Tangle of Need (Psy-Changeling #11)(16)

“Felix says the ground is perfect for planting, as if it had been fertilized.” Riley’s eyes were intent. “He’s never seen anything like it. I guess none of us have.”

No, nothing had ever come close to the deadly beauty of Sienna’s cold fire. “I know she’s young,” Riaz said, remembering not just the red-gold glow of that voracious flame but also the screams that had come before, the sickening crunches of bone as SnowDancer after SnowDancer fell, bloody and broken. “But anyone who can control that much power has my respect.”

Riley’s response was unexpected. “Make sure you share that view with packmates when the opportunity rises.”

“Trouble?” He hadn’t sensed anything, but he wasn’t as connected to the heartbeat of the den as Riley. Based here his entire life, the senior lieutenant was not only an anchor for his packmates, Hawke included, he was also a man trusted by everyone from hard-eyed soldiers and busy maternals, to rebellious juveniles, and elders.

“No,” the other male now said. “But the battle was the first time most of the pack became aware of what Judd and Sienna can do. Right now, everyone’s high from the success, but once the adrenaline fades and they start to think about it—”

“—people will begin to realize exactly how dangerous those two are.” Riaz nodded, seeing where Riley was headed. “We need to bolster that good feeling now, so even when the high wears off, everyone will continue to see them as strong packmates who’ll use their strength to protect the weak, not Psy they need to be wary of.” Wolves might be predators, but the majority weren’t dominants. SnowDancer’s most vulnerable members would be all but helpless against the kind of power wielded by Judd and Sienna, and, though most people didn’t realize the strength of his telepathy, Walker.

“Yes.” Riley kept his voice low as they spoke. “I’m probably being overcautious, but”—a rueful smile—“that’s why they pay me the big bucks.”

“No, you’re right. Better to subtly reassure everyone now, when they’re already predisposed to love the Laurens, rather than later, after fear’s crept into the fold.” He made a note to have some quiet, casual conversations with certain people. “You need me for anything today? If not, I’ll head down to join the planting team now.” He needed to do something physical—his skin felt stretched too tight, too thin over the raging need of his body.

It had never been this bad. As a lone wolf, he was predisposed to periods of solitude that would drive his packmates crazy, and could last even longer without touch. He hadn’t been with anyone for roughly four months when he’d met Lisette six months ago and felt that stunning, indescribable kick to the gut that was the instinctive knowledge of his mate.

Intellectually, he’d understood that while it wasn’t common, it could happen in such a way—that a wolf could turn around and just know a woman was meant to be his own, without ever having spoken to her, but nothing could’ve prepared him for the impact of that moment. Every cell in his body had sung at the nearness of Lisette’s presence, his senses utterly attuned to her, his body vibrating with the realization that it was her. More than a lover, more than a friend, a mate was meant to be a changeling wolf’s other half and he’d found his.

The soul-savaging fact that she belonged to another … it might’ve stopped the mate bond coming into being, but it did nothing to quiet the mating urge that had gripped him in sharp teeth and held on tight. Deeply intertwined with that urge was a promise so primal, he’d never before given it any thought … a promise of fidelity: A wolf who found his mate only ever shared intimate skin privileges with her.

That promise came from so deep in his wolf’s heart that regardless of the fact Lisette would never be his, he’d been unable to bear the thought of any other woman’s touch, his gut roiling. As a result, it had been close to a year since he’d shared intimate skin privileges—a long time for even a lone wolf, especially a dominant, but he’d had a grip on it. The lack of contact had hurt at times, but it hadn’t been all-encompassing, threatening to blind him.

Then had come Adria and the constant prickle across his skin, the irritation he hadn’t understood until she’d pushed him to ignition point. His cock hardened at the memory of her coming so wild and hot around his fingers, the ice and crushed berries of her scent intermingled with a dark feminine musk that had acted like a drug on his senses. She’d been right in the clearing. Now that he’d come face-to-face with the vicious lust that had driven his response to her from the start, he couldn’t undo it, couldn’t go back to a time when he didn’t want her, the echo of their explosive encounter taunting him in his dreams.

“Go for it.” Riley’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Felix needs as many warm bodies as he can get.” He pulled up a file on his datapad. “Grab some juveniles on your way down.” A pause. “The males. It’ll keep the maternals happy and make the boys too tired to get into trouble.”

A sudden memory made Riaz grin. “Remember that time Hawke, Coop, you, and I got caught with those films?”





Chapter 10





“THOSE FILMS WERE worth scrubbing the toilets for a month.” Riley’s expression was solemn, in direct opposition to the amusement dancing in his eyes. “I learned a whole lot of things. Still trying to track down a copy of that third film.”