“Burn ’em back.” Moira’s tone was light, her eyes dark.
Not good. Not good at all.
Brenna opened her mouth to argue when Conn Kayrs filled the doorway. Tall and strong, the Realm’s ultimate soldier held presence in spades. Add in dark green eyes and a hard jaw, and he was something to look at.
His focus was entirely on his mate, amusement filling his eyes.
“Did I just hear you threaten to burn me,
Moira batted her eyelashes and flashed him a saucy grin. “If necessary, I’ll turn you crispy.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Hmmm.”
Brenna cleared her throat, well used to Conn’s pet name for Moira.
Conn nodded. “Yes.”
“And?” Brenna asked.
Conn took her measure. “There’s a ten-billion-dollar contract out on Jase—to take him alive.”
Good lord. “Billion?” The demons had some serious cash.
“Yes.” Conn eyed Moira.
Awareness prickled down Brenna’s spine. “What else?”
At Moira’s nod, he sighed. “There’s a fifteen-billion-dollar contract out on you—if you’re taken before the winter solstice. Afterward, it’s ten billion.”
Brenna coughed. “The demons believe in the damn solstice nonsense?”
“ ’Tis not nonsense,” Moira said slowly. “The Coven Nine has ignored the issue since you’ve been so ill, but now that you’re mending, we should investigate.”
“Sort of. Alive before the solstice, dead after.” Conn rubbed a hand through his thick hair. “Apparently Willa is rather pissed Jase mated a witch.”
“Who the hell is Willa, anyway?” Brenna asked.
“Sister to Suri, the leader of the demons.” Conn strode toward Moira. “Willa messed with Jase’s head while Suri and one of his lieutenants spent time destroying his body.” Barely contained anger rode Conn’s hard tone.
Dread slid through Brenna. “How did Willa mess with Jase’s mind?”
Conn turned his head. “You’ll have to ask him that.”
Yeah. Because Jase was so darn forthcoming. “Right.”
Conn grabbed a pair of grappling gloves from a rack and handed them to Moira. “Let’s discuss your threat to burn me to a crisp, shall we?”
Moira grinned, blue dancing along her skin. “I’d love to roll around with you, handsome.”
“Get a room,” Brenna muttered, grabbing her glasses and heading for the doorway. Now the demons had a bounty on her head, and Jase needed to come clean with all the information. She hustled out to track down her mate.
Chapter 10
She found him in her penthouse living room gazing out the windows at the tumultuous water as the sun set. Closing the door, she hesitated. He looked so alone . . . and so dangerous. Large and formidable.
“I’m sorry I scared you at the mall,” he said without turning around, hands in jeans pockets.
She blinked, her mind spinning. The distance between them seemed much farther than a few yards. “I’m fine. But I think you should get help when you return home.”
His head lifted, and his shoulders went back. Muscles shifted under his dark T-shirt. Slowly, as if not to frighten her, he turned, a guarded expression on his hard face. “I don’t need help.”
A pang dinged her heart. “Your choice.” Her sister was correct. The wounded needed to want help. “I’d like it if you stayed in touch, anyway.”
He exhaled, his gaze reaching across the room and tethering her in place. “You’re coming with me.”
She stiffened. “No, I’m not.”
“I’m invoking clause eight of the contract.” His tone remained so level, they might have been talking about the oncoming storm.
Shock froze her. “No. We have an understanding. I’m not going anywhere.”
“You signed the contract.”
“I know.” She exhaled, struggling for patience. What the heck was wrong with him? “We always intended to keep our own residences.”
“Things have changed.” No give showed on his face.
Her feet tightened with the need to run. She didn’t know this man. At full power, she’d face him and burn the hell out of him. Now? Vulnerability caught on her breath. She didn’t stand a chance against him. If she protested publicly, her people would support her, but she’d be breaching the contract.
“If you breach”—he clearly read the panic she could feel in her expression—“then your people will bow to mine in all military matters.”
Oh God. A terrible liquidated damages clause inserted so nobody would breach. Damn the lawyers.
“You wouldn’t,” she gasped.
His eyes took on a dangerous edge. “You’re right. I won’t claim breach of contract or hinder our treaty.”
She stilled. Relief relaxed her stance. “That’s good.”
“I will, however, drag your ass all the way to Oregon if need be.”
Such an overt action would cause war. Real war. One that would put Conn and Moira on opposite sides of the line. Brenna shook her head. “Why? Why are you doing this?”
“You’re my mate.”
“Oh no, you don’t.” Finally, anger leapt over the surprise. “You don’t want a mate, and you sure as hell don’t care.”
For the first time, his gaze wavered. A softness spiraled into his eyes. “I do care. Much more than I’d like.”
Her head shook in jerky motions this time. No. He wasn’t going to manipulate her like that. This hurt enough as it was. “Too bad. Stick to our original understanding, the one we didn’t really say, and leave me the hell alone.”
“I can’t,” he whispered. Sliding his hands free, he stalked across the room like a jaguar tracking prey. Like prey, she stood frozen. Reaching her, he ran a gentle knuckle down the side of her face.
Her stomach quivered, and not only from anger. “Jase—”
“The demons want you, Brenna. Because of me.” He speared his fingers through her hair and forced her head back. As he leaned in, his breath brushed her lips. “They. Won’t. Get. You.”
So much murderous promise lived in his words, her knees went weak. “I can take care of myself. Plus, I have Coven Nine bodyguards.”
“Sorry.” Not by one inch did he look sorry. “Not good enough. You’re with me where I can keep you safe until I end this.”
A slow ball of lava rolled through her at his nearness, at the intensity of his hold. She tried to ignore it. “No. I make my own choices.”
His upper lip quirked, and his gaze dropped to her mouth. “When it comes to safety, I make your choices. You should’ve known that before you mated me.”
Aye, vampires were over-the-top protective and possessive. Those were vampires who mated for love. This one had mated for other reasons. “I won’t always be so weak. You don’t want me for an enemy.” She kept her voice clear and tried to stifle the desire flaring awake inside her.
