I amnotPaul’s subject to tyrannize. None of us are. Would Axe tolerate being undermined, being insulted on his own land?
What would aLunado?
I raise my weapon, firing a shot into the night sky. The world stills all around us as the thunderous sound ripples. “That’s enough. Call off your dogs and get the hell out.Now.”
Paul stumbles, the moon casting an intense beam at his back. Spitting on the ground, he levels the witch and her mate with a furious glower. “Consider yourselves banished. If I catch any of you stepping foot on my territory?—”
He stills when my revolver clinks the next round into place, aimed at his chest.
“Threaten anyone in this pack again and you won’t even have time to blink. You’ll seeexactlywhat I’m capable of.”
Chapter 27
VESSA
“Idon’t know what’s going to make him more pissed. You being threatened or missing the look on Paul’s face when you popped off. That waspriceless.”
Ruffling my hair, Nell claims the barstool next to mine, the kitchen light fixture beaming on the top of her head like a halo.
“Still no word from the Circle?” she chimes.
I shake my head, chewing my lip as I watch the patrol units through the window. Cora strolls in to scavenge what’s left of the coffee and assorted breakfast pastries. She plops two cherry scones onto her plate and scowls at the coffee machine.
“Oh boy,” Nell mutters. “Cora never eats sugar. Not unless she’s stressed.”
“I can’t help it,” she whines in between bites of sticky dough. “It’s been four days. I have a right to be worried.”
“About Qinnu?” Nell huffs a laugh. “Give me a break. There’s barely any signal up there, remember? If anything, it’s probably because the grunts are slowing them down. They’ll be alright.”
Cora sets down the plate, nodding. Then she regards me for a moment. “I feel dreadful about what Qinnu said the otherday. There’s no excuse for making threats like that. When that bonehead gets back, I’ll be having words with him.”
Nell snorts. “They should leave him behind. Seems like a fitting punishment.”
A small grin teases Cora’s lips.
“Sadly, it’s too late for that,” a deep timbre jests.
All three of us turn in sync. Still strapped in heavy gear, Axe walks into the kitchen.
The girls welcome him home and promptly make themselves scarce. I push out of my chair. Judging by how Axe deadpans at me, what’s about to transpire may not be pleasant.
As soon as all goes quiet, he clears his throat. “I needed to see you.”
I study him up close. Light brown stubble thickens along his mouth and jaw. The bandage on his neck is gone, revealing a bullet hole that has nearly smoothed over. Though I’m relieved at the sight, I’m annoyed at the worry it’s caused me.
“Hello, goodbye . . . normal courtesies don’t apply to you brutes, do they? You just barge on in and storm out however you like.”
Axe blinks.
My smile cracks my exasperated front. “It’s good to have you back, Commander.”
He exhales heavily and leans down to hug me.Huh. This isn’t the direction I thought it would go.
“Gods,” he drawls roughly. “You smell . . .different.”
With a cringe, my muscles tense. “In a good way?”
A hand trails down my hip. “You have no idea.”
