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Don t, Pinkie, he cautioned in a low, steady growl. Stay where you are.
She didn t listen.
He felt her arms wrap around his waist, her chest pressing into his back. Craig approached me
shortly after my parents died. I met with him a few times and accepted the information he offered but
when I got a bad vibe I decided that whatever it was he wanted it wasn t worth the risk. Then Thomas
stole something I treasured and sold it to Craig to pay off a gambling debt. Diskant s anger receded
as she continued speaking, her fingers gently stroking his chest. I made a deal to get it back but the
meeting never happened.
Why?
She released him, stepped around and placed her body between him and the wall. Gazing up, she
rested her hand on his chest, over his heart. The frantic tempo immediately slowed beneath her palm
and the tension left his body, causing the muscles under her fingers to go soft.
The night I was supposed to meet with his liaison was the night I met you the night you saved me.
The next morning, after I left your home& She shook her head, as if embarrassed by the memory and
her decision to leave him high and dry. I told Craig I was done. He tried to contact me but I threw
away the phone he d given me and refused to take his calls at the club.
He brought a hand up and placed it over hers. What does he want?
I don t know but whatever it is, it s not good. He knows that vampires attacked me that night in the
alley. Diskant s hackles rose at the memory and when he growled softly she soothed him by rubbing
her hand over his chest. There s something he s not telling me. Something important. I tried to get
him to talk but he wants to arrange a meeting with you before he ll spill.
Diskant studied his mate s pensive face. Meeting with the Villati would cause an unavoidable shit
storm. For the most part shifters had managed to fly below the radar and keep their secrets secret. It
was too dangerous to have mortals sniffing around, especially when they liked to record things to
pass down through the generations. That could very well change depending on what Craig Newlander
wanted.
It s okay. She finally broke the awkward silence. We don t have to meet him.
He brought his hands to her hips and tugged her into his arms, keeping her close. Concern for her
safety overrode everything else. If the bastard knew something important concerning his mate, he had
to know what it was. Ava wasn t a shifter and could be easily harmed. Since vampires were involved
it was likely he would need to be on the offensive, keeping one step ahead.
As soon as this thing with Emory is done I ll make all of the arrangements. I don t want you to worry
about anything. From now on I take care of you.
I don t want to be any trouble.
Never. He cupped her chin and held her gaze. It s my right and privilege to see to your needs.
She smiled wistfully. Privilege, huh?
Damn straight.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, pressed her face into his chest and sagged in his embrace.
Then he sensed her exhaustion. She was hungry, she was tired and she needed a good night s rest. The
bloodbonding was in full swing now. Soon she d notice the changes that indicated she was bonded to
a shifter. Sex was just the icing on the cake when you had enhanced strength, reflexes and longevity to
look forward to.
I m going to go downstairs to get you something to eat. Dougan keeps the kitchen stocked so I m sure
I can find you something you ll like.
I ll go with you, she murmured into his shirt, nuzzling him affectionately. The cat in him
reciprocated the amorous display, rising to the surface as he brushed his chin over the top of her head
and inhaled deeply, drawing her sweet, feminine fragrance into his nose.
Shifting his arms around her midsection, he turned her in his arms and started walking to the door.
They traveled down the stairs like a couple of infatuated teenagers, sneaking kisses at each floor.
When they made it to the final hallway he kept her exactly as she was her back to his chest, her head
beneath his chin and grinned at the amused expressions of the pack members as they moved aside,
giddy from Ava s giggling as she wriggled back against his ever-growing hard-on.
Glancing to the left, he noted that Trey, Emory and Nathan were seated in the booth with an empty
pizza pan between them. Another pizza was placed alongside the cleared tray, the steam rising from
the cheesy surface indicting the kitchen was hard at work.
They came to the large double doors behind the bar and went through. As Diskant expected, several
females were busy preparing meals for the pack. Most had traveled from their nearby homes to see to
the needs of their brethren, including those who were still too young to mate. The moment they saw
him and Ava, all activity stopped.
The women with prepared food brought the trays forward, bowed their heads and lowered their
gazes. He waited for Ava to choose what she wanted but realized she had no idea how profound the
gesture was.
Bending at the waist, Diskant put his mouth to his mate s ear. They re showing their respect, Ava.
Now that we are mated you command the same power within the pack that I do. They won t eat or
serve anyone else until we ve chosen our meal. Releasing her, he lowered his arms and stepped
back. Choose what you d like.
It wasn t a normal introduction and for a moment he thought she d hesitate, which wouldn t have been
a good thing. Respect in a pack was garnered from power, control and confidence. Without those
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