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I took a half step back, but he didn’t giveainst the stone wall and had nowhere left to go I didn’t likeaway from him in the first place, but his proximity made me uneasy, and I wanted some distance in between us Now, he had me cornered

"Step back," I commanded

He placed one hand on either side of ht have taken theto kisssexual about what Juan Carlos was doing It was not lust he was projecting--it was pure menace In spite of my best efforts to appear fearless, a cold sweat trickled down my back

"Makee, blotting out his dark brown irises For a second I thought hehis eyes was a sure sign of hunger and rage Instead he balled his hand into a fist and punched the wall beside my head so hard his knuckles were buried in the rock

"I asked you a question, Tribunal Leader" I keptthe way e me, I would lose I had no doubt in my mind

Juan Carlos lowered his head towardsa reneave of shivers through my body I waited for his nose to lift and his teeth to take their place, but it never happened He took a deep breath, absorbing h my pulse point, then finally took a step back

"I would never drea you" The formality of his tone made it hard to believe that ainst the ith his fangs barred

"I should hope not"

It was strictly forbidden within the council for e each other Since the only way to become a member of the Tribunal was to kill someone already on it, to have two ood The potential for a power vacuureat, and as such it was out of the question for one e another

Juan Carlos knew the rules better than anyone Thankfully, so did I

"But I would" He wasn’t looking atthe cuffs of his Armani shirt When my silence spread past the point of comfort, he proceeded "If I wasn’t who I am, and he hadn’t forbidden it"

"He?" I didn’t want to continue this conversation I didn’t want to be alone in the hall with hier than I needed to be But still, there was so?"

"Yes Your benefactor He is the only reason you’re allowed to keep that precious little pulse of yours" He looked up, his black eyes bright with conte had a special interest inJuan Carlos tell ’s attention was the only reason I was still alive was a little jarring I liked to think there was more to my success in the Tribunal than the threat of its leader

"Yes" A cool voice joined us in the hall, though I hadn’t heard the door open Maybe it hadn’t "What about Sig?" The ainst the wall a few feet behind Juan Carlos His pale skin glowed slightly in the di as its own ," Juan Carlos insisted, turning to go, but Sig took a small step away from the wall and barred the way If Juan Carlos’s physical presence was enough to unnerve h to make anyone else uneasy He was over six and a half feet of lean, tauta little chat," Sig said "I think it only fair you stay to finish what you started"

Juan Carlos turned back tocal waved a hand betweenat his own private joke Neither Juan Carlos nor I were amused "Let’s have it out Juan Carlos, you clairave, is that what I am to understand?"

Juan Carlos was hesitant to reply He watched the Scandinavian ain, and when he did, his voice was low and e said "I believe Secret has held her own as a member of our Tribunal Certainly, my…favoritism had its benefits when she was our hunter, but now she is our equal"

"She will never be our equal"

"Whether you choose to accept it or not, old friend, she has earned her place here just as you and I have You must learn to respect her"

They spoke as if I weren’t there, like parents arguing about how to discipline a naughty child I wanted to wave h loudly to remind them I was still present, but common sense won out Besides, I was relieved to have Juan Carlos’s attention diverted elsewhere

"I cannot respect her"

"You must"

"You ask too much"