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“Special treatment,” James added from my other side, his fighter’s grace making even walking look dangerous. “Though you seem to inspire that in us.”

“Lucky me,” I drawled, pretending my heart wasn’t racing at being surrounded by them. “Is this where you tell me I’m not like other boys?”

“No.” Xander’s voice dropped lower, more intimate. “This is where we tell you that you smell like moonlight and secrets.”

That… was not what I expected. “Has anyone ever told you your pickup lines need work?”

“Frequently.” Liam laughed, but there was an edge to it. His hand found the small of my back as we navigated through a cluster of tourists. “Usually right before they fall for them.”

“Confident, aren’t you?”

“Very.” James’ smile was all predator. “Especially when we’re right.”

We passed the enchanted honey stand, and I swore the seller’s golden eyes widened at our little group. The crowd parted around us like water around stones, though I noticed some people—specific people—watching us with too-sharp gazes.

“The council is taking notice,” Liam murmured, his lips brushing my ear in a way that was definitely not necessary for communication.

“Poor Elizabeth looks like she’s about to have a conniption,” James added with dark amusement.

I followed their gaze to where an elegant silver-haired woman stood with several equally distinguished-looking individuals. They were trying very hard to look like they weren’t watching us—and failing spectacularly.

“Friends of yours?” I asked.

“Hardly.” Xander’s smile was pure politics. “The Cedar GrovePack Council. They’re not used to… outside interests in their territory.”

“And what exactly are your interests?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Three pairs of eyes fixed on me with predatory intensity. The air between us charged with something that made my skin tingle and my pulse jump.

“Would you like us to show you?” Liam’s voice was pure sin.

“Careful, brother,” Xander warned, but his eyes never left my face. “Our little fox isn’t ready for all our… interests.”

There it was again. Little fox. Something about the nickname made my blood sing, like a chord struck in perfect resonance.

“I’m not little,” I protested, because apparently my self-preservation instinct had taken the night off. “Or a fox.”

James’ laugh was dark honey. “No? You certainly move like one. Quick, graceful…” His eyes traced over me with heat. “…beautiful.”

I absolutely did not blush. “Does this usually work for you? The whole mysterious predator routine?”

“You tell us.” Xander’s thumb was still tracing patterns on my wrist, each touch sending sparks up my arm. “Is it working?”

Before I could answer, and probably embarrass myself, a polite cough interrupted us. The silver-haired woman—Elizabeth, they’d called her—stood nearby with what had to be the most diplomatically disapproving expression I’d ever seen.

“Blackwood,” she nodded to Xander. “The council would appreciate a word.”

The brothers tensed subtly, their playful predatory air shifting to something more dangerous.

“Of course.” Xander’s smile was perfect, practiced. His hand squeezed mine once before releasing it. “Duty calls, little fox. But don’t worry”—he leaned in, his breath ghosting across my ear—“we’re not done with you yet.”

“Not even close,” Liam added with a wicked grin.

James just winked, but the heat in his eyes promised things that definitely weren’t appropriate for public spaces.

I watched them follow Elizabeth, their powerful frames moving with lethal grace. The crowd parted for them instinctively, though most people probably couldn’t explain why they suddenly needed to be elsewhere.

My skin was still tingling from their touch when movement near the Stone Building caught my eye. Kai and Marcus were emerging, and… oh, wow.