Ecstasy Untamed (Feral Warriors #6)(12)

Jealousy slid like a blade between Hawke's ribs.

But even as Maxim pulled Faith tight against his side, his gaze remained locked on Hawke, sharp with warning.

Hawke's jaw hardened, anger sparking inside him, ignited by a jealousy he had no right to feel.

Tighe nudged him from behind. "Upstairs. This suitcase is heavy."

Which was a lie, but Hawke took the hint and moved toward the stairs, tearing his gaze from the couple. But even as he climbed, he remained intensely aware of the woman below him, every sense tuned to Faith.

He'd never believed in love at first sight, but infatuation was another matter. And he was suddenly, inescapably, drowning in it.

In the space of a handful of minutes, he'd fallen for the woman destined to become another Feral's mate.

Chapter Three

Excitement trilled inside Faith as she joined Maxim in the foyer of Feral House. Feral House. It was every bit as grand as she'd imagined from the stories she'd heard of it as a child. The spacious foyer, lit by a huge chandelier, soared a full three stories, hung with lovely wallpaper. Along two curved walls, twin stairs rose. And on one of those stairs two warriors climbed. Hawke preceded Tighe, both men laden with Maxim's luggage, yet their muscles barely flexed. A small smile tugged at her mouth as she watched Hawke's sure, light stride, grace and power in every step.

Maxim's grip on her waist tightened, and she tore her gaze away from the stairs and back to the men to whom Maxim had been talking. Two more Feral Warriors. Her pulse raced with excitement. Sweet goddess, she was really here, standing among the rock stars of the immortal world.

One of the men, a broad-shouldered blond with a look of authority eyed her with curiosity, his gaze dropping to her shoulders and the blue-dyed ends of her hair.

"Hello." She gave him a cheery smile, wrenching her right arm out from between hers and Maxim's bodies and thrusting it out to him. "I'm Faith."

She'd always had a way with people, men and women alike, and expected them to like her. But it wasn't until her hand was thrust forward that she really looked into the man's eyes and saw the coolness there. For a moment, she wondered if she'd made an error. But as she watched, his eyes warmed, a small, if genuine, smile lifting his mouth.

"It's nice to meet you, Faith. I'm Lyon, Chief of the Ferals."

"The Chief?" The words were out before she could stop them. She wrinkled her nose. "Sorry, I'm afraid I'm a little starstruck. I wish I had an autograph book."

Lyon's smile widened.

"You will be living here," Maxim said coolly beside her. "She is to be my mate."

When Lyon released her hand, she turned to the other man, extending her hand again. He turned an assessing gaze on her, his expression revealing nothing of his thoughts. He was at once darkly attractive and dangerous-looking, his hair long and black, his skin and features those of a Native American. Across one eye ran scars, like the claw marks of a large animal.

She gaped at him. "Are those feral marks?" Belatedly, it occurred to her that Maxim must have the marks somewhere on his body. All the Ferals did. "That is so cool."

Amusement lit the black-haired Feral's eyes, and he nodded. "I'm Paenther." He released her hand and straightened, his amusement fleeing as his expression took on a hard edge. His gaze flicked to Maxim. "I should warn you both, my mate is Mage."

Faith's eyes widened as she felt Maxim's hand flex. "I've never met a Mage." Like the Therians, the Mage were virtually immortal, but while the Therians had once all been shape-shifters, the Mage were the magic ones. Both races had lost the bulk of their power millennia ago in a joint and desperate effort to overcome the Daemons. But the truce hadn't lasted. The Mage were the enemies of the Therians. Yet a Feral Warrior had married one.

As if reading her thoughts, Paenther met her gaze. "Skye is as pure of spirit as anyone you'll ever meet. She'll be a good friend to you."

"Skye is a powerful ally and asset." Lyon's sharp gaze landed on Maxim and stuck. "You'll find we are a diverse group. All will be treated with the utmost respect, from the cook and her helper to your chief."

The hard edge on the last two words made Faith wonder what she'd interrupted when she'd walked into the foyer. And what Maxim had said that had the Chief warning him instead of welcoming him.

Faith caught Paenther's eye and smiled. "I look forward to meeting Skye."

The lift of Paenther's mouth told her he believed her. "You'll meet her soon enough. She and the other wives are preparing a welcome reception."

A cute blonde joined them, sliding her arm around Lyon's waist as if he belonged to her. By the soft look in the Chief of the Ferals' eyes when he glanced down, sliding his own arm around her shoulders, Faith suspected he did. "I'm Kara." The woman's smile was warm and genuine, a crooked eyetooth lending her smile charm. She thrust out her hand to Maxim. "I'm your power plug."

"My what?" Maxim asked.

Lyon reached up and gave Kara's ponytail a gentle tug. "She's your Radiant."

Faith stared at her in wonder. The Radiant was the one woman in all the world with the ability to pull the Earth's energies that empowered the Ferals. Just as there was only ever one of each of the nine shape-shifters, there was only ever one Radiant. When one died, another was marked to take her place. Faith had always imagined the Radiant to be a queen among immortals, reserved, royal. Kara stood in bare feet, a pair of jeans, and a T-shirt that read TEAM JACOB across the profile of a howling wolf. And called herself a power plug.