“How?”she gritted out.“Magic?”
“No.She calls on The Mother and the…” Ryan sighed, lifted a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.“I don’t know.Trip, you explain.You know about this shit more than I do.”
“That’s because he fucked the help,” El bit off, her eyes narrowing at Trip with a rage that made Shawn very glad she’d found out about his having slept with Annabel back when she’d just been a regular human.
Jesus, this side of her was fucking scary.
Hotter than hell, but scary as shit.
Trip flinched.“It was before you were born, El.”
“I don’t care.How the fuck would you feel if I brought the guy who took my virginity around for a meet and greet?”
When silence fell at her demand, her top lip curled upward.“Exactly.Why is it okay for you three to be possessive, but I’m not?Why is it okay to flaunt an ex-lover in my face when you wouldn’t be okay with my doing the same?”
“She’s here to help you.We want the best for you.”
“Bullshit.I guarantee if my first lover was a goddamn healer to the stars, you’d find someone else rather than come face to face with him.
“That’s how it works,” she snapped.“You don’t bring old lovers into your new lover’s bedroom.”
“You’re hardly a lover,” Trip argued.“You’re my goddamn mate!I’ve been searching for you since I knew how my cock worked, and I refuse to let you diminish the bond between us, as well as denigrate a friendship I cherish over some misplaced jealousy.”
If the silence that came after her declaration about her first lover had throbbed with tension, now, it was like sitting in the heart of a volcano’s belly, one that was waiting to erupt.
“Get.Out.”
The two words were soft at first.Barely an utterance.Then, when none of them stirred, none of them listened, her eyes turned golden and she roared, “Get.Out!”
Ryan’s Lion flared to life, but Marc and Trip got to their feet and headed out of the room.When Shawn made to stay, intent on making sure El was alright, Marc grabbed him and dragged him out of there.
As he slammed the door closed behind him, Shawn demanded, “What the fuck?You’re going to leave her in there with him?”
Trip ran a tired hand through his hair.“It’s too late.The heat’s triggered, and she won’t calm down until he dominates her.”
“If he dominates her,” Marc said softly.
Trip shot him a look.“She was strong.”
Marc grimaced.“Stronger than us.”
Shawn’s eyes flared wide.“How do you know?”
“We were compelled to obey that last demand,” Trip replied heavily as his back slammed into the wall.He stared forward, pretty much at nothing, then realizing Claudia was still there, stood upright.
His cheeks grew pink as he saw her watching him at the other end of the hall.
He stepped toward her, and Shawn watched him go.There was a sad smile on the woman’s face, and Shawn knew Claudia, whatever Trip said, was head over heels in love with the Lion.
The man had been a fool to bring her here.
He said as much to Marc, who shrugged.“She’s the best.We didn’t want it to come to this.”He grimaced.“She’ll get pregnant now.There’s no way to avoid it.”
“She’s on the pill.”
“Her system isn’t hardwired for the pill.She’s lucky she didn’t get pregnant before if I’m being honest.”
“Can’t be lucky if you never have sex,” Shawn pointed out ruefully.
