Tucking Marius in more snugly, Rat gently extracted the little hand from his shirt and tucked it into the cat's scruff.

Supper for Marius and coffee (probably spiked) for him. But not before he ran his fingertips through fine red curls. Whatever else was going on, he wasn't going to let a child get hurt. Especially not when he had the unfair advantage and he knew how little love Marius had had.