Therian Prize(35)
“Enya sent her with a couple of outfits,” Jake told her.
“Which is why she’s wearing one of your shirts?”
Jake smiled. “You know Enya. She never wastes an opportunity to rattle my cage.”
“Enya likes to rattle everyone’s cage,” Devon grumbled. “She is the most provoking female I’ve ever met.”
“And who’s the most provoking male?” Ian’s eyes gleamed with hunger and affection every time he looked at Devon.
“I think you and Kyle are tied.”
“Then I’m not trying hard enough.” Ian pulled her into his arms and kissed the corners of her mouth.
“Now who needs to find a room?” Jake laughed. “It’s been two weeks. Aren’t you two sick of each other by now?”
Ian leaned down and nipped Devon’s lower lip. “Are you sick of me yet?”
“Maybe a little,” Devon teased.
Ian gasped in playful outrage and pinched her behind. “Then I’ll have to do something about that.” He bent and lifted Devon to his shoulder. She laughed and kicked her legs. “It was nice to meet you, Miss Fitzroy. If you need anything, call.”
It was hard to take him seriously with a wiggling woman slung over his shoulder, but Heather played along. “Thank you, Mr. Douglas. I appreciate the offer.”
Jake opened the front door for Ian then returned to the dining room. Before Heather could decipher his expression, he took her hand and said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything to them without asking you first. It was rude and it won’t happen again.”
Chapter Five
Nate paused outside the grungy diner and calmed himself with a deep breath. A meeting with General Milliner was the last thing he needed today. General. Nate sneered. If James Milliner had ever belonged to a branch of the armed forces, those days were long past. Still, Milliner retained the calm expectancy of someone used to command. Well, Nate had authority too and more importantly he had something Milliner wanted. Or he had until that something spontaneously shifted and ran away.
And thanks to Heather’s impulsiveness he was under pressure from every direction. His hunters were restless, the other wolf alphas sensed discontent within Nate’s pack and Milliner grew bolder with each passing hour.
Heaving a frustrated sigh, Nate put on his game face and walked into the diner. The semi-repulsive smell of fried food and layers of grime assaulted his nose as he visually scanned the red-and-white-striped booths. The waitresses wore poufed poodle skirts and saddle oxfords, with their hair pulled back into ponytails. Sixty years ago this place might have been charming. Now it was a sad reminder of how much the world had changed.
Milliner sat in a corner booth, devouring a massive hamburger. Nate crossed the diner and slipped into the booth facing the human. Dressed casually in jeans and a Western shirt, Milliner was easy to overlook at first glance. He was of medium height and average build, with close-clipped gray hair. But his light-blue eyes held both wisdom and ruthlessness. One long look into those eyes had convinced Nate that Milliner was not a man to screw with, despite his ordinary appearance.
Rather than bother with small talk, Nate sat back and waited for Milliner to speak.
“Have you made up your mind?” Milliner set down the half-eaten burger and wiped his mouth with a paper napkin.
Two days after Dhane’s disappearance, Milliner contacted Nate for the first time. The general casually explained that one of his partners had kidnapped Dhane without permission from the others. He insisted that Dhane was unharmed and asked if Nate would be interested in a trade.
Nate’s first reaction had been fury. He’d insisted on meeting Milliner in person, fully intending to beat the location of his son out of the worthless human. Milliner might be human but he was far from stupid. He’d insisted on meeting in a crowded food court where any disturbance would be recorded by the surveillance cameras.
“My offer expires today,” Milliner reminded. “Either we trade or the program moves forward with Dhane.”
“Trading one of my children for another isn’t much of a concession.” Nate folded his arms across his chest and glared. If he’d succeeded in locating Dhane, they wouldn’t be having this conversation. He’d have followed Milliner to a secluded location and ripped his throat out. But, despite considerable effort, Nate had failed to find the lab in which Dhane was being held.
“The program is designed for an undefined female. It has already been tested successfully. Heather will not be damaged by the formula. I can’t say the same about Dhane.”
Milliner’s flippancy was testing Nate’s control. He clenched his fists so hard his nails bit into his palms. “Who was it tested on? What do you consider success? How many Therians do you have trapped in your precious labs?”