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I quickly went over in my head what I’d say.All I could do was hope they bought it.If they knew Jagger was my fated mate, even if we weren’t mated, they’d kill Luke and cut their losses.No way would they want a hound that close to their operation.

No, the best way out of this was getting the evidence Rune and Lucifer needed, then let them move in and sort things out.Without proof, Luke was just collateral damage.Tarrant would carry on doing what he was doing, I’d lose my friend, and more people would get hurt if they started production again with someone who didn’t know what the hell they were doing.

I glanced in my rearview mirror again as I pulled up in front of the house.Jagger had vanished into the trees.I still thought him coming with me was a terrible idea, but at the same time just knowing he was close helped ease my fears.

The main door opened as I got out of my car, and Poe stood there, his black eyes burning into me.He was still bruised and his breathing was shallow.I wasn’t surprised.After the beating Jagger had given him, even his naturally fast healing hadn’t managed to repair all the damage done to his body yet.

I did my best to slow my erratic breathing, to stay calm.My fear would only excite them more.Tarrant and Poe were like rabid animals.To them, fear was similar to the smell of a fresh kill.It made them want to tear their prey to pieces.I needed them to let me talk, and to believe me.Luke’s life depended on it.

When Jagger spoke to Lucifer before we’d left, he’d commanded Jagger to stay back, to only intervene if I was in mortal danger.I had to prevent that any way I could.There was just too much at stake, not only for me but for Lucifer as well, and I did not want to get on the king of Hell’s bad side.

Poe gripped the back of my neck when I reached him and pressed his lips to my ear.I stiffened and prayed to the mother that Jagger kept his composure.

“You’ve got some explaining to do, witch,” he grated.

“I know,” I rushed out and forced myself to look up at him with wide eyes.His face was way too close to mine, and so was his mouth, but Rune was right, this creep had a thing for me, and I needed to take advantage of it.To get this done, I’d have to use his attraction to me.It might be the only way to get out of this meeting without a full-blown war breaking out.“I’m sorry, Poe, that you were hurt.Let me use more of my healing magic to help you.”

His gaze searched mine, and he sucked in a breath, then winced.“Are you trying to fuck with me?Because that would be a seriously stupid thing to do.”

“I know it would be, and I think you know me well enough to know I’m not stupid,” I said, not breaking eye contact.

He stared down at me for several long minutes, like he was trying to burrow into my skull and read my mind, to work out if I was lying or not.

“Do you want to work your magic on me, sweetheart?”

“Yes,” I said, lying through my teeth and feeling more than a little nauseous even thinking about what I might have to do.

He grinned.“Let’s see if you survive first.If Tarrant decides you’re not a traitor, then we can talk about you putting your hands all over me.”

I nodded, and still gripping the back of my neck, he shoved me forward and through the foyer toward Tarrant’s office.

“I really hope you’re not,” Poe said as he shoved me through the door.

Tarrant was in front of his desk, resting against it.There was a plate piled with raw and bloody bones beside him, and he was studying his claws.They were fully extended, and as he looked up, he used one to pick at his teeth.

“What do you have to say for yourself?”he said, his icy voice searing down my spine.“What is your relationship with that hound?”

“I don’t have a relationship with him.I know them through friends, that’s all.They can be…protective when someone’s brought into their circle.”I wrapped my arms around myself.“I told them to back off.To stay out of my business.They won’t do anything like that again.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe you?Anyone getting near my business who isn’t invited makes me very unhappy, Sutton, you must understand that.”

“I do, and I promise.He won’t interfere again.”

Tarrant straightened and closed the space between us.“I’m not sure I believe you.I have eyes everywhere, and it’s not the first time you’ve been seen with hounds.They spent a great deal of time outside your coven’s house a few months back.”

“I can explain that.”

“You better.”

“Our home was invaded by a witch, a bad one.He tortured me and another member of our coven.”I quickly explained everything that happened as best as I could.“The hounds are protective of females and with the close connection—one of their brothers is mated to one of our newest coven members—they decided to guard the house while we recovered, that’s all.”

“I really want to believe you,” Tarrant said.“Killing you would be such a waste of talent.You’ve made me a lot of money.”He waved a hand at someone behind me.

Then Poe turned me to face the door as Lars dragged Luke in with him.He looked rough, tired, but unharmed.

“There are ways of getting the truth, but since your hands are far too valuable, we’ll use Luke here as proxy,” Tarrant said.“Sit him over there.”

There was a chair by the window, and a small table beside it.