Kate Daniels 02 - Magic Burns

it. Getting weak in the knees.”
    Raphael took a step back. His face took on the same concerned look I saw on Doolittle when I assured him I was fine. “Two years? That’s entirely too long. If you want, we can take care of that. After two years, it’s pure therapy.”
    â€œNo thank you. Curran already offered to help me with that problem, and since I turned him down, I wouldn’t want to cause any friction between you two.” The last thing I needed was to set Curran and the hyenas on a collision course.
    Raphael backed away with his hands in the air, strategically positioning himself behind Andrea. “No offense.”
    â€œNone taken.”
    â€œIs Curran serious?” Aunt B asked.
    She wanted to know if she now had to walk on eggshells around me. For once, I was happy to disappoint. “No, he’s just being an asshole. Apparently every time he calls me ‘baby,’ I look like a red-hot poker is stuck up my butt. Causes him no end of fun.” I drank my tea.
    Aunt B gave me an odd look. “You know,” she said, stirring her tea, “the fastest way to get him off your back is to sleep with him. And tell him you love him. Preferably while in bed.”
    I smirked and the tea almost came out of my nose. “He’d run like he was on fire.”
    Raphael rested his hands on Andrea’s shoulders. “Still a bit tense?” His fingers began to gently knead her muscles.
    â€œWill you do it?” Aunt B gazed at me over the rim of her cup.
    â€œNot while I’m alive, no. Wait, I take it back. That should be ‘hell no.’”
    â€œHas he invited you to dinner, dear? Gifts, flowers, the usual?”
    I had to put my cup down, because my hand was shaking too much. When I stopped laughing, I said, “Curran? He isn’t exactly Mr. Smooth. He handed me a bowl of soup, that’s as far as we got.”
    â€œHe fed you?” Raphael stopped rubbing Andrea.
    â€œHow did this happen?” Aunt B stared at me. “Be very precise, this is important.”
    â€œHe didn’t actually feed me. I was injured and he handed me a bowl of chicken soup. Actually I think he handed me two or three. And he called me an idiot.”
    â€œDid you accept?” Aunt B asked.
    â€œYes. I was starving. Why are the three of you looking at me like that?”
    â€œFor crying out loud.” Andrea set her cup down, spilling some tea. “The Beast Lord’s feeding you soup. Think about that for a second.”
    Raphael coughed. Aunt B leaned forward. “Was there anybody else in the room?”
    â€œNo. He chased everyone out.”
    Raphael nodded. “At least he hasn’t gone public yet.”
    â€œHe might never,” Andrea said. “It would jeopardize her position with the Order.”
    Aunt B’s face was grave. “It doesn’t go past this room. You hear me, Raphael? No gossip, no pillow talk, not a word. We don’t want any trouble with Curran.”
    â€œIf you don’t explain it all to me, I will strangle somebody.” Of course, Raphael might like that…
    â€œFood has a special significance,” Aunt B said.
    I nodded. “Food indicates hierarchy. Nobody eats before the alpha, unless permission is given, and no alpha eats in Curran’s presence until Curran takes a bite.”
    â€œThere is more,” Aunt B said. “Animals express love through food. When a cat loves you, he’ll leave dead mice on your porch, because you’re a lousy hunter and he wants to take care of you. When a shapeshifter boy likes a girl, he’ll bring her food and if she likes him back, she might make him lunch. When Curran wants to show interest in a woman, he buys her dinner.”
    â€œIn public,” Raphael added, “the shapeshifter fathers always put the first bite on the plates of their wives and children. It signals that if someone wants to challenge the wife or the child, they would have to challenge the male first.”
    â€œIf you put all of Curran’s girls together, you could have a parade,” Aunt B said. “But I’ve never seen him physically put food into a woman’s hands. He’s a very private man, so he might have done it in an intimate moment, but I would’ve found out eventually. Something like that doesn’t stay hidden in the Keep. Do you understand now? That’s a sign of a very serious interest,