Electric Storm(41)

Rylan reached out for her but dropped his arm without touching her. “The pack system works. You insist on working a dangerous job. Your powers are changing. You’re vulnerable alone.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” What had she done to bring suspicion on herself?

Durant stepped forward, drew his nail across his palm, drawing a welt of blood. “I offer myself freely.”

“It’s all a lie.” Her lips felt bloodless.

“It’s what we make it.” Those green eyes turned golden.

She could feel the pressure inside build as the storm worsened. The urge to hide, run away from the truth and fight the cravings grew in her. If she did what they said, she could be free. Still she fought.

The blood slowed, the wound healing. “Why is claiming you different than claiming Taggert? Why–”

Durant smiled. “Tigers are a different breed from wolves. No one can make a tiger do something they don’t desire. You claimed Taggert. This will be a mating that brings money and power to the pack.”

The tone of his voice, the cadence, resonated in her.

Hypnotizing.

She shook her head to try and clear her thoughts. “You’re doing it again, trying to influence me. You’re trying to seduce me.”

A small smile tugged at his lips. “It’s a privilege of being packmates.” His face might have been smiling, but his eyes were dead serious.

“Never.” Raven gulped, trying to find where the oxygen disappeared to when she desperately needed air. Durant bit his lip until blood welled.

Her heart slammed painfully against her ribs when he tipped his head toward hers. The warm scent of leather swirled between them.

“Taste.” Durant murmured the words against her lips. “I can feel your hunger beat at me.”

“I don’t trust you.” He’d changed his mind much too fast for her to be convinced he didn’t want something. Then his lips brushed hers. When she pulled away, he cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss.

Instead of blood, she tasted power. It curled through her, drugging her body. His aura fluctuated, melding a little with hers. His desire consumed her. The world fell away, and the threat of the storm vanished. Everything she needed was in this kiss.

His hands tightened painfully in her hair, dragging her back from the edge and the pool of power just beyond her touch. She wanted to reach deeper and brush up against the cat she sensed so near the surface.

When he pulled away, she met his gaze and licked her lips. The taste of blood broke through her euphoria. Durant’s chest heaved with exertion, all the scheming she’d seen in his eyes had vanished. He shuddered, looking as confused as her. “What happened?”

Rylan snorted. “Raven happened.”

A movement in the other room jolted them into motion. “Cassie’s awake.” Rylan nodded to Durant. “You’re needed.”

When Durant took a step, he staggered as if drunk. Surprise plastered his face as he quickly straightened. Those golden eyes of his met hers, and she knew he wouldn’t forget what they’d shared. She just wished she knew what he planned on doing with the information.

She followed and watched him cradle Cassie. He winced when she grabbed his offered arm with two hands and pulled it toward her mouth. As his orphan fed, Durant’s gaze locked on hers.

Raven turned away from the intimate moment, unable to bare the close exam from his too perceptive eyes. Only to find herself faced with four men. Jackson crossed his arms, a pinched look on his face. The fury in his eyes took her aback. “Jackson?”

“He might buy that excuse for now, but he’s going to want the truth. What the hell happened?”

Rylan stepped between them. “Just what I said.”

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Jackson closed the distance until the men stood toe to toe. “What did you do to them? What vampire tricks did you use?”

Suddenly tired, Raven rubbed her temple. “Jackson, he didn’t do anything. I told you I was different. I accidentally reached inside the core where Durant holds his power. I’m not sure how it’s possible, but he must have felt some of mine in exchange.”

“Your hands glowed.” Taggert stared at her hands, and she resisted the urge to hide them behind her back.

Rylan gazed at her, questions in his eyes. She wanted to ask if he saw anything, but couldn’t open herself up to more scrutiny. Not when she didn’t know the answers. “This whole thing wasn’t necessary.”

“We’ll have to agree to disagree.” Though Rylan’s expression was pleasant, she detected an underlying emotion in him that made her nervous. She couldn’t help but feel she’d disappointed him in some way. That he needed something from her that she failed to understand.