Wild Darkness

want, but the cats are happy to work together with other shifters and witches to create a militia and enforcement teams. It’s the only way. If we’re going to make a stand, let’s make it so strong the first bloody lesson can be the last. Or at the very least, make it painful enough they’ll think twice before attempting it again. They can fear us, or hate us, as long as they leave us alone.”

“I can help train soldiers.” Faine gave Helena a look and she nodded. His help would be important.

“The Vampires will join this militia.”

Well, that would be really good. Vampires kicked ass and they were practically indestructible. “All right then, let’s break down into groups and get some work done.”

* * *

SHE was very quiet on the ride back to the hotel. But he knew he’d have some answering to do when they got back. He bided his time through the checkpoints and didn’t speak until he turned into the parking garage and headed to their assigned spot.

“You did a good job tonight. I know it wasn’t easy.”

She kept her gaze roving. Constantly assessing. “It shouldn’t be easy to plot the possible assassination of someone.”

Hm. Terse.

But also correct.

“Yes. It’s never anything that you should do lightly. You’re making the right choice though. He can’t be allowed to survive. Anyone who could look at the evidence of the Magister and think to bring it on purpose isn’t someone safe for the rest of the planet to be around.”

She shrugged. “Killing him in a battle is one thing. This is another. I hate it. But I don’t see a way around it.”

“If it was easy, it would happen more often. You make tough choices to protect the people who need you to make tough choices.” He pulled into the space and killed the engine.

She turned to him, her eyes narrowed. Dangerous, his woman. “Is that what you did? By sneaking off to Lycia behind my back to have your daddy declare war?”

“That’s beneath you.”

“Is it? You don’t know me very well after all to think that’s below me. You should have told me.” She got out, slamming the door extra hard. He followed, pocketing the keys.

But she didn’t head to the doors leading into the hotel. Instead she pulled her magick to herself. He saw the shift in her aura as she did. The surge in her scent held him fast as she began to work a spell.

There was something so fierce about her when she worked magick. It was one thing to watch her in battle, but this was something else. Otherworldly.

She walked her way around the car as he watched, impressed. She spoke under her voice but he heard the words anyway. Felt the brush of her power as she moved. The air in the space seemed to warm all around them.

His beast wanted to eat her up.

Until she drew a pocketknife out and sliced into her skin. The scent of her blood filled the air as she drew runes on the car.

Enraged that she’d harm herself, he barely managed to hold his tongue until she stood again, her eyes clearing as she let her magick go and it misted into the air around her.

“What the fuck did you just do?” He growled instead of yelling, figuring it would be better received.

She raised her brow at his tone before she gave him her back and headed into the building.

Guess he was wrong about that.

He didn’t ask in the elevator but took the keycard from her, opening the door to his room and jerking his head for her to go inside.

“You should know that’s never going to work on me. Unless it’s your goal to get punched in the balls.” She smiled sweetly.

He growled.

She moved to grab the keycard from his hand and he grabbed her instead, carrying her inside, his mouth crushing against hers until her taste drowned him, soothed even as it excited. He tossed her to the bed and she scrambled to her knees, eyes blazing, lips swollen. She fisted her hands and it sent a thrill through him.

“You’re fucking magnificent.”

It was her growl this time. “You’re playing with something that might end up drawing blood.”

He circled her as she kept a wary eye on him. “That’s okay. Sometimes Lycian love play gets a little rough.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Faine.”

He sent her a smile. “You know how hot it makes me when you’re violent.”

That growl turned into a snarl and he hummed his satisfaction. But he backed off. For a moment, because they were totally going to get naked in just a few minutes.

“Why did you draw blood? Tell me now.” He crossed his arms and glared at her.

“Funny, I didn’t hear a please in that sentence.”

“You try a man’s patience.”

“I’ll kick his balls into his throat if he doesn’t stop this now and show some manners.”

He grinned. “Damn, I am so in love with you.”

She threw her hands up, scrambling from the bed. “You’re certifiable.”

“I am. But it’s the truth. You wreck me. Savage. Fire in your eyes, fists ready to punch me in the face or worse. You’re a walking, talking aphrodisiac.”

“Lycians are weird.”

“Please tell me why you drew your blood.”

“Blood magick is older and stronger than the normal spellwork I use. I wanted to protect your car. I used my blood to bind the intent better. If anyone touches it with the intent to harm, I’ll know. It’ll also fry their circuits.” She shrugged.

“Vicious.” He stalked toward her and she held a hand out to ward him off.

“I am. And you scampered off to Lycia with your brother without telling me.”

“I don’t scamper.”

Her look made him stop playing. “I told you I was going. Just not the why of it. I wanted to speak with my father with Simon at my side. Helena, this is a matter of honor in more ways than I can really make clear to you. Attacking while on Simon’s land, in his den? He can’t let that go unanswered. His Ne’est was placed in mortal danger. In the one place he’d made safe for her. To not declare war would be to invite shame. The bond between them is soul deep. He promised her on his own life to keep her safe.”

She tossed herself in a nearby chair but her hands were no longer in fists so at least the immediate danger had passed. “And you went to support him. I understand now.”

He got to his knees before her. “No, you don’t. My Ne’est was put in mortal danger twice in one day too. I went along with Simon, but we both had to satisfy a promise.”

Her eyes grew wide. “What?”

He took her hands, turning them to kiss the heart of her palms. “You are my key. We haven’t performed the ceremony, but in every way but that, I am bound to you. To keep you safe. To delight you and support you. To please you and love you.”

Her mouth gaped and then snapped shut. He had to control his urge to laugh.

“This is happening very fast. Too fast.”

Really? She was going to try that one? “You’re a witch. You just used your blood to make a spell. You call magick through a metaphysical well to use. Where your clan lives the very earth at your feet receives you. Is it so hard to believe in something like this sort of bond? That some things simply are?”

She was quiet a long time as she pondered until she suddenly blurted, “One of the witches who was giving PURITY information knew the location of the haven in Indio. I didn’t know he was a leak. My weakness brought the deaths of twenty-two people. I am not a good risk, Faine.”

He reached out, cupping the back of her neck. “When I was a little over a hundred, we went to war for the first time. My right-hand man was my cousin. He sold information about our plans to a rival Pack. By the end of our