Saving the Beast(52)

“No, I didn’t,” Diane admitted. “Would you be that upset?”

“God, no.” Zane cradled her face with his hands. “The thought of you round with my child does things to me. Here.” He touched his chest just over his heart.

Diane smiled. “I think I like the idea of having your baby.”

“Yeah?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she agreed.

“Well, if we didn’t this time, I’m all for trying until we do,” he whispered huskily.

“Mhmm,” she moaned as he ran his lips and teeth along her jaw up toward her ear. “I like the sound of that, too.”

He swatted her sharply on the ass, making her jump.

“Good, then let’s get going so we can find that bed,” he told her.

“Oh, yeah,” she agreed, and they set off again.

They hadn’t gone far when Zane stopped, cocked his head and reached over to push her behind him. She pressed her lips tight in a bid to remain as silent as possible and huddled behind the safety of his back. Shit! Were there more hunters in the area after all? Double shit! Was Kenzie okay? Diane prayed nothing else would happen to the other woman. Kenzie had been through enough in the last twenty-four hours. Diane suspected even more had happened than what Kenzie had stated.

“I want you to stay low,” Zane murmured so softly she had to strain to hear him. “Don’t leave my side.”

“Hunters?” she asked, wishing Angel had stuck around and traveled with them instead.

Zane shook his head and gave her a perplexed look. “Shifters, but not any of our group. And I smell blood.”

So not Kenzie. Diane felt a rush of relief course through her then felt guilty for it. Blood could mean one of the shifters Zane was scenting was hurt. Maybe more? How many shifters did he scent?

“That’s close enough,” Zane said, startling Diane out of her thoughts. “Who are you? And what are you doing?”

Diane glanced around Zane and took in the small group that stood a short distance away, two men and a woman. As she watched, the biggest of the three stepped forward, as if he’d protect the others if needed. He held up one arm to warn the two with him to stay back. The other hung loosely at his side.

“You must be Orsai’s nephew,” he said to Zane. The man appeared to be a couple of inches shorter than Zane but just as muscular. His hair was long, falling in thick black waves just past his shoulders, and he had piercing green eyes.

She’d only managed a brief look at the other two before they were placed firmly at the guy’s back. The girl looked petite. Diane thought she appeared closer to Abby and Clara’s five foot five height with a short shock of blonde hair. The other man didn’t seem as if he was much over six foot, maybe six one, but that was just judging him against her six foot six mate. Guy number two had short brown hair.

Zane didn’t reply to the other man, just widened his stance in front of her and watched.

The man sighed, and he sounded weary. “We’re here searching for a lioness named Clara.”

Again, Zane said nothing. Diane had no idea how he managed it as she was bursting with questions but did her best to keep her lips firmly shut. Was this Clara’s Uncle Thomas she’d been wanting? Diane glanced around Zane again. The man didn’t look much like Clara at all, which could mean nothing.

“I know Clara’s here,” the man said again. “And we’re not leaving without seeing her. So make sure she knows that.”

“Who are you?” Diane asked when Zane still remained silent.

Her mate glanced down at her where she’d inched her way out beside him and glared. His eyes were neon. Was his fever back? She moved closer to his side and tucked herself into him, which seemed to appease him a little. A rumbled of displeasure left his chest as he pulled her even closer. She automatically reached out to touch his chest with her palm, attempting to soothe him.

“We’re not going to touch your mate,” the other guy assured them and inhaled. His gaze sharpened, and he nodded slowly.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Zane grunted but didn’t elucidate on what the congratulations was for. Could the other shifters smell she and Zane were newly mated? Good grief!

“You’ve been hit with fever,” the man said. “I can smell it on you.” He glanced back at the other two for a long moment in some type of silent exchange before giving another sigh and facing Zane again. “I’m going to guess you were paid a visit by a human woman and her shifter sidekick,” he mused. “How much were you hit with?”

Diane spoke up again. “We don’t know. Whatever—”