demon.”
Marcus didn’t respond that that was his problem not Mitchell’s but he wanted to, wanted to hang a flashing neon sign over her head announcing who she belonged to. He was through playing around. The lupine was waiting for a response but Marcus didn’t intend to give him the satisfaction of a reply. Finally, he shrugged.
“If you hurt her, I’ll shred you,” the wolf said softly enough none of the other sharp ears in the courtyard would pick up the words. Marcus smiled, feeling exhilarated, more alive than he’d felt in years. He wasn’t worried. Mitchell knew what he could do in retaliation. The lupine laughed softly, shaking his head. His tone was wry. “I guess we understand each other.”
“Not exactly.” Marcus grew serious again. He knew there were going to be men around her, knew she wouldn’t give up her position as commander if he asked, knew she wouldn’t stay away from Mitchell even if he ordered her to. He was afraid of what he might be capable of if she disobeyed him. “Stay away from her. You’ve had your last sparring match.”
“Impossible,” he replied with narrowed eyes. He added sarcastically, “I’m part of your little task force for one thing.”
Marcus opened his mouth to reply, to tell him to substitute one of his people for his place, but the lupine went on before he could get the words out.
“It’ll be me and Baron. That’s non-negotiable. We don’t trust you. You don’t trust us.”
Marcus knew he was right, but hated like hell to admit it. That was why he and Luke would be handling it themselves, with Kadall, one of Luke’s most trusted soldiers.
“And the sparring? Take that up with her. I have no intention of stopping.”
Marcus felt his control slipping, felt his mind beginning to expand. The lupine felt it too. He didn’t budge, his stance still as aggressive as always, but his eyes widened, wariness stamped across his face.
“We’ve been at peace for fifty years, wolf.” And he didn’t mind blowing it over a woman, his woman, but he was also responsible for the welfare of every nightwalker in the area. He struggled for control. “Are you ready to ruin it over a woman who isn’t even yours?”
He watched as Mitchell struggled with what he knew was the right course and his instinct to assert his dominance. Antagonizing a nightwalker was probably a bonus. Marcus forced the tension from his body, striving for perfect control.
“I’m putting a stop to the fighting. Don’t get in my way. You’d react the same way if the situation were reversed.”
Mitchell shoved a hand through his short-cropped hair and his features relaxed. That slightly self-mocking tone was back in his voice when he spoke. “You people are as bad as us during the mating hunt.”
It wasn’t a question so Marcus didn’t reply. He wouldn’t have anyway. Nightwalkers were not fully in control of themselves, of their powers while pursuing their mates. They were dangerous, but exactly how unsafe they kept to themselves.
He should tell Winter, warn her, but he wasn’t sure that she wouldn’t try to take off. She saw herself as a strong independent woman and she was, but he lived inside her. He knew her secret heart, her most secret desires, and he had every intention of giving them all to her. Getting her to accept that she could submit to him and still be the same forceful person with everyone would be the trick.
Tonight. He’d start tonight.
Chapter Fourteen
Gia gritted her teeth as she felt Luke push at her shields again and looked around trying to spot him. He was deep in conversation with Brady, one of the Order’s historians, but jerked his head over to meet her gaze. She felt hunted. No, that wasn’t right. The hunt was over; she was pinned, trapped. How could she have let this happen?
She wrenched her gaze away and concentrated on helping Winter, but that was wince-inducing too. She shouldn’t have been so secretive about Luke with Winter. Mostly because
Marcus didn’t respond that that was his problem not Mitchell’s but he wanted to, wanted to hang a flashing neon sign over her head announcing who she belonged to. He was through playing around. The lupine was waiting for a response but Marcus didn’t intend to give him the satisfaction of a reply. Finally, he shrugged.
“If you hurt her, I’ll shred you,” the wolf said softly enough none of the other sharp ears in the courtyard would pick up the words. Marcus smiled, feeling exhilarated, more alive than he’d felt in years. He wasn’t worried. Mitchell knew what he could do in retaliation. The lupine laughed softly, shaking his head. His tone was wry. “I guess we understand each other.”
“Not exactly.” Marcus grew serious again. He knew there were going to be men around her, knew she wouldn’t give up her position as commander if he asked, knew she wouldn’t stay away from Mitchell even if he ordered her to. He was afraid of what he might be capable of if she disobeyed him. “Stay away from her. You’ve had your last sparring match.”
“Impossible,” he replied with narrowed eyes. He added sarcastically, “I’m part of your little task force for one thing.”
Marcus opened his mouth to reply, to tell him to substitute one of his people for his place, but the lupine went on before he could get the words out.
“It’ll be me and Baron. That’s non-negotiable. We don’t trust you. You don’t trust us.”
Marcus knew he was right, but hated like hell to admit it. That was why he and Luke would be handling it themselves, with Kadall, one of Luke’s most trusted soldiers.
“And the sparring? Take that up with her. I have no intention of stopping.”
Marcus felt his control slipping, felt his mind beginning to expand. The lupine felt it too. He didn’t budge, his stance still as aggressive as always, but his eyes widened, wariness stamped across his face.
“We’ve been at peace for fifty years, wolf.” And he didn’t mind blowing it over a woman, his woman, but he was also responsible for the welfare of every nightwalker in the area. He struggled for control. “Are you ready to ruin it over a woman who isn’t even yours?”
He watched as Mitchell struggled with what he knew was the right course and his instinct to assert his dominance. Antagonizing a nightwalker was probably a bonus. Marcus forced the tension from his body, striving for perfect control.
“I’m putting a stop to the fighting. Don’t get in my way. You’d react the same way if the situation were reversed.”
Mitchell shoved a hand through his short-cropped hair and his features relaxed. That slightly self-mocking tone was back in his voice when he spoke. “You people are as bad as us during the mating hunt.”
It wasn’t a question so Marcus didn’t reply. He wouldn’t have anyway. Nightwalkers were not fully in control of themselves, of their powers while pursuing their mates. They were dangerous, but exactly how unsafe they kept to themselves.
He should tell Winter, warn her, but he wasn’t sure that she wouldn’t try to take off. She saw herself as a strong independent woman and she was, but he lived inside her. He knew her secret heart, her most secret desires, and he had every intention of giving them all to her. Getting her to accept that she could submit to him and still be the same forceful person with everyone would be the trick.
Tonight. He’d start tonight.
Chapter Fourteen
Gia gritted her teeth as she felt Luke push at her shields again and looked around trying to spot him. He was deep in conversation with Brady, one of the Order’s historians, but jerked his head over to meet her gaze. She felt hunted. No, that wasn’t right. The hunt was over; she was pinned, trapped. How could she have let this happen?
She wrenched her gaze away and concentrated on helping Winter, but that was wince-inducing too. She shouldn’t have been so secretive about Luke with Winter. Mostly because
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