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And he loved her more than his own life.
“Everything’s fine, Jameson, I promise.”
Tarun winced at the scoff sounding over the phone. “Fine? Fine, Tarun?”
“I’m not deaf, Jamie, and I comprehend basic words without needing them repeated,” she muttered, instantly regretting her words as silence descended over the phone.
She heard murmuring in the background and knew Cadence was trying to talk her mate down, although she couldn’t hear what she was saying. Crossing her fingers, she prayed her sister in law would be successful. She generally was, and Lord knew, Tarun probably wouldn’t be.
Her brother had always been the most laidback man she knew, but since she left Durga, that man had disappeared. The way she left might have had a bit to do with his reaction, but she still thought it was a tad extreme.
“You need to lose your smart mouth, young lady. I’m pissed the fuck off right now and your attitude isn’t helping.”
“Young lady?” she repeated with disbelief. “I’m not your daughter, and you can’t scold me like I am.”
“No, you’re my sister, and I’ll scold you any way I damned well please.”
“I’m a grown woman and capable of making my own decisions.”
“You told me you left in a fucking note, so forgive me if I question your decision-making abilities. It was stupid enough to leave like that, but then you insisted on staying, despite the danger lurking there. And according to Blake, you came close to losing your life. I want you on your way back home today. Now.”
“Blake has a big mouth.”
Luke walked out of the bathroom of the suite they’d moved into the night before and shot her a warning look, so she clamped her mouth shut and took a few deep breaths, trying to calm down.
“Yes, there was a fire, but everything’s under control. It’s fine.”
“A fire doesn’t sound like everything’s under control. Your big heart is one of the things I love the most about you, Tarun, but it’s going to get you killed. You did your duty and warned Luke and the Enforcers. They’re skilled in intrigue and well versed in dangerous situations. I don’t understand what the hell is keeping you there.”
“There have been some… developments since I arrived that you don’t know about.”
“Well, let’s hear about these developments that are worth putting yourself at risk for. They better be good.”
She glanced over at Luke and took another deep breath. “Well, see—it’s like this—shit. I’ll just say it. Luke’s my mate.”
The line went quiet again and she frowned, about to ask if he heard her, when he finally spoke, his voice tightly controlled. “Luke is your mate.”
He sounded like he was processing, and even though he couldn’t see her, she nodded. “Yes.”
“Luke Carlisle. The lion shifter. A lion—the tiger’s natural enemy.”
Rolling her eyes, she scowled, hoping it was powerful enough that her idiot brother felt it all the way in Durga. “Since when have you ever cared about that kind of stuff? Never. You’ve never cared, and you taught me to not care, either.”
His voice was quiet when he spoke next. “Some of the War Cats will care.”
“The War Cats care entirely too much about stupid crap like that that doesn’t matter. Anyway. Now you know why I can’t leave. He stands a better chance of surviving if I’m with him. I’ve sensed it. And I can’t leave my mate to face this alone. Even if my tiger would let me, I refuse.”
“Is Luke in the room with you?”
“Yeeees,” she drawled, cautious.
“Put him on the phone. Please, Tarun.”
She hesitated, but Luke obviously heard her brother, holding out his hand for the phone. With a sigh, she handed it over, bringing her thumb to her lips, nibbling on the nail while listening closely, so she could catch the entire conversation.
“Jameson. How are you?”
“So it’s true? You and Tarun are mates?”
