"There is no other way." Reo spread his hands. "Not one that works this cleanly. They want her. Tomorrow, we give them the illusion of access while keeping her completely protected."
"No." The Dragon’s word was final.
Absolute.
Fuck.
I watched them—Kenji radiating fury and possessive denial, Reo standing firm with cold logic.
The Fangs and Claws had gone still, like they knew better than to breathe too loud during a clash between these two titans.
My nerves were on edge so much that. . .I should have stayed quiet.
Should have let them work it out.
But this wasmylife.
My risk.
My choice.
I took the lollipop out of my mouth and kept my voice respectful but steady. "If I'm the one to be bait, then I should have some say. Right?"
Every eye in the room snapped to me.
Kenji turned slowly, and the movement was predatory. Controlled. His hand slid from my thigh to my hip, fingers curling possessively against the curve there.
Not painful.
Not gentle either.
An alpha claim.
His expression could have melted steel. "That's not how this works, Tora."
His thumb pressed into my hipbone, and heat pooled between my thighs despite the fury radiating off him. "I say no and that's it."
The possessive command his voice held would have made me weak-kneed yesterday.
Today, I held my ground—even as I felt every point of contact where his hand gripped me, even as my pulse kicked hardenough that I was sure he could feel it. "Kenji. . . I'll be safe. No one will harm me."
"And how do you know this?" His voice was soft. Too soft. The kind of soft that preceded violence.
"Hiro will be with me." I glanced at Hiro, who raised one eyebrow but didn't contradict me. "From my quick understanding, no one can battle him and the Claws."
The twins nodded.
Kaoru—the pink-haired playboy—smirked from across the table, leaning back with crossed arms. "Well. . .the Fangs couldeasilybattle the Claws, but we should focus on the topic at hand."
Hiro rolled his eyes.
“The Fangs could easily battle us? I don’t think so.” Toma grinned. “Fangs bite. Claws rip. Guess which kills faster.”
“You want to compare body counts? I don’t think so.” Kaoru winked. “And be respectful when you talk to a Fang.”
"Respectful?” Toma waved him away. “The only reason we're not Fangs is because we don't like to be in anyone's mouth."
All the Claws snickered, while every last Fang sat up and appeared close to leaping over the table.
