Ecstasy Untamed (Feral Warriors #6)(33)

Fury rode Hawke. His hand shook from the battle raging inside him - the need to drive the point of his knife deep into the sabertooth's brain warring with the certain knowledge he mustn't. The wildness inside him demanded this creature die, but the man would never kill a brother, no matter how much he hated him. Nor would he hurt Faith like that, stealing the man she believed was meant to be her mate.

The red haze pressed hard around the edges of his vision, fighting to rush in and steal his control, steal him from himself. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Faith leave the dining room, saw Kara follow her out.

"Catt, shift!" Lyon commanded.

The hawk's anger poured over him, the red haze rushing in.

From a distance, he felt himself lift the knife, gripping the handle with both hands in preparation for plunging it down. Someone knocked him back. Shouting. Fighting. A berserker's rage. The laughter of the one he hated.

Then he knew no more.

"Hawke! Ease down!"

"Shit."

"Where's he going?"

"Someone open the front door!"

As the male voices rang through the house, Faith paused halfway up the stairs and looked back.

"He's shifted," Kara said unhappily and ran the few feet to the massive front door, wrenching it open wide.

A moment later, a bird soared into the foyer, a huge, beautiful, red-tailed hawk. But instead of flying out the door as Faith expected, he made a spiraling turn through the foyer, following the curve of the opposite stair, then around toward where she stood frozen. Mesmerized.

She backed up against the wall, uncertain of his wingspan, but he didn't pass her by. Instead, he landed on the rail a few feet in front of her. Faith swallowed as the great raptor stared at her with unblinking eyes.

"Hawke?" she asked uncertainly. "Are you in there?" In Maxim's eyes, she'd seen the man, but she saw no emotion in this bird's eyes. Certainly no human emotion.

The great bird let out a loud kkkeeeeer and took off, soaring down through the foyer and, on a perfect downward sweep of wings, out the front door.

Kara slowly closed the door behind him.

Faith swallowed. "How long will he be gone?"

"I don't know. Each time, he's gone longer."

Several of the Ferals strode into the foyer - Lyon, Tighe. Maxim.

"He's gone?" Lyon asked Kara.

The Radiant nodded, and two of the men sighed.

Maxim showed a modicum of restraint and said nothing. For once. He looked up at her, and she met his gaze. "I'm going back to Warsaw." She wanted them all to hear, in case Maxim tried to stand in her way.

His jaw tensed, his fists drawing closed, then relaxing again as a look of chagrin crossed his face. "My actions are unforgivable." The genuine regret that laced his words surprised her.

"It's happened too many times, Maxim. I told you I won't be treated like that, and I meant it. I'm going home." The others - Lyon, Kara, and Tighe - didn't even pretend they weren't party to the discussion.

"She needs a ride to the airport," Kara told her mate. "And money for a flight."

Lyon met Faith's gaze with a small nod. "Of course."

"I'll take you, Faith," Tighe said.

She gave Tighe a small smile in thanks.

Maxim raked long, straight hair back from his face with a frown that almost turned pleading. "Don't go, Faith. I'm not like this, not usually. Hawke . . . angers me. The way he looks at you."

"I know."

"I become someone I don't know . . . and don't care for . . . when he's around." He lifted his hand, then dropped it at his side. "Please, Faith. Let us at least discuss this in private."

Talking it out would just make it harder. And yet, part of her longed to be convinced that Feral House was where she truly belonged, that she never had to go back to that cold, lonely life. Despite everything she'd seen, everything Maxim had done, she continued to feel that tug, that certainty that she belonged to him. She supposed she could listen to what he had to say.

"All right."

"Let me know what you decide," Tighe said.

"I will. Thank you." She turned to continue up the stairs, Maxim following behind. He caught up to her on the second flight of stairs. At his room, he opened the door and stood back for her to enter, playing the part of the gentleman, at last. When he'd closed the door behind him, they faced one another.

"Don't leave me, Faith." He strode to her slowly, and she took an instinctive step back. "We're meant to be together. You know it. I know it." He lifted his hand, stroked her jaw.

"Actually, I don't know it, Maxim. You've shown me little respect and less kindness. I don't care what your reasons are. There's no excuse. I won't stay with a man who mistreats me."

He gripped her jaw, too hard. His mouth tightened. "You won't leave me. I forbid it."

Her heart began to race with a fear she hated and the sudden certainty that he was one of those men. One who would kill her before he'd let her walk away.

"Maxim . . ." She met his gaze fully, searching for the words that would ease his hold, wondering if the other Ferals would hear her if she called for help.

But as she stared into his eyes, her thoughts began to scatter, her mind going slowly numb.