He didn’t believe the nod for a damn second.
The young fighters burst through the door frame, ripping half of the wall apart. Furious hits and kicks punctuated groans and growls.
“Enough!” Zane reached down and dragged them both up by the hair.
Logan punched him in the ribs, and Zane threw him down hard. He bounced twice.
Garrett snorted and hit Zane in the knee. Zane tossed his ass down, and the vampire bounced three times.
“Let’s try again.” Zane hauled them both up again. Bruises and cuts marred their faces, while anger vibrated around them. He shoved Garrett. “You’re scaring your sister.” Then he pushed Logan the other way. “You’re pissing me off, and you ruined my cabin.”
Both young soldiers turned to view the missing wall. Snow drifted around, and the heat from the fire dissipated.
Garrett turned again, his gaze finding Janie. “How the hell could you?”
Zane stepped to block his view, his voice lowering to deadly. “Watch your tone with your sister.”
Janie scrambled to her knees on the bed and leaned around Zane. “Are you all right, Garrett?”
Garrett snarled. “Sure. The demon here hits like a girl.” At Janie’s indrawn breath, he hastily added, “A girl who hasn’t been trained to fight.”
“A girl?” Logan lunged for Garrett, propelling them both into Sam. He crashed to the floor. Carrots flew in every direction and rolled through the snow. “God fucking damn it,” Sam muttered, standing and yanking both kids up by the ears.
Logan howled in surprise, and Garrett hissed in pain.
Sam eyed Zane. “What’s the plan?”
“Take them to Realm headquarters and land right outside the main lodge. Check on Mom, and tell the king I’ll bring Janie within the hour.” Zane ignored the fist she plowed into his kidney. “Now, Sam.”
Both Garrett and Logan began to protest, and with a wink, Sam zipped them all from sight.
The wind whistling, his cabin demolished, Zane turned to view his mate.
It was time to reach an understanding.
Janie eyed Zane warily. “Is Sam strong enough to transport both Garrett and Logan?”
“Yes,” Zane said. The guy had been punched in the groin too many times, and irritation glowed a bright green in those amazing eyes. She realized she didn’t know him.
Not really.
The kid she’d played with was gone, and this man had fought battles she couldn’t even imagine.
He’d overpowered both Garrett and Logan, two predatory vampires, with an easy grace and an effort not to injure them. With the controlled authority of a warrior. Underestimating him would be a mistake.
Even so, they needed to get a couple of things straight, and she couldn’t let his earlier threat go unanswered.
“You ever try to spank me, and I promise you’ll lose a hand.” She kept her voice level and as pleasant as possible.
His cheek creased, while his eyes warmed in amusement. “Ah, baby. I accept that challenge.”
The low tone zinged right through her body to land between her legs. She shivered.
He frowned and leaned down to gather her up, blankets and all. She squawked and grasped his shoulders as he strode toward the still crackling fire to deposit her on the large ottoman.
Then, with a sigh, he turned back, grabbed the entire mattress, and propped it over the gaping hole in the wall. “I liked this cabin,” he grumbled.
Janie swallowed, watching him move. All predatory grace and economical movements—just like a big cat considering dinner. “What did you think would happen when you brought Garrett here?”
