Moonlight's Ambassador (Aileen Travers Book 3)(8)

"Why wasn't I told any of this?"

"You're not pack. Furthermore, Caroline made it clear she didn't want to see you."

Not pack. It always came down to an “us vs. them” mentality with these guys.

"I'll ask again. Where is she?" Brax's face was set and serious.

I kept my silence, meeting his gaze for a long moment. "She showed up last night and asked for a place to stay."

"And you didn't think to call us?" There was an edge to Brax's voice, and his frown grew more pronounced.

I lifted one shoulder. "It crossed my mind." I left out the part about how Caroline flipped out when I tried.

"Because you delayed, you've put her life needlessly in danger." Brax's tone was cold as his gaze shifted to Liam next to me. "This is what comes when you're too lenient with them."

My snort held all of the exhaustion and fear I felt. "This is what comes when you withhold important information just because someone isn't the same species as you. I begged you to let me know what was going on. I even threatened to blow-up your properties."

"And would knowing have made you act any different? You, the yearling who refuses to join a clan? Who hasn't even made the smallest effort to gain control of your instincts?"

Liam's hand landed on my shoulder, restraining me when I would have leapt for Brax.

"See what I mean?" Brax asked Liam. "She doesn't even know when she's fighting out of her weight class."

"Way I remember it, the reason you aren't some demon's plaything is because I saved you. Me, the baby vampire who doesn't know her weight class."

"She does have a point there," Nathan said with a grin.

Brax ignored his statement.

"Enough of this," Liam said. "The girl is gone. Aileen, do you know where?"

I hesitated. It galled to have to share any information with the jerk across from me, but if he was right, he held Caroline's life in the balance. At least for now, it would be smart to humor him.

"No, I gave her my bed last night and then went to sleep."

"You didn't see her leaving? Ask where she was going?" Sondra asked, a thread of judgment in her tone.

I shot her a derisive look. "You've seen me since arriving. I'm barely functional during the day. A herd of unicorns could have pranced through here, and I wouldn't have known the difference."

Brax didn't move and his expression didn't change, but I got the sense that my answer frustrated and disappointed him. He looked at Liam. "We'll need to take custody of Aileen in case Caroline tries to contact her again."

I stiffened and glared at him in outrage. No way was that happening. He wasn't the police. There'd be no taking custody of anyone.

"That won't be necessary," Liam said.

Brax's attention shifted to the vampire at my side. The wolf moved behind his gaze. To my new other sight, the shadow of a wolf cloaked him even as his power emanated in waves off him. It was like staring into the sun during a flare.

A cooler power, like that of the cold bite of an arctic night, flared as Liam tensed to meet him. You would think the absolute chill of his power would be uncomfortable. It wasn't. It called to some deep part of me that shifted in answer as if hearing the voice of a loved one after a long absence.

"It's my wolf and by her own admission she's been in contact with her. Your vampire has interfered with one of the most sacred aspects of our existence. If it was the other way around, your kind would have attacked en mass," Brax snarled.

"I don't disagree with the importance of locating your wayward wolf, and I'm well aware Aileen has trespassed on things she does not understand."

I shot him a glare at that last part. He ignored me, focusing on the wolf in front of him.

Brax watched Liam with a careful gaze. He seemed to be considering, weighing each of Liam's statements.

"Your vampire has already proven her inability to keep her nose out of things that don't involve her," Brax stated. Much of the antagonism had dropped from his voice, and the hint of a growl that had been there since he'd barged in had disappeared.

"This does involve me. She's my friend. She came to me for help." If he thought I was going to wash my hands of this, especially after what he'd just revealed about how close she was to a death order, he had another thing coming.

He shot Liam a glance as if to say 'see'.

Liam sighed and muttered, "You're not helping matters."

I folded my arms and sat back. By all means if he wanted to handle things, whatever they decided, I'd find a way to work around if necessary.

"Until your pup can be found, we’ll take responsibility for Aileen," Liam said.

My head twisted so fast that I almost got whiplash. One of his hands dropped from the back of the couch to brush against my neck. I held my tongue, not because I trusted him or because that touch asked me to. I did it because I had no intention of letting him or his men keep me on a short leash. I figured it'd be easier giving them the slip than it would be Brax and his people. Not to mention I had a feeling my stay with Brax would be a lot less cordial this time, given the degree of hostility currently being aimed my way.

"She’ll stay with us, and I, or one of my enforcers will be with her at all times. You have my word on it." Liam sounded firm, and I wasn't sure if that first part was directed at me or Brax.