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But she didn’t seem to remember there was anything to rebuild. She’d responded to me—I’d caught her reaction, that immediate draw toward one’s mate. The same thing I’d felt the second I’d laid eyes on her. And, God, what a beauty of a mate I had. The smell of her, sweet and tart at the same time, when I’d leaned close to her... It’d taken all my self-control not to lower my lips to hers, to find out if she tasted just asgood.
She wasn’t ready for that. She wasn’t ready for any of this. Herbodyhad responded, but her confusion had been genuine. She didn’t even recognize what I was, and I was pretty sure she didn’t know whatshewas either. My Princess of Flames, without a clue she was anything other than an ordinary human being. You couldn’t get much more absurd thanthat.
And now I had to try to explain it to her on top of justifying my lieutenant’s unfortunate kidnappingtendencies.
I glowered at Leonard a little more, but really, the fault was at least half mine for picking him for thejob.
“The other alphas will be on their way,” I said. “They could arrive any minute. So now that you know I’m not joking, please find a lamp to dust or a toilet toscrub.”
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.” Leonard bobbed his head and loped away. Maybe he could learn. I didn’t enjoy hearing my underlings simper, but it was better than them running around half-cocked—and fucking up the most important moment in my life sofar.
I headed downstairs, picking up the scent of frying sausages and scrambled eggs from the kitchen. Lindy, who took care of this house during the long periods when I was situated elsewhere, had known we were going to need breakfast even if I’d forgotten. She was sharp enough that she’d probably already made enough forguests.
Under the sounds of sizzling oil and a spatula tapping the pans, a creaking reached my feline-sharp ears. I stopped, turning my head to zero in on thenoise.
The back parlor. Someone was trying to jimmy open the window fromoutside.
First kidnapping and then breaking and entering. This really was shaping up to be a fantastic day. I sucked in abreath.
“Leonard!” I shouted, making for the front hall. “I’ve got another job for you afterall.”
* * *
Ren
What didshe do to you, my Princess of Flames? How has she shut youaway?
Marco’s words echoed in my head. I leaned it into my hands where I was sitting on the edge of the bed. My mind hadn’t stopped reeling since he’d walked out the door. Which he’d left open, so I guessed Iwasallowed to leave if I wanted to. I just didn’t see how I could when there were so many questionsIneeded answerednow.
How had he known my mother? Why did he think he knew me? How had he found out my full name? What was so important that he’d tracked me down—that his “assistant” had thought it was worth kidnapping meover?
Why did I feel the urge to walk into his arms every second I was nearhim?
A yelp from outside broke through my whirling thoughts. There was a thump and a grunt, sounds of a struggle. I was already on my feet hurrying to the window when a familiar chirpy voice, hardened with anger, carried through theglass.
“Let me go! And you’d better let Ren go too. I know you took her in there. You freaking assholes. I called the police! They’ll be here any timenow.”
Kylie. What was she doing here? I dashed the rest of the way to thewindow.
Kylie’s neon pink pixie cut flashed in the brightening sunlight. Marco’s assistant Leonard had tackled her to the ground with her arms pinned behind her back. She squirmed against him, still yelling threats and insults even though her face was pressed against the grass. Marco stood over the two of them. His mouth moved, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying toLeonard.
A chill washed over me. Marco had claimed the kidnapping was accidental, but he did at least hire guys who thought that kind of behavior was a-okay. What if he hurt Kylie—orworse?
I yanked up the window and kicked out the screen. Then, in a blink, I’d leapt onto the ledge and vaulted myself out into theair.
The wind rushed past me with the exhilaration a good jump always brought. Like a surge of power I could almost grasp hold of before it slipped through my fingers. My body hunched over, braced for impact. I hit the ground with athunkthat rattled my bones but didn’t break any. I’d doneworse.
When I scrambled to my feet, Marco was staring at me with those intoxicating indigo eyes. He glanced from me to the window and back again. Then he laughed. “If you wanted to come down, I do have a perfectly goodstaircase.”
I ignored the quip. Leonard had frozen to watch what was going on, but he still had Kylie jammed against the lawn. “Don’t hurt her,” I said. “Let her go. She’s my bestfriend.”
Marco arched an eyebrow at me. “I caught your best friend attempting to break into myhome.”
“Because I caughtyoudragging Ren off to do who knows what to her,” Kylie snapped back. She managed to tip her head at an angle so she could meet my eyes. “Are youokay?”
“I’m fine,” I said. Physically speaking, at least. Emotionally... My confusion had faded behind that sharp scrabbling feeling in my chest, which was getting stronger every second Kylie lay pinned on the ground. Leonard was only following orders. I glared at Marco. “I said,Let her go. She was only trying to help me. You can’t blame her forthat.”
Something shifted in his eyes as he gazed back at me. A deeper heat than before collected between my legs. Itreallywasn’t fair that this dude could make my panties melt with just one look, even when I was totally pissed off athim.
