“Why don’t you go back to your room and rest?” Jinx suggested to Ashley. “Summer will call you when Claire wakes, and maybe you can try visiting her then.”
Ashley’s mate wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Ash, they’re right. This isn’t doing any good right now. Come on.” With some reluctance on her part, he led her from the room. After the door shut behind them, Summer turned to Tex. “Are you honestly suggesting I become a surrogate mother to her?”
“From the looks of it, you already have.” Tex nodded at the girl’s grip around Summer’s neck.
Ben stepped closer, coming to her other side. “As Tex said before, what choice do we have? Claire needs someone and right now that has to be you.”
She looked at Jinx, hoping he’d throw in some logic as to why she couldn’t do it. Instead he agreed. “Mate, I believe you’ve just become a mother. Congratulations.”
“How can you take this lightly?”
“What would you like me to do? Rant and rave?” He slipped his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Lass, you must know that isn’t my way. I wouldn’t toss Claire out into the world of hungry tigers alone.”
She leaned against the arm of the sofa. “This is all too sudden.”
“One step at a time.” Jinx grabbed the crocheted blanket from the ground and stepped closer. Claire’s grip tightened on Summer’s neck. “Little lass, I mean you no harm.” He tucked the blanket around her. “Let’s use my suite. There’s enough room that we can add a cot. You can get her cleaned up and I’ll see about food.”
Ben cleared his throat from where he stood across the room. “I’ll see about the food. You stay with them until we can get someone else to.” When everyone turned to him, he glanced at his sister and added, “I don’t think Ashley’s going to give up. Claire is the only family she has left, and a pregnant tigress is unruly. I just want you both safe.”
“I believe this brings us to another topic.” Jinx looked from each of them before his gaze finally settled on Tex. “With your permission, now that our mating is official, I’d like to fly in Elder guards for Summer and Claire.”
“With the state of the clan, I believe that would be wise,” Tex agreed. “However, I ask that you keep it to four guards. Any more might have some of the clan on edge, more so than they already are.”
“Wait a moment, don’t I get any say in this?” Summer asked.
“No,” Jinx and Ben said without even bothering to look at her.
“See that, Claire?” Summer peeked down at the little girl’s dirty face. “That is your first lesson on not giving men power. They’ll try to rule you into submission.” She smoothed her hand over the girl’s back. “Come on, love, let’s get you cleaned up while Ben finds you something to eat.” She glanced over at her brother. “Ben, do you think you can rustle up some pizza with pepperoni for us? It’s her favorite.”
“Us?” he teased. “I only offered to get it for the little girl who stole my heart with her tears.”
With a roll of her eyes, Summer strolled from the room. Ben was always a ladies’ man when there wasn’t any danger, and he’d been trying to win Claire over. From the way she moved to look at him, Summer had a feeling it was working.
* * *
Summer sat on the edge of the cot, tucking Claire in. The sleepy little girl clung to a stuffed tiger Ben had bribed her with so he could get the filthy blanket she’d held onto. Looking down at the sweet face, she couldn’t understand how Cliff could run off and leave her behind. He had to have known the state she’d be in when they released her from the cell she’d been in since she was born.
“You okay?” Jinx came up behind her and rubbed her shoulders.
“How do you just leave a child behind?”
“Our kind has always done it. Normally it’s not until they’re older and can take care of themselves. In the states we have adapted to their ways and wait until the child reaches adulthood—eighteen—but in other countries the children are younger. Mind you, none as young as Claire, but some parents don’t care. Look at humans, they do it too, and sometimes worse things.”
Seeking comfort, she reached up, laying her hand over his. “She’s so innocent.”
“Lass, there’s nothing I can say that will make this right or even easier, but you’re that little girl’s only hope.” He squeezed her shoulders gently. “Ashley wants her because she feels it’s her duty, but there’s no bond there. Claire needs you now more than ever.”