Desire Untamed (Feral Warriors #1)(70)

"You're mine, Lyon," she said, as if she'd heard that desperate inner voice of his. "I know you're mine."

"We can't be sure." Despite the certainty of his beast.

She tucked her hand beneath her chin. "How soon do you think we can do another Pairing?"

He stroked her back, wishing he could stay here, like this, for the rest of his life. He sighed, thinking. "As soon as the Shaman clears the house of any dark charms, we'll know if it was those affecting my men or the lack of radiance. If it's the latter, I'm not sure how we're going to do it. I'm not endangering you."

"We may not have a choice, but I guess we can figure that out once the Shaman's done."

"I agree." He kissed her head and held her close.

She might never be his to hold like this again, but that didn't mean he wouldn't watch over her, and protect her, and cafe for her from a distance. No one would ever hurt her again.

He would die before he let that happen.

Kara's gaze took in the long, narrow interior of a comfortably decorated house as she followed Lyon down the stairs a short while later. As they'd dressed, Lyon had told her this house actually looked like a row of town houses from the outside, while inside it was open, with passages running from one end of the block to the other. The Therians had lived here for well over a century.

Her hand brushed the fashionable pastel floral skirt the Therian, Marina, had loaned her along with a long-sleeved coordinated blue sweater. These people might live for centuries, but they kept up with the fashions.

Paenther met them as they reached the bottom step. Lyon extended his arm in greeting and Paenther accepted the greeting with a bow of his head. But when Lyon released him, Paenther's attention went to her.

His usually hard eyes were nothing short of sad. "I'm sorry, Kara. For not protecting you. For believing you were the enemy."

Kara reached for his hand and squeezed it. "It wasn't your fault, Paenther. I didn't even know if I was Mage or not."

Paenther lifted their joined hands to his lips and kissed the back of her hand. Not as a chivalrous act, but as an act of deep contrition.

"I'll make it up to you. I'll find a way."

Kara smiled. "Just give me the benefit of the doubt next time, and we'll call it even."

To her amazement, his mouth twisted into what could almost be called a lopsided smile. "You have a deal."

As they started into the main living area, Jag joined them. His eyebrow lifting with surprise as Lyon extended his arm. Jag clasped Lyon's arm in return.

"Chief," Jag said. His gaze slid to her. "You're looking better. Got a little color in those cheeks." He glanced down at the floor, then up at Lyon in a way that told Kara he wasn't sure about what he was about to say. "I'd like to speak to our Radiant for a minute." His jaw clenched, but his eyes remained uncertain. "Alone."

She felt Lyon tense, but he glanced at her with a lift of his eyebrow.

Kara nodded.

"You won't be out of my sight," Lyon promised her.

Jag reached for her, then seemed to think better of it and dropped his hand. "How about we stand by the window over there where the king of beasts can keep my hide in the crosshairs?"

He led her toward the window, then turned and glanced back at Lyon before meeting her gaze.

"Here's the thing, Radiant. Kara. I owe you a humongous apology. I may shift into a jaguar, but I'm a jackass, through and through. Always have been." His mouth twisted. "I'm sure any of the others will agree."

He propped his hip on the back of the sofa behind him and crossed his arms. "We haven't had the best luck with Radiants. I didn't much like either of your last two predecessors, and I didn't expect to like you. I suppose when I first saw you in the media room, I wanted to let you know that in my own charming way."

He smiled at her, but there was no humor in his eyes. There was something about him that made her think he didn't like himself very much.

His smile died, and his eyes turned hard. "I saw what Vhyper did to you. That snake lost it." He looked away, shaking his head with revulsion. "I'm just saying… I'm sorry for being an ass in the way I treated you. You're okay." He said the last as if he were surprised. "Not only have you tamed the beast…" His glance flicked to Lyon as if he knew exactly what they'd been doing upstairs.

Kara's cheeks heated.

"But you won Pink over, too, and I'm kind of fond of the bird. She sent me to the grocery yesterday to get a surprise for you for your Ascension celebration."

"Really?" Kara smiled. Pink had forgiven her. "I'm glad to know that, Jag. Thank you." She had an instant's temptation to give him a hug, hesitated, then gave in to it. Stepping forward, she wrapped her arms around his lean, hard waist.

He hugged her back, then tugged on a loose lock of her hair when she pulled away. "See? I can be a good cat."

She laughed. "When you want to be."

He winked at her. "Don't tell anyone." He rose. "Come get some breakfast. Marina's doing waffles. I'm not usually into bread, but her waffles are a treat."

As Kara started back with Jag, Lyon waited for her, his eyes guarded. "Everything okay?"