“That’s a hell of a proposal.”

“What did he say?” Astamur asked.

“He wants me to marry him.”

Astamur relayed it. Atsany waved his pipe and Astamur translated back. Ha!

“What?” Curran snarled.

“Atsany says you’re not ready for marriage. You don’t have the right temperament for it.”

Curran struggled with that for a second.

“Let me know if your head’s going to explode, so I can duck.”

“We’re not married because every time I bring up marriage or children, you freak the hell out.”

“I don’t!”

“Three weeks ago I asked you if you wanted to have kids. You looked like you were ready to bolt.”

“I had just come from watching a child go loup for hours while trying to comfort her mother.” I waved my arms. “You know what, you’re right. Let’s have kids. Let’s have a brood of them. And when my asshole father comes through Atlanta burning it to the ground, we’ll both cry together as they die. Or worse, maybe our kids will be human.” I put my hand on my chest. “Heaven forbid.”

“Really? Human? What am I?” he snarled.

Ouch. “You’re a special snowflake, that’s what you are.” I mimicked Lorelei. “But they can never join you on a hunt. What torture . . .”

He stepped forward. “We’ve been together a year. How many times have you seen me hunt?”

Umm.

“How many times, Kate?”

“None.”

“That’s because I don’t hunt. I’m a male lion. I weigh six hundred pounds. Do you really expect me to scamper through the brush after deer? When I want a steak, I want a damn steak. I don’t want to chase it around the woods for two hours and then eat it raw. I have food brought to me, and the only time I get off my ass is when something threatens the Pack. I’ve been on exactly one hunt in the last three years. I went because I had to go, and once they ran off, I found a nice warm rock and had myself a nap in the sun. Do you know when the last time I really had to hunt to survive was? After my parents died. Until Mahon found me half-starved.”

I stared at him.