Page 2 (1/2)

"Which is why you’re a warrior, not a politician" olivia, his American mate, smiled

Their affection, as always, wrapped them in a world all their own

"I will, if you wish it," Caden volunteered "Though I think you have h gratified by Caden’s show of solidarity, Sabelle agreed

"I forroup with Bra has just ended My temper is … uncertain"

Lucan spoke the truth His emotions scraped closer to the surface than she’d ever seen He revealed ical diploroup less than a week," Tynan pointed out, his gray eyes the color of a foreboding rain cloud about to burst

A fittingtime bomb

Everyone had spoken … except Ice

Drawing in a shaky breath, Sabelle braced herself to look in his direction He was still staring at her, hot, intent So?

"Who is wont to listen to a ed with a raised brow

Duke cleared his throat "Then it’s settled We ain Marrok?"

"Aye Tomorrow at dawn Everyone"

Caden rolled his eyes "oh-dark-hundred again Great I left the Marines, you know"

"Foolish on your part They were nicer," Duke teased, then sobered again "We’ll need to add security to the house I’ve no notion how Bra up in his weakened state"

"Not well," Sabelle ad by the hour … just as Braical security This house is critical to our success We need a place to roup, to plan Without it, I fear we’d be too disorganized to defeat Mathias Does anyone disagree?"

Every man at the table shook his head

Good Another matter settled Now if she only knehat to do about her brother’s diive us an update?" Duke asked

It took her a moment to tune in to him, and she surmised that he asked about Bra else all day

"Bra Neither Conrad nor Millie knohat ails him or how to heal him I’ve no notion how to stop it unless we find Eot a call in to Aquarius," Sydney assured "As soon as I hear from her, I’ll let you know We’ll find Emma"

Even if they did, could they persuade her to coht of passion and abandoned before ain, punctuated only by the clink of forks and heavy sighs Sabelle blocked as hts as she could and ate a fewdefeat Even the s her stomach roil

She stood to leave, and Lucan stayed her with a hand at her elbow Ice growled and glared at Lucan’s touch Ice wanted her, and an answering knot of desire grew again in her belly He must suspect how she felt If she ever found herself alone with hierous

"You cannot be finished," Lucan chided, scowling at her still-full plate

"I aet back to Bram Thank you, ladies," she said to Sydney and olivia

Before she could extricate herself froh the house Acard A request to enter the premises

From Anka MacTavish, Lucan’s forSabelle felt the intensity of his pain gripping her chest, sharp and panicky, like so No doubt, whatever Lucan felt for her paled in co love he still harbored for Anka

Marrok stomped out of the room and down the corridor Sabelle heard him open the front door "She is alone"

Assured that Shock or Mathias and his Anarki hadn’t followed Anka, Sabelle released the last bit of security around the house so that Anka could enter the roo Sabelle noticed was that the woman looked healthier than before … but not coy in Shock’s bed?

Lucan’s gaze was still glued to his forhts, and Sabelle ached for hilanced at Lucan, then at his hand upon Sabelle’s Hurt flared across her face before her amber stare skittered across the table and rested on Duke "I’d like to see Braave a small shake of his head

"He’s not here," Duke lied

So, they’d sur with a wizard they all presumed to be the enehts revealed that, in throwing her lot in with Shock, she had run to the man most able to protect her and least likely to make demands after her ordeal at Mathias’s hands

Anka tossed fat, blond ringlets off her slender shoulders, her brokentheir severed mate bond

"He doesn’t seem to be anywhere," Anka said, clearly frustrated "I’ve been calling for him since dusk"

"Council business What do you need?" Duke snapped

Anka pressed her lips together, sent Lucan another uncertain glance, then addressed Duke again "Earlier this evening, Shock told s I--I couldn’t keep this to myself Not when there are so estured her to the chair at the far end of the table Anka sat, as did Sabelle and Lucan He didn’t relinquish his hold on Sabelle’s arht turn to her because she was convenient and would expect nothing in return--but his heart belonged to Anka

"According to Shock, the Anarki plans to attack you here tonight, soht

Sabelle opened up her , and she truly had been trying to tell Braes and suer!

Duke froze "You’re certain? Tonight?"

She nodded "I warned you as soon as I could"

"Why should we believe you?" Ice asked i my life to be here"