Lion's Dangerous(Kings of the Jungle #1)(56)

She shrugged again and trailed off, leaving her words to sink in.

"She's not a fucking fishing lure," Jude said, but the violent objection in his gut didn't make it into his voice. Little sis was right. Even the lion acknowledged the fact, and he knew Lily wouldn't balk at the idea. She didn't want to give up her life and go into hiding. He was the one who wanted her safe and protected. 

"These are the kind of threats that aren't bought off with money, aren't scared off with threats." That came from Ravenna, the quiet, watchful head of the avian flocks. She brushed black hair from her eyes and focused on Jude. "I can set up an aerial watch. It's easy for mine to follow her undetected. We can move in fast to take him when he shows, and if he runs, we can follow without the encumbrance of humans."

"You could make her Pride," Summer suggested. This time when she spoke, she didn't look at anyone except Jude, didn't even flick an eyelash in Cavin's direction. "Turn her and give her the power to defend herself."

Cavin laughed harshly. "Do you think claiming a mate is as simple as ordering a pizza? Get out your cell phone and your credit card and half an hour later, you have a pie in your hands?"

That's the line. Jude met Cavin's eyes head-on. Don't cross it. I don't want to meet you on the wrong side, but I will.

"Enough," Cerridwyn interjected coolly. "You're shaming this girl for being what she is. If you want something else out of her, give her the tools she needs. Little lioness," she said, addressing Summer, "This gathering is not meant for you. Remove yourself." Her words gentled as she added, "You're making the males stupid."

Cavin's pupils flared and his jaw tightened but he suppressed the instinct to assert dominance. In return, Jude held his own in check. By unspoken agreement, they moved apart. Ruark casually stepped in to fill the gap and, not waiting for Summer to respond, Cerridwyn repositioned herself so that the heat she emanated would force Summer back.

The group broke up soon after that, everything that needed saying having been said. The Kings would continue to be vigilant in the Jungle, Jude would coordinate with the avians to guard Lily and wait for the arachnid's puppet to make its next move, and Cavin-hell. There would be no pushing Cavin to take what he wanted before he was ready to do it.

Once everybody but the Kings had vacated the garage, Jude ordered Summer into his SUV. For once, she obeyed without comment. The instant her door closed, Jude turned on Cavin.

"Don't," Cavin said before Jude got a word out.

"No. You fucking don't. Has she broken any laws? Insulted you so deeply, you can't be man-king-enough to grant her grace? Have you issued a punishment order that I don't know about?" His words echoed inside the cavernous, concrete space. "And if you have, why are you dealing with her instead of with me? I'm her guardian here. Until you step the fuck up, I'm the one who carries the responsibility of her actions."

A muscle ticked at the corner of Cavin's eye. He held himself ramrod straight, his lips fully over his teeth. "She's done nothing. I apologize."

Cavin wasn't a man who spoke with a forked tongue. His word meant something, and a direct apology should have been enough, but Jude felt his own lips pulling back.

"Accept his word," Ares commanded, moving into Jude's peripheral line of sight. "Your sister's an unclaimed female of noble lineage. She will cause problems among us until she comes under the protection of a mate. And," he added with wry affection, "she has a smart mouth. It's going to get her into shit that isn't serious enough for the wrath of the law, but nonetheless will bring trouble down on her head."

Cavin pushed a hand through his hair and stood down. He'd half turned toward the elevator that would take him back up to the club when he paused and looked back at the SUV, where Summer's silhouette was just visible through the tinted window. "She's a child, and you were right. She doesn't belong here. Keep her home and find her a mate. For her sake."



       
         
       
        

The elevator arrived. Cavin stepped inside and jabbed a button, closing the doors behind him.

Jude swore. "That 'her sake' shit is … "

"Shit," Ares confirmed, reaching out to call the elevator back down to the garage.

"I told Lily to make a list of anybody she might have pissed off," Jude said. "The three of us should make our own lists. As long as this threat is loose, we need to be aware of our weaknesses."

Ares nodded. Jude figured that would be the end of it, but a beat later, he said, "Lily's store is next door to a salon. Have her issues spread out to the other businesses in the strip?"