And now, here I sat by the pool, surrounded by a history I’d only recently begun to uncover.A world that had been unknown to me for most of my life was now my responsibility, and every piece of it felt impossibly heavy.
With a spark of awareness, I lifted my head and glanced over my shoulder.King was heading toward me.I couldn’t hear his footsteps, but Ms.Beast, the restless, seething monster inside me, knew he was coming.I’d been noticing this “awareness” phenomenon more and more, along with several other peculiarities connected to mating.It was just another question I had about female Warriors.A mated Warrior pair hadn’t existed in two centuries, and I was discovering some fascinating, albeit frustrating, side effects associated with our union.A written rule book, preferably in English, would have been perfect.
I also felt an awareness of other Warriors, a sensation that was growing stronger by the day.It was nothing like the bond I shared with King, but it was there, an undercurrent I couldn’t ignore.King called it the invisible threads of energy that connected the men to their alpha.Those threads hadn’t abandoned him when I became alpha.My appeal that we should lead together, embracing a modern trend of shared leadership, had fallen on deaf ears.The universe, as always, hated me.
The sound of my mate’s boots finally reached my ears, and I lowered my gaze to the journal in my hands, feigning intense interest.He entered the room like the silent predator he was, his presence filling the space like a force of nature that couldn’t be ignored.Ms.Beast, ever vigilant, tracked him without effort.I didn’t look up when he sat beside me, but I heard the soft sound of his boots hitting the floor and the rustle of fabric as he pulled off his socks.Then came the quiet, satisfied moan he made as he dipped his feet into the cool water.A shiver of satisfaction coursed through me despite my attempt to remain unaffected.
Mate,Ms.Beast whispered inside my head.
I’d finally grown accustomed to her fiery, sometimes bloody nudges at King.Now, though, she behaved more like Callie, rolling over and purring whenever he was near.I didn’t know whether to be relieved or annoyed.
He relaxed beside me while I continued pretending to read.His nearness alone was enough to distract me, the familiar scent of his musky Warrior presence overpowering the chlorine and making it nearly impossible to hold onto my irritation.My stomach tightened, betraying me further.
King’s voice broke the silence.“I had the kitchen hold dinner until you’re finished sulking.”
I glanced at him sharply, my annoyance bubbling back to the surface.“Sulking?”
“Yes,” he said with maddening calm.“You’ve been stomping around, brooding for days.I thought you might like a hot meal when you’re done.”
I closed the journal and rested it on my lap, meeting his gaze.“You’re irritating.”
“So I’ve been told,” he said, completely unbothered.A faint grin tugged at his lips.
“And smug.”
“Also true.”
I sighed, defeated for the moment.“I hate you sometimes.”
“No, you don’t,” he replied, leaning back on his hands, his smile widening.“But you’re welcome to keep pretending.”
My eyes snapped to his in disbelief.He did not just say that!His gaze remained steady on mine.When we were alone, he never lowered his eyes because Ms.Beast accepted him, and up until now, I’d loved that about our private time.I bit back the sharp retort bubbling on my tongue, knowing nothing good would come from unleashing it.
His voice was low, his eyes glinting with mischief as he spoke again.“Let it out, baby; you’ll feel better.”
“Baby?”I echoed, my voice tight, my lips pressed into a thin line.
“Do you want to be cuddled like a six-month-old?”he shot out.
Murder was the only logical response.“Do you have a death wish?”I asked, my tone dripping with menace.
King stood slowly, extending a hand toward me.I stared at it for a moment, considering my options, before setting the journal on the pool deck.Reluctantly, I placed my fingers in his and felt the familiar burst of energy that always came with his touch.He pulled me to my feet, his imposing height making me tilt my head back slightly to meet his gaze.
Without answering my question, he stepped closer, wrapping his arms around my waist.My fingers slid down his muscled forearms, grasping his wrists behind my back while pushing my chest against his.The air between us practically crackled.
“Are you trying to get a reaction out of me?”I demanded.There was no other reason he’d tempt me to murder right now, not when he knew I’d been on the verge of exploding since we returned from the outpost.My head tilted back further; my eyes narrowed into lethal lasers aimed directly at him.
“Yes,” he admitted, far too casually.“But I don’t think it’s doing the trick.”
“Really.”The word dripped with consternation, each syllable a warning.
King twisted his wrists, breaking free of my hold with infuriating ease, not that I was trying to hold on.“If that won’t do the trick, maybe this will.”
I didn’t have time to react before I was airborne, my shriek echoing through the room.I hit the water with a loud splash, the shock stealing the breath from my lungs.So stunned, I forgot to hold my breath and inhaled a mouthful of water instead.
I surfaced, choking and sputtering, fury coursing through me.Someone was going to die today.Specifically, the overgrown oaf who thought tossing me into the pool was a good idea.
When I stopped choking, King would no longer be my mate or my guard.He would just be dead.My mental list of who could replace him was the only thought besides his death.
