Wyatt gave her a wink.“Hey, Beautiful.”
A rumble began to build in Callon’s chest.
“Easy, Cal.”Wyatt didn’t look worried at all.“I was just about to wish you both congratulations.I’m not hitting on your mate.”
“Back to the murders,” Rafe, who was sitting next to Wyatt, said.“It would take a really long time to list all the names for the body count.There’s really no point going down that dark hole.”
“Agreed.How’s the tat, Lo?”Kian asked as he walked over to her.
“Her name isLola.” Callon growled.“And you don’t need to worry about her tattoo.Iworry about her tattoo.You worry about me not un-aliving you.”
“There’s the prince we all know and love,” a male that Lola didn’t recognize said.
Callon’s body tensed, and the emotions that had held excitement at what Lola assumed was the idea of taking out his enemies shifted to something more sinister.She placed her hand over his, which was pressed firmly to her stomach.She looked at the guy who’d just spoken.“Who are you?”
“My apologies.”The man’s light skin was a bright contrast to his pitch black hair that he wore slicked back.His face had severe angles with sharp cheekbones and a defined jaw.Piercing, ice-blue eyes held hers as he spoke.“We’ve actually met, but you met me while I was in my fur.”He motioned to the beautiful female next to him.She too had jet-black hair, which was piled up on top of her head in a messy bun.“I’m Tack, and this is my mate, Faith.”
Lola’s memory surfaced from the day before.Good grief.Has it only been a day?“You’re the white tigers.”She heard the awe in her own voice.How could she not be in awe?She’d seen the pair in their animal form, and they were magnificent.
“It’s nice to meet you in person.”Faith smiled.“Where I can actually speak back.”
“You two change into white tigers?”Maddie shifted on her feet, and her eyes were as big as saucers.She looked like she might jump into a happy dance at any moment.“That is so freaking cool.”She turned to Lola.“Why do you and Katy get superpowers?I want superpowers.”
Lola gave her a dry look.“So you want to be the target of a supernatural trafficking ring?Because, I’ll be honest, Mads, that’s not something I thought you’d ever aspire to.”
“Can we please focus?”Callon’s voice was low and held a hint of a growl.
“Right.”Lola gave a quick nod.“Bad things.Care to elaborate?”
Taras stepped forward and motioned toward the chairs in his office.“You should both probably take a seat.”
“That bad.”Maddie gave Lola a sidelong glance as she took one of the empty seats.
Lola sat in a chair next to her.Her butt had scarcely hit the cushion before she was plucked up by Callon.“Dude, what are you—” She closed her mouth when he took her seat and then put her in his lap.What the ever loving…Lola mentally choked.“What are you doing?”
“Making sure you can’t run away.”A guy Lola remembered from NNP as Drystan was smirking at them.
“You’re lucky there’s not a rope around,” Rafe added.“He’d tie you to him.”
Bane stood across the room with his shoulder resting against the glass of one of the large windows.“Wouldn’t you?”he asked Rafe.“If she wasyourfemale?”
“Still eager to die,” Callon bit out.Fur rippled across his arms before disappearing.
“All of you need to keep your mouths shut,” Roan snapped.“Especially you, Bane.You saw what he turns into when provoked.”
“I would like everyone in the room to remain quiet until I am done explaining our sordid past to Lola and her friend Maddie.”Taras’s sharp gaze roamed around the room.“Is that understood?”
There was a collective, “Yes, Prime,” from the others, though Callon only grunted.
Taras lowered himself onto the love seat across from Maddie and Lola.Lyra sat next to him.She rested her hands in her lap, though Lola saw a slight shake in them.Taras leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.The sleeves of his dress shirt were rolled back on his forearms, revealing different tattoos of many animals, all in the feline family.
“For a very long time, our kind has had problems procreating,” the Prime began.“And even when our females can conceive, all of the offspring are males.”
“Uh-oh.”Maddie breathed out softly.“I think I see where this is going.”
Lola frowned.“You do?”
Maddie nodded.“Yep,” she popped the ‘p.’“Breeding program.You guys were snatching up women in hopes of knocking them up.But you haven’t been able to reproduce with humans, so now you’ve got all these women that are useless to you.And what do people do with useless things?”She made a slicing motion across her throat.
