Kieran studied me for a long moment, his expression giving nothing away.
Now was the moment where he’d either live up to my expectations or he’d prove my prejudices wrong.
What’s it going to be, Alpha? Do you really care about my friend? Or are you just like all the others?
“We’re not letting Kieran go anywhere alone with you,” Cillian said, causing me to blink. I’d almost forgotten about his presence despite him standing beside the other male.
Lorcan took that moment to remind me of his existence as well with a subtle twitch of his fingers against my hip.
How had I forgotten he was there? And why haven’t I tried to fight him yet?
Ihatedbeing touched by Alphas. Mostly because my inner wolf seemed to crave it. Even now, she was curled into a content ball and purring in response to his nearness, which was precisely the wrong reaction to have to such a deadly male.
Fortunately, my inner vampire was made of logic.
Because if these two Elites weren’t going to let Kieran go to the Sanctuary with me… “Then you can’t help me.”
Which meant I’d wasted precious minutes here and it was time to go.
I tried to sidestep my way out of Lorcan’s grip, but he just tightened his hold once more and pressed his mouth to my ear. “He’s not saying Kieran can’t go,” he told me in a low voice underlined with a warning that matched his touch. “He’s saying we won’t let him goalonewith you.”
Kieran gaped at his cousin, an expression I would have shared if Lorcan had allowed me to turn and face him.
“One of us is coming with you,” he added against my ear.
Cillian nodded in agreement. “Yes. One of us will join you for Kieran’s protection.”
These two can’t be serious.“Have none of you been listening to me?” I demanded. “The barrier only allows Omegas and their mates.”
“And you’re unmated,” Cillian replied, not missing a beat. “Since you killed your vampire mate.”
I did,I nearly asserted aloud.
But then… then his words started to translate in my head. Or rather, theimplicationunderlining his statements.
He can’t possibly mean…
“Mate one of us so we can cross over with you,” he stated flatly, validating the trajectory of my thoughts. “That way, if Kieran still can’t pass through, one of us can bring Quinnlynn back to him.”
“You think I didn’t try to bring her here? Because trust me, I did.” I’d tried last night as uniting Quinn with Kieran had been my first instinct. “But the barrier reacted, and Quinnlynn screamed so loud that she woke up the entire Sanctuary.”
“Trust you?” Cillian asked. “I believe—”
“You haven’t given us a single damn reason to trust you,” Lorcan interrupted. “We found you lurking in Kieran’s quarters with a knife.”
I rolled my eyes. I hadn’t even produced the knife, as it was still in my damn boot.Besides, it was…“For my protection,” I gritted out through my teeth. “I’m not here to hurt anyone. I’m trying to help Quinn.”
“And other than provide a few fancy explanations—that may or may not be true—you haven’t given us any real reason to trust you,” Lorcan countered, his Irish accent far more subdued than Kieran’s and Cillian’s.
Not that I gave a fuck about that right now. Not with these assholes questioning my every word.
“So you’re giving me an ultimatum,” I translated, my words punctuated by my mounting irritation.
“No, we’re giving you an opportunity to prove your loyalty,” Cillian countered.
“By forcing me to mate one of you.” I huffed a humorless laugh. “How chivalrous.”
“You think we want to take a mate? Let alone one known for killing her last Alpha partner?” Cillian asked.
