Page 2 of Pleasured by the Panther (The Monstrum Kindred)
HANNA
“Hanna Slocum ,” the Monstrum priestess called “ Grandmother Tigris ,” who was calling the draftees, said again.
“ Rise and present yourself—you are called as a bride.” Her voice was surprisingly strong, considering how old she looked.
Her fur had faded, and her body was bent, but her golden eyes were still sharp as she scanned the audience, looking for Hanna .
Poor Hanna was about to hyperventilate. She was gripping her purse so hard Miranda thought she was in danger of tearing it in two.
This kind of thing had always been her worst nightmare—being called to be the center of attention in the middle of a crowd.
Once in elementary school, she’d been forced by her teacher to participate in the school spelling bee because she was an excellent speller.
Hanna had begged not to be included, but the teacher had bullied her into it.
And then, of course, when she’d been called on to spell a word, she’d fainted dead away.
Miranda had been called at work, and when the situation was explained, she’d gotten extremely angry.
“You know my daughter has extreme stage fright—she begged you not to make her be in that Spelling Bee . You shouldn’t have forced her to participate!
” she’d told the teacher. She’d gotten Hanna moved to a new class with a more understanding teacher after that, and the rest of the year had gone smoothly.
She had always been protective of her introverted daughter, and now was no exception.
“It’s okay, honey— I’ll take care of it,” she whispered.
“No, I should…should talk for myself,” Hanna whispered back. But she was already looking pale and sick— Miranda didn’t want her fainting and hitting her head right before the wedding.
“No, I’ve got it,” she said quickly.
Then she rose and raised her voice.
“Excuse me— I’m Hanna’s mother, here to speak on her behalf,” she began. “ I’m afraid there’s been a mistake. You see, Hanna is engaged to be married. She forgot to take her name out of the Draft , but the wedding is tomorrow so?—”
“There are no excuses allowed.” The ancient Monstrum priestess glared at her. “ Her name has been called and she must come and be matched with the warrior who called her!”
“What?” Hanna’s voice was little more than a squeak as she looked up at Miranda in abject terror. “ Please — I can’t … what will Bradley say if I go up to that Mother Ship with a strange Monstrum for a month and miss our wedding? He’ll never forgive me!”
Unfortunately, Miranda thought she was probably right.
Though she liked her future son-in-law well enough, he was extremely straight-laced.
He probably wouldn’t forgive Hanna spending a month with a seven-foot-tall Monstrum Warrior even if nothing happened between them.
And besides, the wedding was already paid for and the caterers were booked!
“She can’t come,” Miranda said flatly. “ She’s engaged and about to be married. I can give you the details if you want—you can call the caterers or the DJ or the photographer we hired to verify what I’m saying, but my daughter is not free to be called as a Monstrum bride.”
The old priestess drew herself up.
“I have told you, there are no excuses! Your daughter should have withdrawn herself from our Draft if she did not wish to come to the Monstrum Mother Ship . You must?—”
Just then, the panther Monstrum Miranda had been studying earlier came up and murmured something in the priestess’s ear.
“Eh? What’s that you say?” The old priestess turned to him, frowning. “ Are you certain?”
The panther Monstrum nodded firmly and said something too low for Mirdanda to hear.
“Very well, then.” The priestess nodded and turned back to speak into the microphone again. “ We have an offer for you—what is your name?” she asked, frowning at Miranda .
“Miranda Slocum .” She wished she’d gotten it changed back to her maiden name of Whitaker , but for now, she was still stuck with her married name. “ I’m Hanna’s mother,” she repeated, for clarity.
“Well, well, Miranda Slocum —the Monstrum warrior who called Hanna is willing to make a deal. He’ll take you instead of your daughter, so he says,” the priestess told her.
Miranda was certain she’d misheard her.
“Excuse me?” she asked, frowning. “ What ?”
“This Warrior here.” The priestess nodded at the Panther Monstrum . “ Says that so long as you have no male who claims you, he’ll make a trade. You for your daughter. What say you?”
“I…um…” Miranda didn’t know how to respond. She looked down at her daughter, who was weeping now—tears running down her blotchy cheeks.
“Mom, no— I can’t lose you!” she whispered through her tears. “ Especially not right before the wedding— I need you!”
“I know, sweetheart, but we don’t seem to have much of a choice,” Miranda murmured. She looked up at the Panther Monstrum and the priestess, who were both staring at her.
“Well? Who’s it to be?” the priestess demanded. “ We don’t have all day—there are many matches to make! You or your daughter—make up your mind!”
“Me,” Miranda blurted, because what else could she say? “ I’ll come—just let my daughter go home.”
“Mom—no!” Hanna grabbed her hand.
“Honey, I have to. I’m sorry if I end up missing the wedding, but it’s better than you missing it—you’re the bride!” Miranda squeezed her hand comfortingly. “ I have to go now. I’m sorry.”
And leaving her daughter pale and weeping in her seat, she walked slowly down the row of chairs and up to the front of the ballroom where the massive Monstrum waited for her.