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“You can fix it, Lach. Make her understand.”

Exasperation washed over me. “There’s nothing to understand. She wants to go home.”

His expression darkened. “Not happening. She’s our mate. And she’s seen too much now.” He ran another hand through his hair, the motion jerky and agitated. He switched to English, mumbling, “It’s the mate bond making me feel this way. I need to shift before I explode.”

It wasn’t the mate bond. More like three months’ worth of sexual frustration. Bedding Chloe was the cure for what ailed him—and me. Of course, that was unlikely to happen now that he’d swatted her ass and stuffed her in the tower.

“Go,” I said on a sigh.

“You’ll talk to her?”

“I’ll do my best.”

Something struck the door, making it shudder.

“What could she possibly be throwing?” Alec murmured.

“Go on,” I told him. “It’s probably better if she doesn’t see you right now.”

He grimaced. “Probably.” He started down the steps, then paused and looked over his shoulder, his gaze dipping to my hips. “Maybe put on some trousers first.”

I scowled and shifted to shadow form, then shot forward so fast he didn’t have time to move out of the way. Streaming in a million particles, I streaked a hot path past his ribs, making him yelp and jump aside.

It served him right, I thought as I twisted down the steps and raced to my bedroom. Not that a burn could really hurt him. Like me, Alec was a creature of fire.

My discarded trousers lay where I’d dropped them just before I pleasured him—something that seemed ages ago now. I shifted as I entered the room, my feet striking the ground as my body became flesh. I couldn’t wear clothing in shadow form, however, so my trip back to the tower was far less convenient, and my irritation with Alec grew as I climbed the narrow steps.

The landing was quiet, as if the air itself held its breath. Mindful of Chloe’s propensity for launching things at the door, I entered the room slowly—and almost tripped over her shoes on the threshold. She lay on her side in the bed, her knees drawn to her chest.

“Chloe?” I moved toward her.

No answer. She stared sightlessly at the room’s sole window, which was covered by bars. Moonlight spilled across the floor and onto the bed, turning her hair to a silver river. She was lovely. And full of more fight than I’d given her credit for.

A human, yes. But a damn courageous one.

I moved between her and the window, my body blocking the light. “You chucked those shoes hard enough to shake the door, lass. I’m impressed.”

“Ten years of softball,” she said, her gaze still unfocused. “We were state champions in high school.”

“I didn’t know that.”

Now she looked at me, her blue eyes apprehensive but shaded with the same grit she’d displayed on the roof. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, Mr. MacKay. For example, if you think you’re going to keep me prisoner, you’re mistaken.”

“Lachlan. And I have no intention of keeping you prisoner.”

Could have fooled me.

I caught my breath. Because she hadn’t spoken aloud. Yet her voice had rung through my head as clear and true as a bell. Just as it had on the plane.

Desire flooded me as my heart beat faster. Holding her gaze, I concentrated on forming a sentence in my mind. Can you hear me, Chloe?

She bolted upright, then plastered herself against the headboard, one hand thrust out as if to ward me off. “You—”

“Spoke in your head.” As you did in mine. My heart was racing now, the knowledge of who and what she was crashing over me in waves.

“No, I didn’t.”

I tilted my head. Could have fooled me.