To Tempt A Tiger(86)

Elizaveta’s expression went strangely blank when she mentioned the death sentence for a human killer. Rose had enough functioning brain cells left to wonder about that, but not enough to mention it. She’d ask Vlad later. Right now, she was still in too much shock.

“However, if we adopt either of the former two options,” Elizaveta continued, “she will have additional protections.”

“She’ll also have additional responsibilities,” Elder Two said.

“Meaning?” Vlad asked.

“We will expect her to contribute,” Two said.

“Contribute how, exactly?” Rose asked.

“You will be expected to mate with a tiger male and attempt to have more children. If they are females, they will be required to participate in the Mate Run when they reach maturity.”

“Nila doesn’t have to run,” Vlad said.

Two shrugged. “Should Rose produce a human hybrid, the rules that govern Nila will govern that female. Any shifter females will be expected to take a tiger mate if they wish to benefit from the full protection of our laws.”

“And if they don’t?” Rose asked.

“They will be extremely vulnerable to our more desperate males,” Elizaveta answered quietly, her voice softening in a way Rose hadn’t heard before. “It is better if they are covered under our laws.”

“Zoe will be expected to run?”

“She will.”

“What happens if she refuses?”

The elders exchanged looks. “I told you this would happen,” Elder Six said. “They are not really ours. They have no loyalty to our struggles. We should not—” He cut himself off and pressed his lips into a tight line. “But it is done,” he muttered.

Next to him, Lei’s expression tightened, just a little.

“Females don’t refuse their responsibilities,” Pavel said. “If she wishes to keep our protection, she will run.”

“It won’t be a problem,” Vlad said. “I’ll make sure she’s ready for the Run.”

Rose narrowed her eyes, ready to argue, but realized something in Vlad’s voice sounded…off. It only took her a heartbeat to realize what was wrong.

He was lying, to the elders. She could hear it. She could tell.

She glanced back at the nine, studying their expressions. Six looked disgusted. Lei held his neutral expression. Elizaveta and Three looked approving. Pavel looked smug.

None of them seemed to realize Vlad had just blatantly misled them about ensuring Zoe would run. Rose forced her expression to remain neutral, but the realization that she’d recognized his lie when the others hadn’t was startling.

And a huge relief.

She was about to speak, to play her part so the elders wouldn’t recognize his deception through her reaction, when noise from behind one of the side doors drew everyone’s attention.

Rose moved instinctively to put Zoe at her back and wasn’t at all surprised when Vlad took up a position next to her, his body also blocking Zoe from the potential threat.

The noise went silent. Rose held her breath, though not entirely sure why.

Then the door flew open, crashing into the wall and throwing the assistant in front of it halfway across the room.

A tall blond man stood in the doorway, glaring and breathing hard.

“Yuri,” Vlad said.

Rose had an instant to realize this was Vlad’s youngest brother before the man stalked into the room. She clicked the safety off on her gun and put a hand on Zoe’s arm to keep her close.

“I will not allow you to pollute our population,” Yuri growled. “This is a travesty, an abomination, a crime against nature.”

“And I won’t allow you to hurt Rose or Zoe,” Vlad said.

Rose was afraid to take her eyes off Yuri but took a chance and glanced at the elders and the assistant still standing, looking for help. Some of the elders had remained seated, others were standing but not making an effort to get to Yuri. The assistant held his spot, his gaze jumping back and forth between the elders and the door behind him as if he wasn’t entirely sure what to do. Elizaveta took a step toward Yuri, but Two put a hand on her arm stopping her. Glares were exchanged.

Rose faced Yuri again, cursing inwardly. If she could get the damned main door open, she could let Alexis and the Trackers in—who wouldn’t have heard the noise thanks to the room’s soundproofing. Unfortunately, Yuri angled around to block them from getting to the main door even as he stalked closer.

“You’re a traitor to your family and your people,” Yuri said. “Father would have killed you with his bare hands.”

“The way he murdered our mother?” Vlad said, turning with Yuri’s progress while staying in front of Rose and Zoe.