Rapture Untamed (Feral Warriors #4)(43)

But while a scamp's smile played around his mouth, the look in his eyes held a warning. A warning that drew her to him instead of repelling her, and not because she feared he'd give her away. Quite the opposite. The look in his eyes warned her to be careful lest she give herself away.

She found herself crossing to perch on the edge of the bed beside him instead of joining her own men as she might have done a few days ago. Everything had changed when Jag discovered her secret. He threatened everything she'd built of her life, including her life itself. But in an odd way, he'd become the only one she could truly trust.

Besides, she could no longer be sure how long she could go without feeding. She might accidentally steal energy without meaning to, possibly without even knowing she was doing it. Jag needed to be close enough to stop her if he had to. If she harmed the Ferals...

A shudder tore through her. She couldn't even think about what that would mean to their battle to keep Satanan from rising again.

As long as she stayed close to Jag, he wouldn't let that happen. She'd started to believe he wouldn't turn her in if he didn't have to. She just had to make damn sure she did nothing to force him to betray her secret.

Jag sat up to catch the sandwich Tighe tossed to him. Olivia already had hers, Tighe having passed out the subs to the women first. He glanced at her bright head as she sat near his feet and unwrapped the warm sandwich. He was surprised she'd come when he'd patted the bed. The appearance of being his lapdog grated on her pride. Which was precisely why he'd done it. A dumb move since he really had wanted her close.

He wasn't sure what the others would do if she somehow gave herself away. Kougar, he worried about most. If that Feral decided she needed to die, there would be no discussion. He'd lunge, prepared to make a killing blow. And Jag would play hell protecting her if she weren't already within reach. Not that long ago being draden-kissed carried an automatic death penalty. With the power they possessed to suck life, most felt it was a matter of kill or be killed.

Olivia was different. She'd been hiding and controlling her power for centuries.

As Tighe handed out the rest of the sandwiches, Jag unwrapped his own. An Italian sub. All the Ferals were meat eaters, almost to the exclusion of everything else. After all, they were all part predatory animal. But if he had to eat a sandwich, he'd go for Italian every time. And Stripes knew it.

"Thanks, Tony man," he drawled.

Tighe cut him a tight look, clearly tensed and waiting for the rest of it - the dig or the coarse reference to what he wanted to do sexually with Tighe's mate.

When Jag left it at thanks, Tighe nodded once, his gaze wary.

Jag grunted. When had he become so predictable?

Tighe leaned back against the chest of drawers, shoulder to shoulder with Hawke, and unwrapped his own sandwich. Paper rustled as they all tore into their lunches.

Their fearless leader-in-residence gave them about a minute to take the edge off their appetites before his gaze swung to Jag. "Fill us in."

The urge to say something snide tickled his throat, but dammit, hewas becoming predictable. And he couldn't stop thinking about what Olivia said about his doing it just to make people dislike him. He refused to believe it. And yet...shit. His own explanation, of simply enjoying having people mad at him, didn't make a hell of a lot of sense, did it?

It was just the way he was.

That knee-jerk need to fire off with some snide comment died, and he launched into a tight, precise explanation of what they'd seen at the Mage stronghold, the corpses strung up, the number of sorcerers and sentinels they'd spotted, the power orbs throbbing with Daemon energy, and their suspicion that the Daemons weren't necessarily under the control of the Mage but being lured back by suffering humans.

"The place is warded with magic strong enough that even Olivia couldn't see through it." His mouth lifted in a small, satisfied smile. "She can now."

Tighe frowned. "Damned dark magic. We'll assess the situation when we get there, but anyone who can't see that place is pulling back to the vehicles. I don't want anyone being ambushed."

Ewan scowled. "You'd leave us behind?"

"Only if you can't get your mind opened."

Both Ewan's and Niall's gazes swung to Olivia.

No way in hell. She's mine.Deep inside, Jag's animal leaped to his jaguar's feet, growling. A snarl rumbled from Jag's own throat, drawing the surprised gazes of everyone in the room, including Olivia's. He didn't give a shit. If either of those Therians thought they were using Olivia's body to open their minds, they were brutally mistaken.

"Use your damn fists," he growled. Olivia was his now, and he had no intention of sharing.

Tighe watched him with wary interest, then finally cleared his throat. "Anything else we need to know?"

"Yeah," Jag drawled.

Olivia jerked, just a small movement the others probably missed, but he knew what it meant. The flicker of fear echoing in the depths of her gray eyes confirmed it. She feared he meant to give her away.

Which annoyed him. Why it annoyed him, he wasn't sure. He'd pretty much threatened her with betrayal unless she did what he wanted, hadn't he? He'd forced her to her hands and knees with that not-so-subtle threat.

Still, it rankled.

He met her gaze, watching her expression as he said, "The Daemons carry venom in their claws. Venom capable of at least partially immobilizing their prey." He'd told Tighe as much. They probably already knew, but what the hell.