“You’re not the one stuck with?—”
“Fraack!”Lola screamed and turned to slap at the person, Maddie, who’d opened the door and scared the living Hades out of her.“Do not sneak up on me after the guy that I’m supposed to spend forever with has just told me he might kill Roan for breathing on me,” she hissed as she clutched her friend by the shirt, pulling her down close.Lola imagined she must look a tad deranged.To be fair, she wasfeelinga tad deranged.
“Wait.”Maddie’s face pinched up as she peeled Lola’s fingers from her shirt.“Callon wants to kill Roan?Why?Will he do it for free?Can I watch?Can I help?”
Lola jerked back, simultaneously pushing Maddie away.“Can you help?Who are you?Katy?No, you can not help kill Roan.”
“It would be fun to watch her try.”Roan casually strolled by, as if he hadn’t just heard them discussing his demise.“Maddie,” he called back a few seconds later.
Lola sputtered.“Did he just call you like a damn dog?”
“Can I help kill him now?”
Lola climbed from the car and closed the door, probably a little too forcefully, as she matched Maddie’s stride.She saw that Callon, hands fisted tightly at his sides, walked beside Roan.By the time they reached the stairs to the large home, Taras, Lyra, Bane, Jaxine, Kian, and the guy Lola remembered as Zephyr had joined them.
Callon stepped over to Lola and took her hand as Taras began speaking.She was surprised at how gentle his touch was, considering how tightly his fists had been clenched only moments ago.
“Callon, you take Lola to the training grounds.The rest of us will go to see theanimi.”
“A.K.A.The Menagerie,” Maddie muttered to Lola.
“They have, like, super-hearing, remember?”
“Oh.”Maddie shrugged.“I wasn’t trying to keep them from hearing me.I was being sus.”
“Good grief.”Lola sighed as she turned to follow Callon.“Please try to behave,” she called back to her friend.
“I always behave,” Maddie retorted.
“Says the girl who sent a text to her mom informing her she has decided to go on a completely spontaneous, irresponsible road trip with people she doesn’t know,” Roan said dryly.
Maddie’s head turned slowly, her eyes glaring daggers.“It’s a lie, obviously, and you know it.”
Roan’s brow rose as he rocked back on his heels.“Not totally, and what you’re actually doing isn’t any better.You could just go home and deliver pizzas.”
Maddie’s mouth dropped open, and Lola found herself taking a step toward her friend as her blood began to boil on her behalf.Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone else moving.Bane.
“If you do not want to be responsible for the female, I will take care of her,” the panther said smoothly.
A strong arm wrapped around Lola’s waist and pulled her back.“Don’t do that again,Sazzi,” Callon whispered.“I wasn’t kidding earlier.”
“I know.”Lola didn’t bother to lower her voice.“And right now, I’m fine with that outcome.”
“She is not your concern, Bane,” Roan said coolly.“Taras.”
The Prime moved closer, but his mate stepped around him and took Maddie’s hand.Lyra smiled at Lola’s friend.“How about I take it from here?”
“Best plan I’ve heard all day,” Lola offered.
“I’ll be fine, Lo.”Maddie made a shewing motion, “Go learn how to have a tail.And if they need volunteers for prey, make sure they put Roan on the list.”
Callon snorted a laugh as he turned and started walking in the opposite direction.“You can put me down,” she told him.
“No, I can’t,” he said flatly.“Having you in my arms is keeping me from shredding Roan.”
She leaned her head back against his shoulder and relaxed.Might as well.“What the heck is his problem?”
“My guess?He wants her.”
