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“I’m not sure about that.”
Brow twitching, she glanced at him in surprise. “What? How would you know?”
“It’s my gift. Sensing other shifter’s gifts and using them. I’ve borrowed yours off and on since you got here. It feels like the sense you have right now is different. Same basic threat, but more imminent.”
“That’s not intrusive or anything,” she replied with a frown. He just shrugged unapologetically, and she sighed as the thought was rapidly taken over by the worry she felt amplifying. “Should I warn everyone? What should I do? I feel out of my element here.”
“I don’t think warning anyone will do much more than make Luke a nervous wreck. He’s already nervous about you being here while there’s a threat floating around. Letting him know something’s going to happen soon will only make it worse, especially since you don’t know what’s going to happen—just that something will.”
“That feels deceptive to me. Besides, shouldn’t everyone know so they can be prepared? If they were hurt because they weren’t ready, I’d never forgive myself.”
“We’re Enforcers, Tarun. We’re always prepared for a threat. Always. And look around. We’re even more ready to face one now than usual, because, thanks to you, we know for sure one’s coming. There’s absolutely nothing we can do to be more on guard, so the only thing bringing it up would accomplish is worrying everyone. Especially Luke.”
Pushing her plate away, she took a sip of her drink, thinking over what Noah said. He made a lot of sense. It just didn’t sit well with her. For a long time, deception had been an expected way of life for the War Cats. She’d always despised it and never participated in it.
And not speaking up right then felt like she was taking part in it.
Movement caught her eye and she glanced over to see Luke walking back in the room. He strode over to the jukebox, pressed some buttons, and then turned, smiling at her as he walked her way.
Her breath caught and she and her tiger both felt stunned as she watched him. His tall, powerful form was full of intent, and his light blue eyes were full of heat, longing, adoration, and love.
He was everything she’d ever wanted but never thought she’d find.
Every thought fled her mind as he finally reached her, holding his hand out to her. “Want to dance?”
Her eyebrows rose, one side of her mouth lifting. She put her hand in his, but resisted as he tried to pull her up. “Dance? I’m not much of a dancer. In fact, I’ve never danced. Not since I was kid and standing on Jameson’s feet.”
“Never danced? Well, I think it’s time we remedy that. Come on.”
She let him pull her up, and he kept her hand in his as he led them to a small area where there was no furniture. A slow song started playing as he turned and took her into his arms, wrapping his arms around her waist and holding her close.
Warmth washed over her as she wound her arms around his neck, resting her cheek on his chest. They swayed back and forth to the music, slow and easy, and she wondered absently why she’d never danced before. There was nothing hard about what they were doing, and she felt amazing—cherished, loved, and desired.
But then, she’d never had Luke to dance with before, and she knew it wouldn’t have felt like that with anyone except him.
They didn’t speak at all for most of the song, and then he finally broke the silence. “I can tell something’s bothering you.”
Guilt swamped her and she hesitated, trying to decide what the right thing—the best thing—to do was. “Luke—”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to. I respect your decision either way. I just wanted to let you know that I realize it, but I won’t be upset if you want to keep quiet.”
She didn’t want to worry him more, she really didn’t, but she couldn’t keep it to herself. Even if he hadn’t said he realized something was weighing on her mind, she probably still would have come clean by the time the night was over. But she wasn’t going to wait. He deserved to know, and she wouldn’t want him keeping stuff from her, either.
Opening her mouth, she started to tell him what she was sensing, but a commotion by the front door caught her attention before she could say anything. She could feel her eyes widening with horror as she watched while the door was kicked in and three men ran inside, almost immediately shifting.
“Fuck! Get upstairs, Tarun, now!” Luke shoved her toward the archway roughly. “Get Georgie and go to our room. Hide in the closet if you have to and don’t come out until I come for you. Now go!”
Trusting she’d do as he asked, Luke immediately shifted, his lion on the move before he was even on all four paws. She should do what he asked. She knew she should. But she was totally incapable of leaving him in danger while she could shift and help.
The other Enforcers—minus Dmitri and Damara, who weren’t there—were holding the outsiders at bay, and she did what she did best—she studied them. There were two gorillas and a grizzly. She watched closely, analyzing how they fought, the moves they made, what they relied on when they were backed into a corner.
They were taking on any Enforcer who came at them, their aim to kill, not just maim. But time and again, their eyes turned toward Luke, and it was clear he was their target. They were outnumbered, and she would have thought she wasn’t needed, but they were almost unstoppable.
If they were humans, she’d swear they were hopped up on an illegal substance. But shifters didn’t get high like humans did—their animals went into overdrive to burn the foreign substances out of their bodies.
Unless they were on something made specifically for shifters. She knew there was stuff out there formulated for their kind, but she knew precious little about it, or if something that could do what she was seeing even existed.
Still, the Enforcers were more than holding their own, and she started to back toward the archway. Georgie was a human who couldn’t hope to win against a shifter, so she needed to make sure she was protected.
