl. ”I am the Beast Lord, not a thief or burglar.”
“You took a pie. Why would you do that? Don’t you have whatever, servants, who cook for you? Kate doesn’t have a lot of money, why would you steal her food?”
“That is adult business; I will not explain myself to a child.”
“It was an asshole thing to do.”
I choked back a snarl. “Little girl, I am not going to warn you again, do not speak to me like that again…”
“Or what?”
She had me there. As pissed off as I was, there were lines I would not cross. I would not harm a child. Ever.
I had to take a deep breath and step away from the ledge. Persuade her. Be reasonable. I could do reasonable.
“Look, Julie, I am trying to be a nice guy. I’ve asked you nicely to release me. I could break out of here, but you would not like that, I promise you. That would be scary and loud, and nobody wants that sort of thing. This is the last time I am going to ask you. Please free me before I do get angry and do something we will both regret.”
“You’re doing it right now. I’m not stupid. I know you are mad and I know that if I let you out you’ll hurt me and try to make me tell you where Kate is.”
“No. I don’t hurt little human kittens. Never have and never will. I give you my word.”
She looked at me, thinking about it.
I leaned forward. “I know where Kate is and why, but I don’t know why she left me in this cage. I would not hurt her and she knows that.”
I broke into her place, I kissed her, I’ve indulged her beyond what any of my people could get away with. Any sane woman at this point would know where we stood. I would never harm Kate. I might roar and threaten, and I might even pounce when occasion called for it, but she knew damn well that no violence would follow.
But then again, we were talking about Kate. Nothing was sane about Kate. That’s why I was sitting in a loup cage, trying to reassure a frightened child that I would not rip her to pieces.
Julie drew her knees to her chest. The kid looked like she never ate. A stiff wind might knock her over. “Kate thinks she has to save everybody, duh.”
“Who is she saving by keeping me in here, Julie?”
“Her friends and you from having to hurt them. She knows you will feel bad if you do.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
She paused for a moment and then continued slowly, “She knows you’re pissed and you will do your Lion King thing, punishing them for…” She paused considering her words. “Disobeying you. You will regret it when you calm down but then it will be too late. Dead is dead.”
“Why would she think that I would regret it?” I was actually curious. Also what the hell was my “Lion King thing?”
“Cause she likes you and believes that you’re a good guy.”
“She said that?” A good guy, huh.
“No, but I can tell. The way she looks, when she talks about you.”
Getting more interesting by the second. “Looks like what?”
“She looked the way my mom used to when she talked about my dad. And they are dead now.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Everybody always says that, but it doesn’t mean anything. It’s like saying hello or something.”
“It means something,” I told her. “My parents are dead too, and I was about your age when I lost them.”
Julie looked like she was about to cry and waved her arms. “Whatever. Look, I’m not stupid. I know things! Adult things.”
“Like what?”
“Like sex. I know about sex.”
I just stared at her. I wasn’t opening that can of worms.
“The point is, she likes you. She likes you – likes you. She was going to kill Derek for you, if he went loup, so you didn’t have to do it.”
Now it started to make sense. So that was what all of this was about, Derek was Jim’s responsibility and both Jim and Derek fucked up royally. Now Kate was caught up in this mess. In her mind she was as accountable for the boy as we were. Derek had come to her for help and she had been unable to refuse. Unfortunately it had all gone to hell as things tend to in our world and the kid had gotten hurt bad. Now she blamed herself and the only thing she could do was to go all in and hope for the best. She took it all on herself, as an alpha would do. I had to give her credit for trying to see this thing through to the end, but it should have been me. It was my job to know what was going on, to save, to protect, and to kill when there was no other way, and I dropped the ball.
I couldn’t undo the damage but I could step up and take charge. I could make sure that while there was breath in my body, not another of my people would be harmed. Whether or not she knew it, Kate was mine now and I would save her or die trying. That is what I do, I am the Beast Lord. I stood and locked eyes with the girl.
“Julie, if you release me, I swear that I will not harm you, Kate, or any of my people.”
“Will you help them, in the games?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Even Derek?”
“What?” What could I do for him that Doolittle could not?
“He is with them, fighting the creatures who hurt him. He is very brave.”
Damn idiot. “Yes, but foolish as well.” I wonder if she knows the whole story?
Julie grimaced. “Yeah, I know. It’s about the girl. I will take care of her later, but I need you to promise about the others.”
“Julie, I give you my word, I will do everything in my power to help our friends and punish our enemies.”
She let out a breath she had been holding and smiled finally.
“Ok, deal.”
Thanks Gordon (and Ilona and Kids too!)
Merry Christmas, hope your day is awesome!!
Erika and Family
Julie will make a dandy heroine when she grows up, no?
Thanks so much for the great Xmas present. I hope you get something just as cool!
Wow, what a great Christmas present! Thank you and Merry Christmas to you all.
Thank you, thank you!
Thank you for this gift!
I’m in Texas with my family visiting relatives and my Christmas gifts- books, naturally- are back home under the tree. This is a wonderful addition.
My husband and I are the happy owners of 2 big male bullmastiffs, Duncan and Leo. One day, I’m going to have one named Curran.
I like the mastiffs, we have a Cane Corso named Luka Brasi, I am told he looks very much like a bullmastiff. He is big and dumb and loyal. If we get a place in Canada or out west, I would like to have a pack of them. Your welcome and Merry Xmas to you and your Texas clan.
Luka’s face looks just like my Leo’s face. And, Leo, too, is big and dumb, but sweet. He follows me everywhere. He’s presently in the kennel and not happy about it. Fortunately, he has Duncan for company. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
THAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANK UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!
Best xmas gift ever!
Wonderful Christms gift, that! Hope you and yours have many wonderful blessings today!
Thank you Gordon!
Merry Christmas to you, Ilona and your kids
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I finished re-reading all three Kate Daniel’s books this week, so this was a treat. I actually did a little happy dance when I saw this post was up today!
What a good Christmas present. Thank you!!:)
Yay, Julie! Thanks so much and Merry Christmas, guys!
Merry Christmas to me! Thanks so much!
Hope y’all had a great holiday!
Thank you !!!! Awesome as always. Love reading Currans thoughts. Merry Christmas!!
Merry Christmas! THANKS FOR AWESOME X-Mas gift! Curran rules!!
wow…. a lovely surprise for the end of the Christmas day….
Thanks so much for Curran’s POV. I hope you had a Merry Christmas.
Thank you for the perfect ending to this Christmas day. *blissful smile*
Curran POVs rock. And so do you guys.
Probably mirroring all of the above, but I have to be quick, we’re leaving for another family-get together soon
THANK YOU! That was totally awesome! I suppose there’s no part3 coming…?
Have a very merry Christmas (or what’s left of it) and have lots of fun in your free time
Merry Christmas!! Thank you Gordon for POVs!! It was fab as aways, I wish there is more. Julie rocks, lion king comment is gold! Awesome job!!
It’s a cold snowy Boxing Day in UK, my family are working and I’m the lucky one reading about Curran how unfair and delightful is that!
Saw ‘ The Lion, the Witch etc ‘ the other day, Our Lion is better than that lion. Is that a very BAD thing to think at Christmas?
Many thanks for the perfect books and happiness for 2010
thank you! i was bemoaning the fact that i didn’t get any books for christmas (possibly because i have bought all the ones i want as quick as I see them and therefore no new books i desperately want til next year!). then i found this! now i have much happiness added to much stomach stretching. curran’s such a man…of course kate must know he wouldn’t hurt her, of course she’s intimately familiar with the shapeshifter mating rituals…silly silly. haha “i know about sex”. classic.
merry christmas to all of you!
As Raine said it is Boxing Day in the UK, and I have finished all the cleaning up after Christmas Day and I finally get to sit down and relax and read my favourite blog and I get this lovely extra Curran POV to read, thank you Gordon.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone.
I discovered your books right around the 15th of the month. Have already read all 4 of them twice, and just when I thought I would have to wait for the next installment there is this lovely Christmas gift. THANK YOU. One of the things that make first person narratives so wonderful is you only know what the main character knows. One of the terrible things about first person narratives is you only know what the main protagonist knows. These snippets let us keep the mystery, while also getting a little insight into what that silly male is thinking. (By the way, your books also made lovely gifts for my friends who read)
Merry Christmas!!!!!
Thank you sooo much for the POV, they are a present all by themselves!!!
Kate and Curran are by far my fav characters in all my books.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Merry Christmas and thanks for the fantastic Curran POV it was a wonderful surprise
I hope you and your family have had a lovely Christmas and have an excellent New Year as well.
Thanks again for the POV Gordon, it’s fantastic.
OOOOOh Thank you Gordon for that AWESOME pov! I hope your family had a wonderful Christmas
Ahh damn work. I’m so late to reading this because of it, but this POV is awesome and made a crappy day much better!
Merry Yuletide and all that jazz.
Love this…I ran across this wallpaper and immediately thought of Curran…http://img2.socwall.com/Creatures/Animals/200830115639-11054.jpg
awesome picture
YAY!!! More Curran, More Curran! Thank you!
“I’ll deal with her later” ? Hah! Kid’s got moxie.
Thank you for the early X-mas gift, even though I’m writing this after the fact! I just love Curran’s POV! Julie is too cute, and I really enjoyed this snippet! Happy Holidays!
Thank you!!! It was so engrossing, I ended up missing a good chuck of the chase scene from The Italian Job (with Edward Norton)–one of my favorites. ^^
Huge fan! My friend got me to read Kate Daniels series and I’m hooked. I love this POV on Curran and Julie. His character is so enigmatic. I think its the word I want…
This ads more fire to what happens at the beginning of book 4.I can’t wait to read it!
Happy New Year from your newest fan
Love the POV, love the characters, love the books…just thought that I’d point out that this snippet doesn’t follow the timeline of book 3…Julie couldn’t have known he ate the apple pie since Kate didn’t know til the last page. The only reason I know this is because I’ve read the book like six times since it’s my favorite of all time.
Still love the snippets. Thanks for providing them.
Thank you for sharing!
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
Looking forward to MAGIC BLEEDS with a bittersweet feeling. On the one hand I am glad Curran has feelings for Kate and to have confirmation from me about it. On the other hand considering what has been revealed so far in the first three books; I also realize there is the chance Curran and Kate will not end up together… Either way, I’m looking forward the 4th installment of the series.
thank you so much for this!!! i can’t wait for magic bleeds and have been forced to re-reading bites, burns and strikes (not that i can complain!).
It was so great to get my first newsletter (I just signed up) and it contained this!!
I’m DYING for the next installment of Kate and Curran.
It’s very good but I have a question. “quiet and careful despite the dim and unfamiliar surroundings” Wouldn’t you be careful and quiet in dim and unfamiliar surroundings?
Lovely way to start the new year! Thank you, thank you, thank you. May can’t get here soon enough! But, um, maybe some rather fine authors might give another Curran POV to get us through the next 5 months? ;-D
My best to your family for 2010 – Cheers!
omg I can’t wait. i love love this series. and sounds like I am really going to like Julie.
ooooooo!!! I love it!!
Yes Bravo !!!!
That was so much fun! I knew I loved Julie…she stands her ground, is smart and observant and has big cajones, she is Kate’s kid all the way! Thank you for the POV, I love getting into Curran’s head. It surprises me because when I read the books I forget that Curran is very much the alpha lion as well as human. This will help when I reread the books. Thank you!
Curran is the best!
Magic Bleeds can’t come soon enough!
OMG I’m love this!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! What a great present!!! =) Can’t wait to read more about Curran’s POV!!!
Love it! Thanks Ilona/Gordon!
Christmas has passed but it had made my night…. Thanks for the insight…. can’t wait for book 4….
I love reading this again and again.
“best not crazy voice”
Hee hee hee.
These curran POV’s are really wonderful, thank you both! Can I ask though, where is part one posted? I can’t seem to find it.
Thanks