Ecstasy Untamed (Feral Warriors #6)(45)

Olivia ran into the foyer. "Jag's in trouble. I'm going."

Lyon shook his head. "You're staying here. Calm Hawke if you can." He met the fierce gaze of the petite redhead. "But your only job is to guard the Radiant, Olivia."

Hawke saw Olivia's need to reach her mate written all over her face, but she'd been a warrior for too many centuries to object.

"Yes, sir."

"I'm going." Lyon grabbed Kara and gave her a swift kiss. "Lock the doors and let no new Ferals inside for any reason. Hawke can fill you in. Or Faith can."

If he lost it, dammit. "Faith!" Halfway down the stairs, he stayed where he was, knowing, knowing, Faith's presence would calm his hawk and help the man keep it together.

The moment Lyon was gone, Kara started up the stairs toward him. "Get back," he growled between fanged teeth. "If I shift, let me out, then lock up again."

Olivia followed Kara, neither of them listening to him. As Kara slid her arm around him on one side, Olivia mirrored her move on the other. He hated them risking themselves, and yet . . . his eyes swept closed as he absorbed the feel of their soft bodies against his sides, their slender hands on his waist and back. But he was still riding the edge of fury. It burned inside him, the anger that was always there melding with hatred for Maxim, terror that the bastard might actually succeed in stealing the lives of some of his friends. And bone-deep frustration that he couldn't be out there fighting that battle, too.

"Easy, Hawke," Kara said softly.

He kept his arms out and away from them so that he didn't accidentally catch them with his claws, but if he lost it, goddess only knew what he'd do to them. He should leave them, not risk it. Just go outside and let the shift happen. They'd be safer without . . .

His hawk cried out a welcome. And all of a sudden the red haze began to lessen. His fangs and claws retracted.

Kara looked up at him in surprise. "What just happened?" Her gaze shifted, gliding up the stairs to where Faith was coming down.

"You called me," Faith said quietly, meeting his gaze.

"It's her," Kara said.

As one, the women released him, and he turned to Faith, watching her descend, needing her in his arms with a fierceness that shook him. He wouldn't push her. The memory of the way he'd made her cry was still too raw.

But she never hesitated, never slowed, her arms sliding around his neck, her scent enveloping him as his arms gathered her tight against him. A shudder went through him at the utter rightness of her in his arms.

"She calms you," Kara said from behind, her voice filled with wonder.

"My hawk is taken with her," Hawke replied, his cheek pressed against the top of Faith's precious head. "Whenever she's around, the animal loses just enough of his fury to allow me to wrench back control."

Kara's laughter was soft and sweet. "The animals always seem to be taken with the one meant to be a Feral's mate."

But Faith wasn't mean to be . . .

Shock barreled through him. Maybe she was.

Faith pulled back, her eyes widening as her gaze locked with his. In the middle of utter disaster, hope burst inside him, flooding him with a joy he could hardly credit. He struggled not to grin like an idiot. But the happiness that had flared in Faith's eyes disappeared suddenly, doused as if it had never been. In its place, he saw devastation.

"What's the matter?" he asked gently.

Faith shook her head, and he suspected she was overwhelmed by all that had just happened. Which was understandable. He was a patient man. He'd never push her. If they were meant to be together . . .

Goddess, no wonder she looked so unhappy. He and his animal were a wreck.

Faith pulled her arms from around his neck and he held out his hand to her. With a soft smile, she took it, and, together, they followed Olivia and Kara down the stairs, to where Delaney waited.

"What did I miss?" Delaney eyed the two of them curiously.

"Apparently Faith is the one who's been keeping Hawke from going off the deep end." Kara whirled to face them from three steps below. "This is huge, Hawke. Have you ever shifted when Faith was close by?"

He thought back and realized Kara was right. "No. She'd always left the room."

Kara nodded wisely. "Keep her close." She smiled. "A hardship, I know."

Hawke met Faith's gaze and clung. Keep her close. There was nothing he wanted more. Mine. His hand tightened on hers as he prepared to pull her closer.

The sudden pounding at the door had him whirling and tensing for battle.

"Stay back," he told the women as he descended the remaining stairs and strode to the door.

"Olivia! Quick, let us in."

Olivia drew her knives. "It's Ewan . . . Polaris."

"New Feral. Don't open it." He peered out the peephole to see Polaris and the far-less-solid, ruddy-cheeked Lynks, then turned to the women, speaking quietly. "I need to know how many of them are around the house. Try not to be seen."

Three of the women scattered, Delaney and Olivia heading in opposite directions, Kara up the stairs for a bird's-eye view.

But Faith didn't move. She crossed to stand before him, a fierceness in her eyes he hadn't seen before, an anger he understood all too well. Maxim was going to die for what he'd done to her. For what he was doing to Hawke's brothers right now.