“Infuriating woman.” I shook my head. “It’stoofuckingrisky.”
“What other choice do we have?” she asked, throwing her hands in the air.
I turned away, fuming with anger, unable to even look at her. But then I caught the hopeful and desperate gazes of my closest friend, my chief, and his dear mate, our healer who had already done so much for our clan. An oppressive silence fell between us, my jaw clenching so hard I thought I might crack it.
“Let us give them some time to talk, Tessa.” Bezaliel didn’t look at me with those pleading eyes a moment longer, knowing exactly what I was risking and unable to ask it of me. Even though Jessamine was right.
The pair left quietly while I remained still as stone, arms crossed, tail lashing angrily. I felt her draw near. When she slid her arms around my waist from behind and pressed her cheek to my back, I wrapped my tail around her ankle. Even while furious with her, I wanted to draw her close and touch her and keep her near me. Safe.
And just like that first time my temper flared when I killed the dryad stag, she soothed my spirit, calming my soul with her soft touch. How could the gods bless me with such a perfect female and then ask me to risk losing her?
“We must try,” she whispered.
“And how exactly do you plan to do this? You’re going to strip naked in the woods and summon your magick and then seduceone of these foul monsters when they show up?Ifthey show up?”
“They will return for the children. Of that, at least we can be sure.”
“You didn’t answer my other questions.”
She paused, still holding me from behind. “Yes. That’s exactly what I plan to do.”
Pulling her arms from me, I whirled around. “Are youmad? They may descend upon you then and there and mount you like the monsters they are rather than save you for their master.”
“I am a powerful syrenskyn. I have used this magick before.”
“It may not even work on these golems. They’re monsters, abominations. Not men.”
“They’re made of flesh and bone.” She smoothed her hands up my chest. “We must try, Red.”
Her imploring gaze broke me. I knew she was right. I hauled her into my arms and pressed my mouth to her soft hair.
“I can’t lose you, Jessa. You’re my whole heart, my entire soul.”
“You won’t. You’ll all be hiding and waiting. Ready to attack.”
“How? They’ll scent us on the wind.”
“We’ll come up with something to disguise your scent, but it’s probably better if it’s not all of you. Only your best warriors. Too many will be too risky.”
Pulling back, I cupped her beautiful face in my palms. “How did you become such an expert tactician?”
She shrugged. “It’s common sense.”
“I don’t like it,” I told her.
“I know.”
“Ihateit. It makes me want to claw and bite something.”
She bent her head to the side, revealing the slope of her elegant throat. “You can bite me.”
Staring at her perfect pale skin, my mouth salivated. I wanted to sink my teeth there, to ensure she could never have anyone else but me. That no man would ever touch her with my scent on her skin. But I couldn’t be that selfish. The gods gave her to me, butshehadn’t given herself to me. Not permanently.
“Sit with me.” I took her hand and guided her to the bed of furs.
When I paused for too long, trying to find the words, she said the most ridiculous thing in the world.
“You don’t want to give me your mark. Is that it?”
