My Champion(50)

Kari literally felt her blood pressure spike. Just as she was about to reach for Trish, Declan grabbed her around the waist to hold her back. Trish waved and shut the door behind her.

"That bitch!" she hissed.

Declan grimaced, releasing her. "Now Kari."

She spun to face her mate. "You knew who she was when she was scheduled for the interview. You saw her name on the list, and you did not prepare me?"

Declan scratched the side of his head. "I didn't think it would be that big a deal."

"You did not think it would be that big a deal?" she repeated.

Declan just stared at her. "I mean, I knew it was going to be a big deal," he backpedaled at her tone. "But I didn't know how to tell you," he rephrased his sentence.

Kari crossed her arms over her chest and tapped her foot. "How many women on this list have you slept with?"

Declan gulped. "I didn't sleep with any of them after they mated."

"How many of them have you slept with Declan?"

"Thirteen."

"Thirteen! Declan that is almost half of today's list!"

He winced. "I've been here a long time."

She took a deep breath. "You know it is not the fact that you slept with them. It was the fact that we would be doing interviews with them, and you never told me this could happen. She completely disrespected me. The entire city knows I am your mate, and because I was not prepared, she got away with treating me like a second-class citizen. I cannot afford for her to set this kind of precedent. What sort of message do you think that sends?"

"I'm sorry, Kari, I really am. I just didn't think of it that way," he admitted.

"No, you did not, and because of that, you are sleeping on the couch. No claiming sex for you."

His mouth dropped open, and he stared at her in shock. He looked so ridiculous she almost forgave him. When he started to say something, she bopped him on the head with her clipboard. "Couch, Declan." She sat down and made it look as though she was looking over her notes when, in fact, she was just trying to get her temper under control and not laugh at his desperate expression.

Declan dropped to his knees in front of her. "Kari, please! I never meant to hurt you. I guess I didn't think things all the way through. Please don't deny me as your mate." Declan begged.

She was trying to figure out what he was talking about when the door flew open. Nigel skidded to a halt in front of them. "Declan, why do you have your walkie-talkie off? We've been trying to reach you. You have got to get to Level Six. Warrick's family has gone bonkers. I think they're going after Avery!"

Kari was moving before she realized her legs were running. She raced toward the transport tunnel. She flew up the tunnel to Level Six, leaving Nigel to escort Declan behind her. She pushed her way through the crowd. Warrick was facing off against another man.

"Andre, you do not want to do this," Warrick said.

"No, I do not have to, but I am enjoying it. Father gave me a message. He said to tell you that you have been disowned. We do not want your kind in our family."

"Kind?" Warrick asked.

"Of course. Not only did you mate a shifter, but you mated a male one. You are not able to pass on the DuBois gift to another generation. You have polluted our pure bloodline."

Kari saw that Avery was shaking behind Warrick. He was clutching the back of his mate's shirt.

She stepped forward, growling low in her throat. "What is going on here," she demanded.

Andre turned, a smile on his face until he saw her expression. He looked at his cousin who stood almost seven feet tall and then to her, and he took a step back. "Nothing that concerns you, female. I hear you have whored yourself out to Prince Magnus for your quick promotion. No wonder my father is upset that my cousin mated the likes of your mongrel brother."

Kari inhaled at his words. But before she could reach out to choke the life out of him, Declan moved. He was a blur at her side before he raked his claws down Andre's chest. The vampire howled and clutched at the wound. Kari stepped around them to reach Avery. Warrick moved so that they were both behind him. Avery wrapped himself around her as they watched the scene before them.

"I will have you detained warrior! This is assault!" Andre cried.

Declan looked at him in disgust. "Quit whining, you useless sack of shit. The scratches are already healing. You're lucky I didn't return the favor your father paid me. You would be laid up in the infirmary."

Nigel walked over and took his place in front of her. Neil was next to him in front of Avery, creating another barrier between them and the threat. "Yeah! You're lucky!" Nigel yelled. "Yeah!" Neil echoed. Both men stood slightly behind Warrick glowering at the vampire.