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“You can’t do that!” several people spluttered in outrage. I snickered.
“I can and I will.” Zosime’s voice was resolute. Her eyes swiveled and locked with mine, which should have been impossible since we were hidden, but Lokene had been right about her having abilities that defied logic.
Send them back, Zosime thought to me.
You too?I asked.
No, only the leaders. My mates stay here with me.
So she could see not only me, but her mates behind my wall as well. The side of my lip twitched up. Interesting…
With little more than a thought, I sent the leaders back to the meeting room while at the same time dissolving the wall that separated Zosime from us.
“Zosi!” Kye ran forward like an eager golden retriever puppy, scooping her in his arms and twirling her around.
For a brief moment, Zosime relaxed in his arms. Until her eyes landed on me and her body stiffened. Confused, Kye set her down.
Stepping between the guys, Zosime made her way to stand in front of me. Crossing her arms under her breasts in a way that made them look even more tempting, she narrowed her eyes. I opened my mouth, fully planning to say something witty and sexy.
“Hi.” I wanted to smack myself. What was I? Twelve and losing my mind over a pretty girl?
“Thank you for your assistance.” Her words made my heart thud harder.
“You’re welcome. Anytime you need to banish someone, I’ll be here.” I hated how eager I sounded.
“Where’s Lokene?” Zosime cut straight to the point.
“He was summoned to the Ancients’ world. I’m supposed to bring you to him.” I hated being the one to give her that little tidbit of news.
“You mean he is being held as a prisoner against his will, as a pawn to force me to do the will of the Ancients?”
She saw right through the tactics being used against her. I understood the panic the Ancients were dealing with over the Lure. Heck, I was terrified of it. But pinning the responsibility of solving all our problems on one distractingly beautiful woman, while treating her as less than an equal, was all kinds of wrong.
“Yes.” I saw no point in denying it.
Something lit in the back of her eyes. Surprise?
“I have no intention of going back on my word. I will be going to your world as soon as I finish my work here. Kidnapping my mate, and robbing me of this time with him, was unnecessary.” Zosime studied my reaction.
“Agreed.” I narrowed the distance between us, unable to fight the urge to touch her.
Why was it happening like this? I was sent to seduce her, but instead of putting her under my spell, it was Zosime who’d worked her magik on me. I couldn’t stand one more moment of not touching her. Catching her chin with my hand, I savored the soft brush of her skin against mine. “When you are ready, I will be waiting. Take whatever time you need.”
Not giving her the chance to rebuff my touch, I blinked myself out of the room. Zosime needed time with her mates, and I had some business to attend to while the Ancients were distracted. And I needed to get away before I lost all my dignity, as well as my ability to resist her.
In the blink of an eye, Bion was gone, leaving me with a lot of things I’d wanted to say. I was thankful for his help, but I was also irritated by it. If Lokene had been here, then Bion’s assistance would have been unnecessary. But Lokene wasn’t. And like it or not, Bion had my back when I needed help.
That didn’t mean I would cave to the siren’s desire to bite him, to claim him as hers. On second thought, I might bite him, but just not with the same intention as the siren. Bion was a complication I didn’t need and definitely couldn’t afford right now.
Tonight was my last night with my men, only they didn’t know that. There was no way I could risk taking them into Iolatara. I could handle myself. Between my skills and my body’s abilities, I had a shot at victory. My odds of winning would go down if my attention was divided between protecting my mates and completing my mission.
Only Zeno knew my plan, and while he despised it, he understood my reasoning. The only way I could walk into the world of the Ancients without distraction was with the knowledge that Zeno was protecting Atlantis. He’d been an amazing ruler before I knew the city still existed, and he would continue the city’s proud legacy, with or without me.
Tonight, I wanted to forget I was a warrior and a queen. I wanted to forget the mission coming up. I just wanted to be a woman with her loving mates.
Looking at the anxious faces around me, I wished we were back on our boat so I could have all my mates with me in one room. Here in the castle, I had to pick between my mates with legs or my mate with a tail. I couldn’t have both.
Yes, you can.Zeno’s voice poured into my mind like molten chocolate. Decadent and rich and irresistible. He couldn’t read my mind, but he must have felt my despair.
