Horizon Ridge And I know that you miss him, the way he used to listen

The shame she felt at his admonition stoked the embers of her temper. Had she been any younger, she would have lost herself in it. They hadn't known each other well, but she had always been a firecracker; maybe he would even be expecting some misbehavior.

But it had been a year and a half since her departure, and Vixen had grown up. I didn' mean to greet you like that, she said, only a fraction of her indignance creeping into her tone as she straightened her posture from her defensive curl into something resembling a neutral stance. It's that damn bear that's got me all riled up. Even now, standing in front of Etienne, she couldn't smell Sapphique on him. She couldn't smell anything on him. It was all bear.

She cast a glance back at Raelle, grateful for her presence — she trusted Etienne, but it was better for them to be together, given the circumstances.