“He just means you don’t need to be here for this. We didn’t mean to disturb you,” Evan supplies smoothly.
“Yes. That.” I nod, agreeing with him. I seem to have had a relapse with my foot in mouth syndrome.
Quinn narrows her cool blue eyes on me, and my dick gets even harder. I think there’s something wrong with me, I love it when she shows her claws. My eyes are drawn to the pulse on the side of her neck, the one that resides right under my bite. It’s beating fast, singing to me. She crosses her arms over her chest, and it lifts her breasts. Her nipples are hard against the thin fabric of my shirt. “Why am I not supposed to be here?”
I lick my lips and actually think about the words I want to say. It’s tougher than it should be. I’m much better at showing than telling.
I step into her space, but she doesn’t retreat. If anything, her body softens as soon as it comes into contact with mine. I think she likes our little power struggle just as much as I do—well, as long as I’m not being an asshole. I curl my arm around her back and pull her into my embrace so my lips are near her ear. It’s too tempting not to touch her. “This is just the simplest way to locate someone.” Quinn’s fingers dance over my side as she returns my touch.
“Oh, the text said everyone,” she admits softly.
“My oversight,” Evan explains as she pulls away just far enough so I can see her face when she peers up at him. My fangs are throbbing along with my dick. Hell, if I didn’t already know what bloodlust was, I would think I was in the throes.
What I confessed to Evan earlier is the truth. Every instinct I have is begging for what I’ve only allowed myself to take from her—her blood. Maybe existing off of bags wasn’t such a good idea. I feel like I’m losing control of myself, and knowing Quinn could be in danger is only amplifying the notion.
Evan drops his heavy hand on my shoulder and digs his fingers in. “We need to handle this.”
Evan
I grip Griff’s shoulder even tighter. If he were anyone else, they would probably be falling to their knees and submitting at this point, but he’s completely unfazed. He’s more dangerous now that we have Quinn than I think he’s ever been in his long life, and that’s including when his father and Eva tried to control him.
I understand his motivations, but he’s not helping himself if he can’t rein in his emotions and temper. “Do you mind if I take you over to security until we’re done? I don’t want to keep everyone waiting.” I know my words will spur Quinn into action. She’s compassionate at her core and wants to do what’s best for everyone, and keeping them waiting will be an inconvenience for them.
“I can just go.” She hooks her thumb over her shoulder, looking between Griff and me.
I give her an easy smile and Griff one last hard squeeze before releasing my grip on his shoulder. “I would be happy to have a few extra moments with you.” Quinn blushes sweetly when I extend my elbow to her. I know holding my hand isn’t very comfortable, my fingers are too big for her, so this works better and she’s touching me. A win-win.
“I’ll be right back,” I announce to Griff and hope he stays put so no one will leave the ballroom, but I know right now isn’t the time to issue my best friend an order.
Chapter 19
Evan
“Sorry I can’t take you back to the room right now. I’ll try to make it quick.” I press a kiss to the side of Quinn’s head when we reach my office in security.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry.” Her eyes close and she leans into me a bit, accepting the affection.
“Make yourself comfortable. No one will bother you here.” My office isn’t as nice as Griff’s. I don’t spend nearly as much time in it as he does his, but there are a couple of chairs so she can at least relax.
I watch Quinn’s chest expand as she takes a look around. “This is your office?” She runs her fingers over my desk. I bet she didn’t even realize she used her senses to scent the room. Bonding to me didn’t make her a shifter, but it does make her more than human. Over time, she’ll be able to develop those senses even more if she chooses. Once she starts accepting blood from Griff, her ability to heal and stop aging will make her even less human.
“It is,” I acknowledge, gazing around for what she might see.
Quinn walks around my desk and lowers herself slowly into my chair. Her fingertips curl over the arms as she settles in. She looks tiny, dwarfed by the size of the chair, but she has a grin on her lips. “Who do I talk to about getting my own throne?”
“You want it, it’s yours,” I offer. My chair is larger than hers but by no means a throne.
“I’m just teasing. I didn’t even know they made chairs this big. Go on. I’ll be fine,” she urges.
I let out a heavy breath but know she’s right—I need to get back before Griff kills everybody for keeping them from his singer. “Lock the door, and please don’t leave without us.”
“I won’t.” She drags out the word reluctantly.
“Be back as soon as we can.” I close the door before she can object to being locked in. I know it’s only her polite nature that’s letting me get away with it. She’s bristled every time we bring up her need for protection, but what she doesn’t understand, even after she was attacked, is that the threat to her is very real, especially now. And if something does happen to her, I wouldn’t hold Griffin back from showing everyone just what he’s capable of, I would be by his side.
When I return to the ballroom after giving Clyde—the only person left to maintain the security office—instructions not to let anyone near my office and to notify me immediately if Quinn tries to leave, Griff is holding court at the front of the room. He’s not speaking, but he has everyone’s attention. There’s a threat of violence in the air, and it all stems from him. Well, it did until I stepped into the room.
I shut the door with a definitive snap after locating Rand. “I’m sure everyone is wondering why we brought you all here.” I make my way up the center as a natural aisle forms. People look around, but no one murmurs a response. I pause when I’m parallel to him. He seems to be looking anywhere but in my direction.
