Trip wrinkled his nose."It’s kind of my fault.I bought a property development company that was going cheap because the owners were close to bankruptcy.Because of it, I sneaked a plot of land out from under the Pantera's nose.They had a deal with the original owners, and because I'm a dick, and I dislike the Pantera, I didn't make good on the deal."He shrugged."To be fair, everyone was in agreement.We used the land to build Feral as the plot was just perfect for our needs.I think they wanted it for a place to run...Plots that good are hard to find.They’ve been pissed ever since."
Shawn scoffed, "Surely that's just business?"
"The Pantera have a funny way of seeing business."Ryan rubbed his chin."Thankfully, mate bonds are just as sacred to them.Once they realize that El is ours, they should back off."
Marc nodded in agreement."Because of that, I really think you should go see the Pantera Council first.Upon consideration, I reckon it's not down to us to talk to Joseph, not really.If anyone deserves answers, it’s El.And she has to be the one to pose the questions.Her entire life has been a lie.Right down to the very basics, so she is bound to feel like she is on shaky ground.Us going in there and trying to find out the truth isn't going to do any good at all.If anything, it could piss her off and make her angry with us.
"On top of that, the Pantera Council is going to want to deal with you, Ryan.They're not going to believe anything without your sanction.Plus, they know Trip.They will be pissed he's there, but the fact you brought him along will add weight to your position."
"How do you figure that?"Trip grumbled scornfully.
"Trust your elders," Marc mocked."But seriously, you wouldn't take Trip along if the situation didn’t hold weight, would you, Ryan?His presence is going to stir up some serious tension, so his being there is like a kind of backhanded olive branch."
"I can see that logic," Shawn admitted.
Trip snorted."I wonder why that is?"He rolled his eyes."I’d say you were throwing me to the lions if I weren’t one myself.
“And though it pains me to admit it, Marc does calm her down, and she has known Shawn far longer than she has known any of us."
Ryan grimaced, then nodded."We'll head out and see them tomorrow."
"We should probably get to bed.It's been a long day, only God knows what tomorrow will bring.I sure as hell never imagined that after today's ceremony we'd find out our mate was a panther shifter."Trip yawned, then got to his feet, and with another grumble, said, "Night."He ambled off without waiting for a response.
Ryan shot Marc a look, then turned his attention to Shawn.What he was looking for, Marc couldn't say, and he also couldn't discern whether Ryan found it.He jerked his chin up at them both and murmured, "Same."
Once the two of them had left for their own quarters, Shawn leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees.Bowing his head, he murmured, "I never saw any of this coming."
"You weren't supposed to," Marc tried to comfort."You were assigned to a human.That was your detail.If her father had wanted you to know, then he would have told you.Instead, he kept El’s heritage a secret."
Shawn shook his head, obviously dazed by the evening’s events."All this time, I just figured she was a target because of her wealth.Instead, it's because she's Pantera."
Marc sighed."No, we don't know that.I'm certain she'll always be a target because of her money.Let's face it, that one time the kidnapping was successful, that was about money.If it had been Pantera, they'd have stolen her and kept her with them.No amount of money would have induced them to return her to her family.But I'm also certain that the threats will drop in their number now.
"We’ll know more tomorrow after Ryan speaks with the council.I have a feeling in my bones that her mother is somebody pretty important to somebody on there."
"What makes you say that?"
Marc shrugged."Instinct?Also, only somebody on the council could sanction an abduction like what Jamie and Enrique had organized.When the Pantera said they'd had nothing to do with the kidnapping attempt, it was obviously bullshit.That doesn't surprise me.Ryan himself said that just because the council had denied any involvement, didn't mean that was the case.Proof can be manufactured and doctored for the right price."
Shawn rubbed his eyes."For El’s sake, I wish this wasn't so complicated."
"I think you underestimate her strength.And I mean no offence by that," Marc tagged on softly."Her life has been nothing but complicated.And she's never had a concrete answer or justification as to why she's targeted more than anybody in her family.Sure, she is the richest.Technically.But technically doesn't count.Her money is tied up in trust funds.Other people in the family have far more access to their wealth.She'll know that.And she’ll feel guilty as fuck for wishing that some son of a bitch out there was targeting somebody close to her rather than El herself.
"At least this way, she’ll have a reason.Also, she’ll have a place.I feel like she's never had that before.If Annabel isn't her mother, it's no wonder there's never been any kind of connection between the two of them.If anything, Annabel would never have liked El.She's a cuckoo in the nest."
"I think it's time to go to bed.You're making far too much sense."
Marc snorted."Get used to it.It happens quite a lot."
“How do we do this?”Shawn asked quietly.“You want to be with her, and I do too.”
“Then we be with her.Never had a slumber party before?”
Shawn froze, stared at him, then ducked his head to hide a snicker.“We fourteen-year-old girls now?”
“This connection between all of us… it’s only sexual where she’s concerned.”He shrugged.“I can see you in the raw, and you don’t have to worry about whether I want to fuck you or not.You can see Ryan fucking El and be turned on.For any of this to work, we all have to be at ease with one another, as well as be comfortable with the knowledge that we’re all going to be fucking El at some point or another.”
Shawn winced.“You aim for the jugular, man.”
