line

suit and gold-rimmed glasses. He resembled Hayward, but his features were sharper. Rather tha

rd, he was not a fighter. His power lay in the connections he controlled, the contracts he handled, and the complex busine

ng me a slight nod. The title was

" I replied. The words had

gestured to the opposite sofa. "I came to inquire

t how badly Hayward had treated me. I did not want to air the fa

of relief. "This is excellent news. Sterling Tech's stock has been u

ed about the bottom line. To Hanson, Hayward was not a brother but an

w that Hayward is awake, the Council will naturally want to return them to him. That is good for stability. But Hayward will need ti

He wanted to know whose side I was on: Dangel

ague answers. I learned nothing of value, except one

in. He had changed into black casual clothes. His face was still pale,

I realized-were dragging a bruise

n exclaimed, jum

eyes swept past me, then fixed on

seemed to drop the temperature in the room. "Did you think that because I

in the room grew heavy. Even I, wolfless as I was, could f

!" Dangelo pleaded, struggling in the Wa

lain? Fine." He moved with lightning speed

choked groan and d

I had never witnessed such cruel, immediate v

narled. Then he kicked Dangelo viciously in the kne

o screamed, a so

-"is for her." My breath caught. "Though I don't want her either, the Moon Goddess b

nge resonance I had felt when he struck Dangelo. He was not protecting me. He wa

o intervene, but a single cold gla

d ordered the Warriors. "He is not to se

dragged away

o me, the brutal rage on his face r

ening. "Don't think for a second that I did tha

impossible to breathe. "I don't know what deal you made with Beatrice, and I

way to sever the sacred bond between fated mates. The process inflicted unimaginable pain on both souls. The rejecte

my mind filled

ng my thoughts. "You only need to know that after the cer

on... It sounded worse than death. What about my baby? If he

r, cold fury mixed w

s voice low and rough. "

at his wild, scorching scent clung to me, an

rushed my hair. "Under Dangelo's stench, th

the last second. But his eyes followed the aborted movement. Hi

d burning at once. "You're lying. Your pulse is racing. Y

chin, turned, a

hand trembled. He almo