Speaking ofRavik, she could hear the bigBeastKindredbehind her, making a low, pleased sound.
“Good bed,” he said.“Bigenough forCassieandRavik.”
Cassie turned and pointed a finger at him.
“Do not look so happy about this.”
He immediately tried to look less happy, which was almost worse because now he looked like a huge guilty wolf pretending he hadn’t just eaten an entire ham.
The mental image made her want to laugh but she was afraid the sound might come out sounding hysterical.Sheasked herself again—was shereallygoing to do this?
Severin cleared his throat.
“If you prefer,Cassandra, you may take one of the smaller rooms and lock the door.Iwill attempt to keepRavikcalm,” he said.
Ravik growled at once.
“No.Cassiestays.Sheis my mate—Imust warm and protect her.”
The sound vibrated through the warm chamber and made every little hair onCassie’sbody stand up.
Severin’s head turned sharply.
“Ravik, you’ll frighten her!Ifshe wants to leave, you have to let her go.”
Ravik didn’t answer in words.Instead, his massive hands curled into fists at his sides.Fora moment, the white film seemed to creep over his golden eyes again, just at the edges.Hisbreathing got heavier and she saw the muscles in his bare shoulders bunch.Hewasn’t attacking anyone, but the sudden tension in the air was impossible to miss.
Cassie’s stomach clenched—Severinwas right.Ifshe left,Ravikwas going to get worse.Becausesome sick, infected part of his brain—or maybe some healthier, more instinctive part of hisBeastKindrednature—had decided she was the thing that kept him anchored.Ifshe disappeared behind a locked door, taking her scent with her, the fog might swallow him again.
And she didn’t want that—not after he’d saved her life in theDeadZone.
Damn it, she really was going to have to do this.
She took a cautious step towardRavikand his gaze snapped to her at once.
“Hey,” she said softly, putting a hand on his arm which was rigid with tension.“It’sokay, big guy.I’mnot going anywhere right this minute.”
TheBeastKindred’sbreathing slowed a little.
“Cassie stays?”he asked, eyeing her hopefully.
Her heart gave a little twist in her chest.
“For now,” she said.“Butwe need rules.”
“Rules,” he repeated.
“Yes.Rules.Lotsof them.”
Severin looked relieved that she wasn’t backing out, though he wisely did not say so.
“What rules would make you feel safer?”he asked.
Cassie glanced at the enormous bed again and triednotto think about the fact that once they climbed onto it, she was going to be surrounded by two very largeKindredwarriors in a room designed specifically for group mating by lizard people.
“Well, for starters, everybody keeps their pants on.”
“Ravik has pants,”Raviksaid proudly, as though this was a major accomplishment.
