Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121389 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 486(@250wpm)___ 405(@300wpm)
One of Lucas Hunter’s cats.
Chapter 28
A Mercant’s fidelity, once given, is a thing of stone. It cannot be cracked or warped except by an act of conscious malice from the other party. There are some who call us foolish for risking it all for those to whom we are loyal—but we are incapable of half measures. That is why we give our loyalty so rarely.
—Lord Deryn Mercant (circa 1510)
IVAN’S HANDS FISTED where he had his arms crossed over his chest, a hollow ache inside him. He didn’t know the mechanics of what had just happened, but he’d felt a psychic bond shimmer into place when blood met blood.
Alpha to healer. Healer to alpha.
Grandmother would be very interested in this … but he wasn’t going to tell her. This belonged to Soleil, a private and personal moment that he’d been permitted to witness because she trusted him.
He swallowed hard, hoarding yet another treasure in the box of memories he’d take with him into the cage that was his destiny. Jealousy ran hot red through his veins, warring with his relief that she’d be safe now, even when he couldn’t watch over her. He should be more evolved, a better man, but part of him was still that little boy who’d never had anything of his own.
Yet even that little boy would choose safety for Soleil over his own need.
As he watched, Lucas took a soft disposable towel that the older woman in the room had dampened with water and used it to wipe Soleil’s cheek clean. Ivan noticed that whereas Soleil’s scar had begun to seal over, the one on Lucas’s hand stayed fresh.
After getting rid of the biodegradable towel in the trash receptable meant for such items, and washing the blood off his own hand, Lucas turned, hands on his hips, and Ivan got the full attention of his eyes. But instead of speaking to him, the alpha frowned and glanced at Soleil. “You’ve marked him. There’s a bond there.”
Soleil shrugged, a comfort to her that spoke of a new trust. “My cat wanted to keep him.” Shifting to stand next to Ivan, she said, “He’s mine and he only breached your border to help me. Don’t hurt him.”
Ivan wanted to throw up his hands, the action one he’d seen from a bear and never understood the purpose of until today. “Lei.”
“What?” She glared at him, while Nathan coughed once more into his hand. “It’s the truth.”
“Trust a healer to make things complicated.” Lucas growled before Ivan could make his mind understand that she was trying to protect him. “He’s not your mate, but he’s something.”
Soleil took Ivan’s hand, the act making him freeze. He wanted to tell her to stop, that it wasn’t the right decision if she wished to be accepted into her new pack. But when he tried to break the handclasp, she dug her claws into him, her expression a fierce warning. And he remembered … Soleil Bijoux Garcia fought for her people.
Things inside him broke, a glacier crashing into an icy ocean and causing a tidal wave. He could barely breathe, the greedy need in him wanting to steal this, steal her. It would be so easy. Such an awful, soul-destroying lie.
“I have no ill intent,” he said to Lucas, because those words were far simpler, required nothing of his emotions. “My family simply wished to know more about DarkRiver.”
Lucas gave a curt nod. “Tell the head of your family that we don’t appreciate sneaking around—if she wants to know us, she can come talk to me face-to-face.”
Ivan wasn’t sure which element of that to address first. Nobody ordered Grandmother to do anything, and as for the other—“According to the bears, no one is as sneaky as a cat.”
Nathan gave up and started laughing in truth, his hands braced on the kitchen counter while the older woman snorted with amusement.
Lucas’s eyes gleamed. “Just pass on the message,” the alpha said, then turned to Soleil. “He needs to leave tonight while I decide what to do about your odd not-mating bond. I can’t have an unknown dominant near our cubs—especially when I have no understanding of mutual safety from his alpha.”
This time, Ivan spoke before Soleil could part her lips. “I’ll go.” He squeezed Soleil’s hand in silent repudiation when she stirred. “And I’ll speak to my grandmother, tell her of your invitation to meet.”
Claws raked at the mark inside his head that was Soleil’s. His cat was annoyed with him—but she walked with him to the back door, not saying anything until they were in the center of the yard. Far enough away from sharp changeling ears that they could be private.
Someone inside was thoughtful enough to turn off the sensor lights, too.
That was when Soleil broke their handclasp. “So you’re going.” Eyebrows lowered, she folded her arms across her chest. “Just like that?”