And dared me to disagree with him.
Right. The game. Damn, this was exhausting.
I took a step toward Caleb, sliding free of Taroc's hand, but also smiled at him. “Well, we're sure moving in that direction.”
“Uh, should I leave?” Caleb asked.
“No,” I hurried to say, my stare still on Taroc. I yanked it back to Caleb. “Not at all. Taroc is still deciding whether he wants to pursue something with me. I may have to move on if he takes too long. Destiny and all that.”
Caleb cleared his throat and stepped back, muttering, “Here we go again.”
I followed his worried stare back to Taroc, whose expression had gone . . . severe. Not exactly angry, but very intense. And his primal stare was still on me.
“I think, uh. Oh, look, I see David and Hannah with their kids. I think I'll go talk to them.” Caleb ran away.
“Caleb,” I called after him, but he didn't look back.
I didn't blame him. A severe Taroc was terrifying.
Taroc's arm slid around my waist. I turned toward him just as he pulled me closer.
“Taroc, what the fuck?” I set a hand on his chest to hold him back, then glanced at Xae.
Xaedren's eyes narrowed, but he stayed seated beside Nex. Nex looked back and forth between us, then grinned. Right. He had protested Caleb because he wasn't a Wraith Lord. But Taroc was. So, he couldn't say anything. It looked as if even his wolf would allow it.
Holy fuck.
“I have decided,” Taroc whispered in my ear. “I thought I made that clear.”
I pushed away from him, but he only let me back up a few inches. “How exactly did you make it clear?”
Taroc frowned as if he wasn't sure if I was playing with him. “The look I gave you the other day.”
“You think you can justlookat me, and I'm going to come running?”
Oh, yeah. Now, he was making it easy to play the game. I used both hands and pushed again. This time, I managed to break his hold on me. I wasn't a complete weakling after all.
As Taroc gaped, I said, “If you want me, you need to make a fucking effort. Don't just paw at me like an animal. Court me.Woome. Try words to start, and maybe—oh, I don't know—use them to ask me on a date!” I stormed away, my lips twitching. To myself, I whispered, “Don't look back. You'll ruin it.”
But I didn't have to look back. I could hear Taroc's low growl, and after being with Xaedren for so long, I knew exactly what that tone of growl meant even if it wasn't Xae growling. That wasn't anger. It was lust. Point to Ember. I was giving Taroc exactly what he needed.
Pursue me, baby. Come on, you know you want to. Here, Taroc, good boy.
I sat down across from Xae and finally allowed myself to smile.
“Well, look at you, working over a Tytra like you're one of us,” Nex said. He glanced at Taroc, smirked, and added, “Nicely done. I don't think I've ever seen someone put Taroc in his place. I mean, if he were a bottom, I would have done it long ago, and he'd be in my bed until I tired of him. But for you to twist him up like that, and he an alpha top Tytra?” Nex gave an impressed whistle. “I didn't think you had it in you, kid. Taroc will never forget this moment. Or you. He's as good as yours.”
As Nex spoke, my grin faltered. This wasn't me. Maybe I didn't have enough experience to know what I was like during courtship, but toying with Taroc like that had given me enough to know that I didn't like this sort of subterfuge. It felt wrong. Disrespectful. I didn't want to put Taroc in his place or twist him up. I liked him.
“What's wrong?” Xae asked. “You like him, don't you? I've seen the way you look at him.”
I shrugged. There was no reason to keep it a secret after that performance. Keltyr would get over it.
“Then why the sour face?” Nex asked. He glanced up, then did a double-take. “Speaking of faces, incoming.”
Xae's stare lifted and focused on someone behind me. I heard footsteps. Then they stopped.
“Ember?”
