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21
The object of her terror turned its black head toward them and waved its antenna, mildly interested.
Andrea yelped and skittered behind Mathin, using him for a shield. “It’s the size of a cocker spaniel! You’ve got the gun; shoot it!”
With a grunt of amusement, he grabbed a small stick from the forest floor and tossed it half-heartedly toward the beetle. It bounced off its back with a dull clunk, sending the creature scurrying.
“There. Now…” He frowned as she backed away, her eyes on the towering forest.
Wild spice scented the air of the alien world around her. The surrounding wo
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Scent of Danger 22
“Keilor!” Relieved at the interruption, Mathin greeted him, clasping forearms with the dark-haired warrior who entered the clearing. He kept a grip on Andrea, knowing she couldn’t be trusted.With high cheekbones reminiscent of a Cherokee warrior, the man radiated energy and command. Several volti followed at his heels like a pack of tamed hunting dogs.The man’s dark eyes settled on Andrea, assessing and reassuring at once. He shook his head. “My wife has shared those exact sentiments; particularly as he dragged her through the swamps and fed her giant snails. Will you come and meet her? She is human, like you.”Keilor’s calculation worked. With a nervo
Scent of Danger 23
The Haunt guard opened the thick wooden door. Mathin strode through, sweeping her along with a hand at her back.The room beyond was sunny, and brimming with familiar knickknacks and gewgaws. Crazy colors covered nearly every surface. Hooked rugs in a riot of clashing colors, Afghans and slipcovers—the very ones she’d packed away—covered the furniture in a rainbow of dizzying shades. It looked like someone had tossed a bag of Skittles all over the place.Bewildered by the display, she simply stared. Why would Mathin have brought all this stuff? Her grandma wouldn’t be happy when she got home and discovered it missing. Wait…he didn’t think she wanted it, did he?
Scent of Danger 24
A pen of sorts had been erected around the perimeter of the living area, leaving the twins with plenty of carpeted area to tumble and play. It also kept them out of the fireplace and their mother’s collection of potted fruit trees.Keilor shrugged and snatched a piece of the vegetable she was chopping for dinner. “Mathin said she didn’t seem picky at the time. Besides, we could hardly take her to Mathin’s room. They’re not mated yet.”Reminded of the source of her ire, the petite terror turned her wrath on Mathin. “And how could you, Mathin? What possessed you to drag the poor girl here when there’s plenty of Haunt women chasing you?”Mathin
Scent of Danger 25
Jasmine laughed. “Sorry, I’m not explaining this too well. The Haunt can fool around all he or she wants, right up until the point of consummation. If they go past that, they’re hooked for life. Adultery usually results in madness, thanks to their unique genetic makeup.” When the confusion didn’t clear from Andrea’s brow she explained gently, “Mathin is a virgin as we define the term, as are all unmated Haunt.” The grin was back as she waggled a piece of fruit at Andrea. “But if you value your life, don’t call him that. The term means a man of no experience here, and he’s definitely not that.”Her brain swimming with details, Andrea muttered, “I see. I think. So you’re saying that he plans to...um, seduce me into marriage. Why? Didn’t you just say there
Scent of Danger 26
The ordinary actions soothed her. She still wasn’t sure what to do about her grandma. Had it not been for her, she’d have planned to escape at the first opportunity. What was she supposed to do with the woman when she wanted to stay, had arranged the whole thing?Now that she was calmer the whole brainwashing thing sounded ridiculous, especially as she recalled her grandmother’s rabid desire to see her settled. She rolled her eyes. Who would have thought she’d have gone this far to do it? The amazing thing was that she’d found someone to help carry out her crazy plan.Well, I don’t have to cooperate, she promised herself as she washed and rinsed her hair. Jasmine’s relaxed attitude and confidences had gone a long way to firming
Scent of Danger 27
“I have a better room for your use this evening,” Mathin said quietly, taking advantage of her grandmother’s distraction. The elder woman’s comments had him on edge, and he was the willing party! One glance at Andrea’s face was enough to see she was close to losing control. “It’s less...white. It also has a kitchen for you to work in. You’ll recognize many of the staples, and I’ll be happy to tell you about the unfamiliar ones.” When she did nothing more than glance at him out of the corner of her eye, he added quietly, “There’s a lock on the door. No one will disturb you.”Still she said nothing, but the set of her shoulders relaxed.It was an exquisite relief to withdraw for the evening. Sh
Scent of Danger 28
He looked down for a moment, his eyes darkening with remembrance. “Jasmine was kidnapped once by someone who wished to exploit her charmer pheromone. We had to take extraordinary measures to get her back.”Her eyes narrowed with suspicion. “I didn’t notice anyone drooling over her.”“The production of pheromone decreases in proportion to the level of sexual activity a charmer engages in.” His look was bold and heated. “Keilor keeps her well satisfied, I promise you.”A dimple popped into his cheek as she squirmed. “At the moment your production is so high it’s intoxicating.” Fire leapt in his eyes and his tone lowered to a r
Scent of Danger 29
“Mathin broke your arm?” Andrea gaped at her, turning horrified eyes on Mathin, who’d halted in his play to watch them, an unreadable expression on his face. She was unprepared for Jasmine’s fierce response.“If he hadn’t, I’d never have escaped,” she snapped, almost daring Andrea to contradict her. “Mathin received more criticism over that move than I liked. As far as I’m concerned, my opinion is the only one that matters. I owe him, big time.”Andrea would have apologized, but Jasmine wasn’t done. “You don’t want to know what the place I was kept in was like. Not only did he rescue me while Keilor healed, he gave me the means to have children with Keilor, to grow old with him.”
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