Chapter 10

A growl rolled through Reed’s chest, his jawline clenching, and the corded muscles in his neck twitched. “Get out of the way, Elliana.”

But I didn’t move from in front of Gage, despite my trembling.

“Fuck, chill your fur balls already,” Gage said over my shoulder. “I’ll tell you what you need to know. Son of a bitch. Cats! Always whining about something. I just want to ensure you assist Elliana first.” He lowered his wings and straightened his posture.

The night air surrounding us thickened, strangling my lungs. I appreciated Gage’s protectiveness, but his aggression put us at risk, rather than saving us…by antagonizing an entire pride of lions.

“See.” Reed’s arrogant triumph showed in his smirk—all pouting lips and the narrowing of his eyes. “Now beg me for help.”

“Fuck you.” Gage huffed.

I gritted my teeth, snatched his hand, and stepped forward. “Reed. Gage. Enough. We all want the same thing. To assist each other, so why are you both acting like dicks?”

Reed cocked a brow, while Gage breathed deeply and sighed, being the first to respond. “All I want is the best for Elliana, so I’ll tell you everything, but you need to give me your word you’ll allow Kahlo to share what he knows.”

Reed nodded and flicked a hand at someone to his right.

A man strode out of the darkness and into my line of sight. He wore black pants…that was it. They hung low on his hips, displaying his ripped chest and abs. Tall, sculptured, and damn sexy. Were all shifters built like gods? Damn, his presence stirred up my libido, awakening my lust, tempting me to taste the candy on a stick looking my way. Short, chestnut hair fluttered over his brow, drawing my attention to a healed scar lining the side of his face. When I met his eyes, I drowned. They captured the greenest meadow, imploring I dive right in and explore. Something about this handsome stranger had me squeezing my thighs together. I bet he had women fawning over him, because I sure was. What was up with the men I’d met lately. Gage, Reed, and now this man…their presence had me burning up. And it was strange how each of them had different shades of sexy green eyes.

“Kahlo, these are my guests.” Reed gave a nod in my direction, his mouth curling upward as if he were sending me secret thoughts about what he intended to do to me. Of course, it was completely in my lust-driven mind.

“This is my good friend and a tiger shifter, Kahlo,” Reed continued.

The newcomer didn’t respond at first, but he scanned me head to toe, his eyes narrowing. In those few moments, time seemed to slow to where his wild stare rested on me as if I were a delectable deer. It felt as if my brain had numbed and struggled to come up with a response. How could someone merely looking at me leave me scorching?

Gage sighed and mumbled under his breath, but I only caught the words, “cat party.”

“Kahlo, good timing. The dragon was about to give us an insight into who took the missing shifters.” Reed’s words darkened in a way that promised war if Gage didn’t keep his word, and I gritted my teeth at the whole situation. I ought to have dragged Gage aside and found out what his problem with the lions was.

Gage stood tall and proud, his chin high. He retracted his wings with such swiftness, it left me in awe. I stepped back as they magically shrank and tucked into the gaping holes in his back. His skin knitted back together without a blemish. My fingers tingled with the urge to touch his shoulder blades. I grabbed his top off the ground and handed it to him.

Reed studied me as if intrigued with the way I stared at Gage. Was he wondering what the deal was between us? Because I had no answer to that, or how my pulse kicked up a notch having Reed’s or Kahlo’s gazes on me.

“You haven’t seen his wings before?” Reed asked, softness behind his words.

“Yes, once before, and they’re as majestic as I remembered.” There was something sexy about a powerful man with huge wings who looked ready to carry the world.

Gage pulled the top over his head and offered me a devilish wink. The kind that had my weak in the knees.

“All right,” he began as he clapped once, drawing everyone’s attention to him. Always the showman. “Let’s do this, because Elliana doesn’t have all night.”

And there he was…My dragon. In control and ready to tackle the problem at hand.

“You go first,” Reed said. “We’re listening.”

I looked over at Kahlo, who remained quiet, but I didn’t fail to catch the way he kept watching us as a predatory animal might before attacking. Had I misunderstood his expression as attraction, when for all I knew, he enjoyed hunting down humans and ripping out their throats. Though I struggled to believe that if he was friends with Reed.

Gage rubbed his stubbled jawline, clicking his tongue, telling me it killed him to follow Reed’s instructions. “I never said I knew who is running the operation, just that I heard a rumor last night at Brawl. I haven’t investigated if it’s real. But someone’s taken over the old mansion by Sharp Lookout. Someone saw two fox shifters in chains being dragged into the complex.”

I swallowed hard at hearing the despair threaded behind his words. It scared him, even if he stood tall and proud. No one spoke, but more figures closed in, materializing from within the night. Dozens of faces, warped with worry. A mother clasped a child to her hip, and smaller kids lingered amid the adults. Families. Elderly. Warriors. They stood together, and their fear coiled around my chest, squeezing. Reed’s sister was amongst the missing, so I could imagine his heartache.

Reed barked an order. “We put together a small team of our finest and we take the fuckers down tonight. Who’s with me?”

Roars boomed, feet stomping the ground, fists in the air. Both the tiger who seemed alone and lions alike. That was how they’d take down their enemy—in unison. Something shifted inside me at seeing their bond, despite the fear etched in their faces. My pulse buzzed beneath my skin with an adrenaline that insisted I join them. Maybe it was getting caught up in the hype, but I’d never been part of such a group. I’d only known loneliness, fighting on my own, but what would it be like to be part of such a family? My dad might have gotten me into this trouble in the first place, but he’d do anything for me, and I missed him so much, even after all these years. His jokes and protection and guidance. Knowing he’d always catch me when I fell.

Reed’s cheer quieted, and everyone followed suit. Then he waved a hand at several of his warriors. “Assemble a team. We go now.”

“Wait, wait!” Gage called out, stepping forward, drawing all eyes to him. Even outnumbered, nothing dimmed his unassailable confidence. Backing down was not a trait he embraced. “We made a deal. Now deliver your end of the bargain.”

Kahlo nodded accepting Gage’s challenge by approaching him. He slapped a hand on Gage’s back. “The collector’s bunker is near the border between Darkwoods and Wildfire.”

Gage shook his head. “Too vague. That forest is vast and would have us wandering for months to find the right spot.”

Kahlo licked his lips and dropped his hand. “It’s been a long time since I visited the area, but there was a distinct, acidic smell in the air and when you sense it, you’ll know the place.”

Gage huffed, gripping his hips. “Stop pulling my dick and be fucking specific.”

I neared Gage’s side, not wanting this to go haywire again, and nudged him while meeting Kahlo’s eyes. At first, I couldn’t find my words, especially with the intense way he looked at me. The twitching at the corners of his mouth readied to break into a smirk. And I longed to see that, but Gage nudged my arm.

“Can you show us where it’s located?”

“This I will do for you.” His smile seemed so genuinely sweet with just the right amount of sexiness that it sent a rush of warmth through me. He reached out and took my hand, his thumb caressing my palm ever so gently. My skin rippling with the electric static, and I drowned in his presence. Did tiger shifters have hypnotic power over people? Because right now, if his tingling touch and stare drove me this insane, I could just imagine what it would be like for him to take me. I gnawed on my lower lip and released a long exhale.

“But not tonight.” He bowed his head and released my hand.

Reed closed the distance, and now all four of us stood in a circle. Three men towered over me. Despite all the fucked-up shit in my life, the guilt of their plight, and the worry that the collector wouldn’t help me, a different sensation awakened deep in my gut. An intoxicating electricity that had me wriggling on the inside with desire. In such proximity, their scent sent me into a heady trance. There was something about these men I’d never sensed with anyone else. Their presence lit me up from the inside and their closeness made me nervous, excited, provoked. Feigning a cool detachment was impossible when three gorgeous men cast glances my way with what I could only describe as fire in their eyes.

Hell, I wasn’t a corpse. I had feelings, and I sparked alight at being so close to them. What were they thinking? Wondering what it would be like to kiss me? Rip my clothes off and take me right now?

I can see your thoughts. Heavens, you want them to take turns taking you. I am shocked!

I frowned and whispered under my breath. “Zip it. It’s none of your business.”

“Sorry?” Kahlo asked.

I stared up at him when Reed responded. “She talks to herself sometimes.”

“You get used to it,” Gage said. “It’s kind of cute.”

“Hey, don’t talk about me as if I’m not here. Anyway, back to the topic.”

Kahlo’s gaze remained on me, and I pictured him leaning closer and tossing me over his shoulder before taking me into the shadows. Just the two of us.

Yeah, ’cause you’re not sex-crazed around all these men.

“I will accompany you, but tonight’s priority is finding our missing family members.” Kahlo turned to Gage. “Can you give me directions to the mansion?”

For a change, Gage didn’t protest and broke into an explanation. Reed collected my elbow and guided me away from everyone. “Can we talk in private?” he asked, and I strolled with him because curiosity demanded I discover what he wanted.

We traipsed along the open field, grass flattening beneath our footfalls.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “We’re putting a lot of distance between us and everyone else.”

“Don’t worry. You’re safe.” He laughed, and the sound danced over my skin like a lover’s touch.

“I’m not scared. I’m intrigued.”

He halted near a tree without leaves, and the faint streak of moonlight lit up the side of Reed’s face. Before I caught my breath, he clasped my arms and drew me against him. He pressed his back to the tree and plastered me to his chest.

“Whoa.” My breaths came fast. This wasn’t a chat, and my insides stirred at being in his arms, as they had in the tower. He wasn’t shy, and hell, I adored that. Maybe another place and time, we’d…But I couldn’t think straight in his arms. I didn’t understand what was going on between Gage and me, let alone adding one more man into the mix. Me flirting with images in my head was one thing, but reality never ran smooth.

He might want a fling.

“I don’t see you pulling away.” His hands snaked around my back, holding me tight. “I want to know if you’re with the dragon.”

My words died. I already had so many mixed emotions from the last few days, and my attraction to Reed had me craving his lips again. But I hadn’t expected him to be so forward. Was he thinking we were a thing now? Except, I came with massive baggage. The same reason I’d pushed away Gage. I wouldn’t force my problems on anyone else. Yet, back in the tower I was eager to catch up with Reed for a date. Clearly, I was lust-induced and not thinking straight.

“Gage means the world to me, but I can’t be with anyone right now.” Admitting it out loud was a knife to my heart when my body begged me to goddamn kiss him already.

I pushed myself out of his arms. “I’m not sure what you expect from me. You have a pride to lead, you’re probably already promised to several lionesses, and I have a messed-up life I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. Well, okay, I lie. I’d force it on the dick who hexed me.”

Shadows danced under his gaze, and he moved slightly against the tree, with one knee bent he put his hands deep into the pockets of his pants.

I lowered my eyes and turned to the fiery glow in the distance with people running about, and Gage laughing at something Kahlo had said. Didn’t take him long to get chummy.

I shouldn’t be attracted to Reed or Kahlo after just meeting them. And especially when my heart drummed for Gage. Heavens, what was happening to me?

“Return tomorrow night,” he said.

I somehow suspected females didn’t say no to him often.

“Kahlo will take you to the collector’s place.”

“Thanks. But what’s the deal between you two?”

He stared at me first. Had he seen me gawk at his friend? “A few years ago, three rogue lions challenged me for my position when I was alone in the forest. By lion law, I either accepted a duel or stepped aside as pride leader.”

“Shit odds. Fuck that.” My response flew from my mouth. Craven assholes.

He lifted an arm and his shirt to reveal a healed wound from his pit to his waist. I winced and reached out to touch the injury that had healed over. Now all that remained was a bumpy scar beneath my fingers. But up close, I noticed the cuts on his arms were restored.

“I finished those fuckers, but they left me so injured I was on death’s door. Kahlo found me. He didn’t need to save me, but he took me in and cared for me. Ever since, we’ve been like brothers. We’re both coming of age to find a mate to lead alongside us. Without a mate by my twenty-fifth birthday, I must relegate my position as pride leader to the lion shifter from my pride who can win in a battle against me. And that’s only a few months away.”

Okay, that was a lot to digest, yet funny how my attention homed in on both the shifters being single and needing a partner. So what was wrong with their surrounding females? Did none of them excite them? Or did they consider them too much like family to ever see them as romantic partners? Perhaps they preferred to bring fresh blood into the pride.

It shouldn’t have been my focus, especially when I wasn’t in the market. It scared me to go there for so many reasons, like why the hell were they interested in me, a woman who talked to herself? It came down to the gargoyle that posed a danger to them if they tried to battle it. Now, if by some miracle, Kahlo’s suggestion about the collector having the dragon dagger proved valid, all bets were off.

More than one man at the same time?

“Not at the same time. I don’t party that way.”

“You talking to me?” Reed asked.

My cheeks flushed, and I looked away. “Shall we return?”

He strolled forward. “Why do you talk to yourself out loud that way? I’m not judging. I want to understand.”

“Being a captive since I was young did something inside me. I only had myself to talk to, and one day, the voice inside my skull responded. I didn’t question it—well aware it might be me. But for the longest time she kept me company.” Admitting the truth should have left me self-conscious, but it didn’t. I had gone way past caring what others said about me when I yearned for freedom so bad, I’d do anything.

“Gage’s right. It’s cute and gives me insight into your thoughts.”

I bumped into his arm. “I see. Well, sure hope you share your thoughts too. Only fair this goes both ways.” I flipped my hand in the air between us.

“I’ve shared a lot with you already. But there’s so much more you’re missing out on.”

“Really?” I nudged his side again, and that time he stumbled sideways in an exaggerated way. “Let me guess…like kissing you.”

You’re doing it again. Flirting.

Of course, because I had zero control, I’d gone against my word to keep a distance. But that seemed easier when there had been a physical barrier between us.

“Elliana, you can’t handle these lips on you again.” His mouth twitched upward, dimpling his cheeks. “Another taste and you’ll never let me go.”

I chuckled and spotted Gage’s watching me from up ahead. “You make big promises, Lion-Man.”

“And I get what I want.”

His response sparked a buzz in the pit of my gut. Something about having a strong shifter like Reed declare he’d claim me turned me into a puddle. It contradicted everything I believed, to let no one control me. But Reed wasn’t doing that…nope. This was different. His pledge left me stimulated and awakened with arousal. To have him crave me so much had me swimming in fire.

You know, he might like the whole chasing-his-prey idea. Once he gets you, he’ll get bored.

I shoved away those thoughts and preferred to believe he’d pursue me, capture me, and keep me forever. Yet the lingering worries remained, gnawing at my mind.

With my inability to respond, Reed strolled closer and prodded me in the arm to return to the main tree. Up ahead, Gage strutted toward us, arms still by his side, silent and serious.

“Your dragon comes to protect you.”

I was unsure how to take his comment, as jealousy or a veiled insult at Gage. I changed topics and reached out for his arm. “Hope you find your sister safe and sound.”

The sincerity in his soft expression affected me because he was a powerful leader, but he cared for those close to him.

“Please stay safe.” I hugged him, my body pressed against his solid form, fitting perfectly together.

His mouth reached my ear as he grabbed my waist. “When this is all over, I’m coming to claim you as mine. I’ll show you pleasures and happiness you can’t imagine.”

My heart pulsed. Would it be wrong of me if I said yes? He broke free. “Have a good night, Dragon.” He marched toward the other shifters.

“What the hell was that about?” Gage growled.

I squeaked and cleared my throat. “Nothing. Let’s go. They said they’d take us to the collector tomorrow night.”

Yet my brain kept ringing with his words about claiming me as his own. Was he insane? Did he not understand I was stuck in the tower during the day? Plus, I adored Gage. But with all the excuses in the world swirling around my head, I couldn’t ignore how excited his words had left me. His assertiveness had my libido twisting into a titillating knot.