Two women in one of the hallways moved aside with malicious glares when Ode grunted. Their faces were pale and I wondered if they were vampires. We passed another woman who had been at the dinner the night before. Energy rolled off her in waves. It made me realize the glaring ladies were human because they carried no power that I could feel.Blood donors?The vampire nodded but didn’t speak.We reached our destination.“Tara,” Talon said in his whispered low voice, his back to me.He looked forbidding in a dark suit. He faced a small blazing fire. When he turned, ruffles from his white shirt spilled from the open suit jacket. I wouldn’t think the style appealing but on him it was mouthwatering. Damn, I should have worn the silver gown I’d placed in the closet. The night before I hadn’t felt out of place with all the overdressed vamps but with just Talon, I did.He held a wineglass with dark-burgundy liquid. I didn’t need to ask what it was. It should have disgusted me, but it only mad

I expected anger or maybe rage. I got neither.“I believe he’s looking forward to it,” Talon assured me with little expression. There wasn’t even the smallest touch of jealousy in his words.“Do you spar?” I asked to get rid of the ridiculous angst I felt.He took a long pull from his wineglass and smiled slightly so I saw fangs.“Only in bedroom pursuits. If you’re ever up for that type of sparring, I will make myself available.”I wanted to throw my wine in his face, but I’d learned from the best. The rangers were rough soldiers. They played with insults the way toddlers played with blocks.“Is Sable’s bed available? I find you boorish.” I waved my hand offhandedly.I didn’t see Talon move. My hand was caught in his and he squeezed almost to the point of pain. Had my stab about Sable finally gotten to him?“You are trying to anger me,” he said, his voice pure velvet. “It won’t happen by using Sable. He is loyal and he would die for me. Maybe go after Ode.”I couldn’t hide my express

The son of a rotten fish head didn’t return for five days and the doctor didn’t visit again. During Talon’s absence, Ode refused to answer a single question even when I screamed about my future release from hell and threw a boot at him.I also didn’t have nightly dreams. I’d tried to conjure my second dream man but that had been a bust. Talon’s naked body would fill my mind until I groaned in surrender and fell asleep.The only things that saved me were the books, my sword, and a bloodthirsty imagination about what I would do to Talon when he returned. When Ode told me to dress for dinner with Talon, I wanted so badly to refuse. But if I didn’t get a chance to walk in the fresh air, I would use the sword on my own throat.I didn’t bother with leather. I wore jeans and a baggie T-shirt that I’d asked Ode to procure for me. I needed something looser to sleep in. He didn’t blink over my slovenly attire. He led me to the same room where I’d had the private dinner with Talon before he left

Kenner was next to her, vampires gripping their arms. I jumped from my seat and all but vaulted over the low table. They were released and Mira threw her arms around me as soon as I reached her.“You’re okay,” she said and kissed me on both cheeks when I pulled back slightly. “They said you were but we didn’t believe them.”I looked at Kenner. He was angry but relieved. I stepped away from Mira and wrapped my arms around him.“They came for us last night and we’ve been kept in a room until now,” he whispered into my hair.I turned and glared at Talon who had approached us.“I told Sable to keep them in comfort,” he said. “Turn your angry eyes on him.”“What about the animals?” I turned back to my friends.“They brought two humans to take care of them. They said they would sleep in the barn until we returned.”“Where’s your sword?” I asked Kenner. I’d never known him to be without it.“The vampire.” He glared at Sable. “He took it from me when I tried to decapitate him.”I looked at Sa

A scorching burn traveled through my upper body, originating where the teeth clamped on my shoulder. The pain intensified and cut off my scream. Its eyes, inches from mine, held death.The wolf was torn off me. I thought it was Sable or Talon but I was wrong. Conner, the man from my dreams, stood over me. Like Vilkas had done, he turned and attacked the wolf who bit me. Talon lifted me in his arms while Sable guarded us.“You will kill her,” Talon snarled after Conner had beheaded the other wolf with his bare hands. “This stops now. You will only cause more damage. Return to your territory or I will kill you.”The look on Conner’s face was ferocious. His eyes turned downward and met mine. His expression held something I hadn’t expected.Possessiveness.“Mine,” he said in a gruff voice that sounded more animal than human.I blacked out. When I opened my eyes, the Humvee was traveling at breakneck speed. My head was on Talon’s lap.“Hold still,” he said. “The wound is deep and the wolf’