The entire Realm didn’t need to hear their dispute.
Chapter 20
They walked in silence through the quiet subdivision, reaching Janie’s home much too quickly.
Zane held the door open for her, and she swept inside, head held high. They truly needed to set some ground rules, although her mind was still spinning from Guiles’s death. The death of a prophet. The fact that the prophesy marking hadn’t branded her neck shocked her.
Deep down, she’d always assumed she’d be a prophet. Especially after the visions Guiles had had last year of her wearing such a marking.
Zane closed the door quietly. Too quietly.
Janie whirled. “I take it you’re mad about something.”
He lifted one eyebrow. “Try a different approach.”
She tapped her foot, trying to dispel her nervousness. “Get over it.”
“Bad try.” He leaned back against the door, clearly blocking her exit. “You’re still human and won’t have immortal chromosomal pairs for weeks. Thus you can die. I told you to go underground because I thought something might happen while I was away. I was right.”
Yeah, he’d been right. “I can handle myself, Zane.”
He glowered. “You lied to me.”
“No I didn’t.” She eyed the distance to the bedroom door, which had a lock. “I didn’t promise to go underground, and you know it.”
Arrogance marked his every move. “No, but I trusted you’d obey me in a time of war—at least until you’re not so vulnerable.”
Damn but theo wordjust pissed her off. “I’m glad we got this situation out of the way, because I don’t just obey. Period.”
A dimple winked in his left cheek. “Oh, you’ll learn.”
She stiffened. Who the hell did he think he was? Yet finally, he was talking about a future. What had happened with Suri? “Get over yourself.”
He cleared his throat, obviously choosing his words carefully. “We mated, and that means something to me.”
“Me too.” She frowned.
He overwhelmed the small entryway. “You’re my responsibility now. Hell. I think you’ve always been mine.”
Vampires. They thought they could control the world. “You’re mine, too,” Janie said softly.
Zane nodded. “Maybe. But for now, you’re human, which means you could die. I’m a soldier, I’m a fighter, and I give orders so peopledon’tdie. It’s all I know, and it’s all I can control during this damn war. So for now, you follow orders.”
The poor guy had been raised in different militaries since day one, and he’d kept his brothers safe by giving orders. He probably didn’t understand another way. Janie shook her head. “No.”
That quickly, his expression moved from earnest to soldier hard. “You have everyone fooled, don’t you, baby?” he drawled.
She shook her head and backed up. Her every nerve shot into overdrive, making her achingly aware of her body. Of the need suddenly coursing through her. Why did she react like this to him and to that tone of voice? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do.” He pushed off from the door and headed toward her. “You’re the sweet Janie Kayrs, the fragile human everybody protects and love. The woman who nearly gets killed and yet doesn’t express fear. Nobody has ever drawn lines for you, have they?”
She caught her breath and fought the urge to flee. “I’m not some scared, spoiled kid, Zane.”
His eyes darkened. “No, you’re an interesting mix of competent doctor, loving family member, and reckless brat. While the first two characteristics intrigue me, the final one will get you killed, and it’s time that ended. Charm and sweetness have gotten you out of any amount of trouble around here, thus putting you in danger.”
Irritation blew up into anger as she backed into the living room. “You’re an arrogant idiot.”
He shook his head, continuing his advance. “Only brats call names.”
