Page 170 of Beasts of Mine

“You could get completely under the roof before doing that.” I told Tavian as I turned toward the clothing cabinet, opening it while bone and muscle changed behind me before pulling out a pair of pants and tossing them over my shoulder without looking.

“I was under the roof.” Tavian argued from behind me as fabric rustled, his voice carrying the offended confidence he usually reserved for arguments he had almost no chance of winning.

“Half of you was under the roof.” I corrected Tavian while retrieving a shirt and throwing that in his direction too, hearing the irritated sound he made as he caught it.

“The important half.” Tavian replied once his head emerged through the neck of the shirt, tugging the fabric down his torso with a grin that made it obvious he considered the matter settled.

I turned once he was dressed and found his hair damp, messy, and somehow already sticking in several directions despite the fact he'd only had human hair again for less than a minute. A streak of mud marked one forearm, moisture still gleamed along the side of his neck, and his nostrils flared again as he looked me over before that familiar grin spread wider.

“You smell like Evie.” Tavian announced as he walked farther inside, his amber eyes moving over me from head to toe without even pretending to be subtle while citrus and spice brightened around him with amusement.

“I know.” I answered Tavian as I leaned one shoulder against the cabinet, refusing to give him anything more even though another purr threatened at the reminder.

“You smell a lot like Evie.” Tavian continued, his grin widening when I failed to react the way he wanted.

“I know.” I repeated to Tavian, folding my arms while he stared at me as though enough persistence might eventually make details fall out of my mouth.

“How was—” Tavian began as he leaned a little closer, curiosity finally beating whatever patience he'd been attempting.

“No.” I cut Tavian off before he finished, lifting one hand and earning an exaggerated look of innocence that wouldn't have convinced anyone who had met him for more than five minutes.

“I was going to ask how the overnight went.” Tavian defended himself as he pressed one hand dramatically against his chest, his expression suggesting I'd accused him of something considerably worse.

“It went well.” I answered Tavian, deciding a basic summary was safer than letting him invent his own. “She finished the work she wanted, stayed here, went back to the upper stream this morning, checked in with Mara, ate breakfast, and left for the station.”

Tavian waited after I finished, one eyebrow slowly climbing while he expected the rest, but I stared back at him and gave him nothing.

“You left something out.” Tavian accused me, folding his arms across his chest while the crooked smile on his face made it obvious he thought he'd caught me hiding critical information.

“I left many things out.” I told Tavian as I closed the cabinet, unable to completely hide my amusement when his eyes sharpened.

“Interesting things?” Tavian asked, rocking back slightly on his heels as his smile widened again.

“Things that aren't your business.” I answered Tavian, giving him a pointed look before moving toward the long table. Tavian laughed rather than looking remotely offended and followed me with the restless energy that always seemed to return the moment he was human.

Another set of footsteps reached the courtyard before he could begin a second interrogation. Malek entered in human form, his boots streaked with mud and the shoulders of his dark shirt damp from the morning. Several strands of black hair had fallen loose across his forehead, and his expression carried the alertness he usually brought back from a long boundary check.

His attention settled on me almost immediately, and his nostrils flared once. Unlike Tavian, Malek didn't grin or make a comment about what he smelled. Some of the tension simply left his shoulders, and the cedar in his scent deepened with a quiet relief I might have missed if I didn't know him so well.

“She stayed.” Malek said quietly as he stopped near the table, his golden-brown eyes moving over me before drifting toward the hallway leading to the sleeping rooms.

“She did.” I confirmed for Malek, my purr returning beneath the answer when I caught everything he hadn't put into those two words.

“Apparently Luca has decided privacy still exists between packmates.” Tavian informed Malek as he folded his arms and looked toward our Head Alpha for support, apparently refusing to accept that his questions had gone unanswered.

“It does.” Malek answered Tavian without hesitation, crossing toward the basin while rolling his damp sleeves higher and barely sparing him a glance.

“You're supposed to support me.” Tavian complained, dropping his arms as genuine betrayal mixed with the amusement still covering his face.

“I am.” Malek replied as he reached for the water. “Not in that.”

“Thank you.” I told Malek, giving him an appreciative nod while Tavian muttered something neither of us bothered acknowledging. Malek washed the mud from his hands and forearms, water darkening briefly as it ran over his skin before disappearing into the drain. When he finished, he dried himself with the cloth beside the basin and turned toward me again, some of his earlier relief replaced by a more careful expression.

“Was she comfortable?” Malek asked, his voice remaining even despite the slight tension returning to his shoulders.

“Yes.” I answered Malek, then decided there was no reason to make him circle around what he really wanted to know. “She nested.”

Tavian's hand stopped halfway toward the fruit bowl while Malek became completely still beside the basin. Their scents changed before either man spoke, with cedar deepening first as damp earth and faint smoke grew warmer beneath it, followed a second later by Tavian's citrus and spice sharpening as the humor disappeared from his face.