“You’re going to take her from me,” he snarls. “I’ll kill you before I let that happen.”
I get between them. My hand presses flat against Aaron’s chest and I push, forcing him back a step, my eyes locked on his.
“Aaron, that is enough. I’m telling you to stop it right now.”
“It’s fine, Mara.” Tiana’s voice is steady behind me. “Whatever is going on, I’ll find out.”
They glare at each other over my shoulder. Neither of them moves and the silence is thick enough to choke on.
Tiana turns and walks toward the door, her cloak sweeping behind her. She pauses in the doorway without turning around.
“You’ve been building a relationship with Eric,” she says. “For how long? I know he didn’t just come around.” She glances over her shoulder. “And since you aren’t going to tell me, I’ll find out myself.”
“Stay away from my mate,” Aaron warns.
I grab his arm. I squeeze harder, my claws pressing into his skin, and he finally tears his eyes from the doorway and looks down at me.
“See you later,” Tiana says. The air splits behind her with a crack of blue-gold light and she steps through the portal and is gone.
“What is your problem?” I hiss the moment the light fades.
Aaron doesn’t answer. Instead he cups my face with both hands, his palms warm and shaking, and presses his forehead against mine. His eyes close. I can feel his breath coming fast against my mouth, and the scent rolling off him isn’t anger anymore.
It coats my tongue, thick and sour, and my lion goes still inside me.
“I need you to do something for me,” he whispers.
“What?” My hands come up to grip his wrists. “Aaron, what is it?”
“Stay away from Tiana. You have to stay away from her.”
“Why?” I pull back enough to search his face. His eyes are open now, and what I see in them makes my tail snap upright. He’s terrified. “Tiana is your sister. Why would I?—“
“Please, Mara.” His voice breaks on my name—cracks down the middle like something inside him just gave way. “Please.”
I stare at him. His hands are trembling against my cheek. Whatever he’s carrying, it’s pulling him apart from the inside.
“Okay, Aaron.” I cover his hands with mine and hold them against my face. “Okay.”
His breath shudders out and he sags against me, and I hold him there, my lion pressing into me, straining toward him, not understanding why he won’t let her close.
“Well, well, WELL.”
We both freeze.
Meekah steps into the classroom with his tail and ears perked straight up and his nostrils flaring. The fury rolling off him is so strong I can taste it from across the room. He plants his feet and crosses his arms, his golden eyes bouncing between me and Aaron.
“Which one of your funky ass witches put a spell on me?” he demands.
Aaron doesn’t move. His eyes stay on mine, his hands still cupping my face.
“When we get home,” I say quietly, holding Aaron’s gaze, “you are going to talk to me. Do you understand?”
He nods.
“Was it your limp warlock?” Meekah cuts in, jerking his chin at Aaron. “Just because I let the cat out of the bag that you’ve been using magic for birth control?—“
I groan and close my eyes.
