Bitten by Cupid(41)

Jag made a sound deep in his throat that sounded exactly like the growl of a jaguar. But his fangs and claws retracted, and he swung away, stalking out of the living room, Kougar close behind him.

Zeeland stared after him, his breathing heavy, his fist clenching tight around his knife. Everything inside him itched for a fight. If he found out that Feral had hurt Julianne, no one and nothing was standing between them next time.

Hawke turned back and met Zeeland’s gaze, Hawke’s own seeing too much, asking questions Zeeland wasn’t prepared to answer.

“I’ll be back tomorrow night for the Valentine’s party.” He lifted one winged brow. “Without Jag.”

Hawke released Zeeland’s shoulder and thrust out his hand, but when Zeeland would have clasped it, Hawke reached farther, gripping Zeeland just below the elbow in the greeting the Ferals reserved for one another and a select few outside their ranks. Being offered such was a sign of deep respect and friendship, and Zeeland accepted it as such.

Zeeland dipped his head. “It’s good to see you, Hawke.”

Hawke smiled. “Tomorrow.”

As Hawke strode off behind his companions, Zeeland sheathed his knife and turned to find Julianne slipping away behind him. He was in no damned mood for any more games.

He caught up to her in three long strides, his hand clamping around her upper arm.

Her surprised gaze jerked up. For a single moment, fear glittered in her turquoise eyes. Then a curtain fell, a mask of indifference.

“We’re going to talk,” he told her. “Now.”

“I need to help in the kitchen, Zeeland.”

“Damn the kitchen.”

She tried to pull away, but his fingers tightened. It occurred to him he was treating her little better than Jag had. But where Jag had been looking out for his own needs, Zeeland’s sole concern was Julianne.





Chapter Five


Julianne clenched her jaw, fighting panic, as Zeeland steered her to the door of the library. She had to get away from him. He couldn’t know what was going on.

In some ways he hadn’t changed. He was the same take-charge Zeeland he’d always been. As a child, she’d believed in him implicitly, knowing she could depend on him above all others. She’d trusted him to move heaven and earth to keep her safe.

Until the day she’d driven him away, and he’d turned his back on her.

And she’d grown up enough to know no one could keep her safe.

She’d thought Zeeland had forgiven her for ten years ago, but now she wasn’t so sure. Shortly after dinner, as she’d played the show tunes at Grayson’s request, Zeeland’s eyes had turned angry, and she was terrified he’d seen something in her own.

He always saw too much.

What had he learned? How had she given herself away?

Zeeland pushed open the door of the library and pulled her inside. Daniella and Cambria sat on the window seat, their conversation dying.

“Zeeland,” Daniella said by way of greeting, her eyes lighting up.

“Ladies. If you’ll excuse us, I need a word with Julianne in private.”

Cambria and Daniella exchanged amused, interested glances, their encouraging gazes turning to her.

Couldn’t they see his anger? They acted like they thought he was interested in her, but there was nothing soft in his touch. They’d like nothing better, she realized, than for Zeeland to develop an interest in her and decide to return to Alexandria for good.

She loved them both, but they didn’t have a clue what was going on. As the pair rose, she was infinitely glad she didn’t have to have this conversation in front of them.

The door clicked, leaving them alone. Zeeland released her, and she stifled the urge to run, knowing Zeeland too well. He was determined to have it out with her. Whatever it was.

Goddess help her, she had to stay in control. And the best way to do that was to go on the offensive.

She swung to face him. “That was rude.”

“They’ll get over it. You’ve been avoiding me since I got here, and I’ve had enough. You’re going to tell me why you’re playing Beethoven, and you’re going to tell me now, Julianne.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Start talking.”

Ten years he’d been gone, yet he acted like he hadn’t left at all. Like he expected them to simply pick up where they’d left off, with him acting like an overprotective older brother.

The worst of it was that there was nothing she wanted more than to lay her multitude of problems firmly in his lap.

But she couldn’t.

She had to convince him he was mistaken. Crossing her arms over her own chest, she managed to give him a long-suffering look even as she felt as if she held herself together by a thread. “What exactly do you want to talk about, Zeeland?”