Wulfe Untamed (Feral Warriors #8)(22)

“I agree.”

Lyon turned to Natalie. “I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to lock you up.”

Natalie jerked.

Wulfe’s muscles bunched, a hard no burning in his throat. Deep inside, his wolf leaped up, snarling. “You can’t put her in the prisons, Roar. Not again. Not when we’ve got men down there that we’re not sure about.”

“Wulfe . . .”

He slammed his fist on Lyon’s desk. “She doesn’t deserve the prison again!”

“She was never down there because she deserved it.” Lyon sank back onto his chair wearily. “If she gets away from you and shares what she’s seen with other humans, the result could be catastrophic, especially with the human cops already stumped by the deaths and disappearances of her companions last month. You know that. I can’t risk it.”

Dammit. He knew Lyon was right. Still . . . what if . . . ? “She doesn’t have to be locked up in the prisons.” Enthusiasm quickened Wulfe’s speech. “Natalie can stay in the bedroom between yours and mine. I’ll put locks on the windows and on the outside of the door. She’ll be comfortable. And if she needs anything, I’ll hear her.”

“I thought we had Guards staying in that room.”

“They can sleep on pallets in the living room with the rest of them.”

For several moments, Lyon met his gaze, silently considering Wulfe’s words. After six hundred years of working together, Wulfe knew his chief well.

With a sigh, Lyon ran his hand across the back of his neck. “She’s your responsibility. I want you, another Feral, or one of the stronger women with her any time she’s out of that room, no exceptions. And I don’t want her anywhere near electronic devices—computers, phones, etc.”

The coiled tension in Wulfe’s body eased. “Thank you.”

Lyon turned a hard, uncompromising gaze on Natalie. “You must understand, we don’t kill humans without cause, but we will destroy anyone who threatens the anonymity of the immortal races. When we first realized that Xavier was blind, and his memories of us couldn’t be stolen, I wanted him put to death.”

Natalie stiffened, and it was all Wulfe could do not to put his hand on her shoulder and promise her he’d protect them both, now.

Lyon folded his hands on the desk in front of him. “You know what would happen if the press, human law enforcement, or the military found out about us. At best, we’d be run out. More likely, we’d be attacked with weapons that can destroy even immortals. And if we die, the Daemons rise. It’s as simple as that. And then it’s game over for both of our races. Until we can figure out what was done to you, reverse it, then steal your memories of all you’ve seen, we can’t send you home, and we can’t let you escape. The risk is too great.”

“And if you can’t figure it out?” Natalie asked, her voice even and professional, despite everything. “Or you can’t reverse it?”

“Let’s take it one step at a time. But you must understand that if you betray us in any way . . .”

“If I betray you, you’ll kill me. I understand.”

Wulfe’s muscles bunched, a low growl rumbling in his throat.

Lyon glanced his way but didn’t deny it. “We’ll have no choice. What’s more,” he said, turning back to Natalie. “If we’re forced to take your life, we’ll instantly lose your brother’s loyalty, and we’ll no longer be able to trust him either. So both of your lives are in your hands.”

Natalie was silent for a moment before finally nodding. “You’ve made your point.”

“Good.”

Esmeria circled Wulfe one more time, eyeing him critically. “Did I get them all?”

Wulfe nodded. “Thank you, Esmeria.” He opened the door for her, then closed it again after she left.

“Go,” Lyon said, glancing from Wulfe to Natalie and back again. “Get the locks installed on that bedroom and get some sleep. Both of you.”

Natalie rose from her chair and faced the Chief of the Feral Warriors. “Thank you for sparing Xavier’s life, Lyon. Thank you for sparing both of ours. I won’t betray you.” She held out her hand to seal their bargain.

Lyon eyed her thoughtfully as he shook her hand. “Your brother is a good person, Natalie. The better I get to know him, the more certain of that I become. It would seem the trait runs in the family.”

“Thank you.”

As Wulfe ushered Natalie out of Lyon’s office, he glanced back and met his chief’s gaze, reading the unspoken warning clear in Lyon’s eyes. Don’t f**k this up. If he did, if Natalie found a way to escape with her brother in tow—because he knew she’d never leave without him—all their lives might be over. He wasn’t going to let that happen.

Chapter Seven

Wulfe opened the door and stepped back, allowing Natalie to precede him into the hallway. Despite Lyon’s warnings, or perhaps because of them, the feel of Wulfe at her back sent a frisson of warmth stealing through her veins. There was safety in that warmth, and goodness. And something more.

“Wulfe,” Lyon called after him. “Send in one of the Guards. They can be emptying the room while you install the locks.”

A pair of Guards overheard the command and one of them nodded to Wulfe and went to join Lyon.