Page 36 of Entwined
Felicity shoots him a glare over her shoulder. “You’re still not forgiven.” Facing me again, she says, “I don’t want to take Selena head-on. I’m not dumb. I know my limitations. But I don’tneedto take her on.”
I stare down at her, not quite sure what she’s getting at. But then the most devious smile I’ve ever fucking seen tugs at her mouth. It’s beautiful.
“Why would I need to take her on when I can just sic my mates on her?”
Connor closes the distance in a blink, pressing up against her back, sandwiching her between us. “That your way of claiming us, Starling?”
Felicity laughs, low and disbelieving. “After what you’ve done, you think it’s that easy? No fucking way.” She pauses, eyes gleaming with more light than I’ve seen in her since Dizzy left. “But Selena doesn’t need to know that.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
felicity
Selena was easier to track down than I expected. Rand, Connor’s tech friend, was apparently able to remotely hack into her phone and pinpoint her exact location on campus.
It’s a little unnerving, how quickly it all happened. I can’t pretend I’m not a little concerned that Vaelor and Connor did the same thing to me when they were practically stalking me.
But I decide there are some things I’m just better off not knowing.
A group of shifters are huddled on a grassy patch not far from the cemetery. Selena’s holding court in the middle of them, and Vaelor leans down, murmuring, “Shifters,” in my ear.
It’s a warning, but I don’t need it. Humans are one of the weakest species, with zero capabilities of defense against a predatory shifter. I know that, and I’m not about to put myself in range of her claws or teeth. But that doesn’t mean I can’t hurt her in other ways.
Vaelor is walking at my side, but Connor’s a step ahead,almost hiding me from view, so she doesn’t see me as we first approach. Her eyes light up when they land onmymate.
Maybe. Still to be decided.
Either way, a seething anger twists its way around my chest, my hands curling into claws, even knowing I’ll never actually be able to do anything to this bitch.
Selena has decided to dress for the cooler weather today, bundling up in jeans and a faux fur coat. She stands up, strutting over to him, hips swaying provocatively. “Connor,” she coos. “You’ve been missing ever since?—”
“You attacked my mate?” he fills in for her, and Selena thrusts her lower lip out in a pout.
“I was just trying to talk to her,” she protests, fluttering her lashes. “I always forget how fragile humans can be. I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
Vaelor scoffs. “That tends to happen when you bash someone’s skull against a stone wall.”
She sends him a vicious glare, but then steps to the side, tracking his arm to where it’s clamped around my waist, fury twisting her expression ugly.
“Why the fuck is she here?” Selena sneers at me. I don’t react, watching her with an unwavering calm that has her faltering. The other shifters stand and edge closer, their avid eyes watching the drama unfold. Selena throws a quick glance at them before turning back with a serene smile, throwing her shoulders back.
“Connor,” she starts sweetly, with the slightly sharpened edge of poison. “She’s not your mate. You have to know that. She’s human. I understand I should’ve controlled my temper better with someone so much weaker, but…you’re enthralled. I’m so worried about you.” Selena takes another step, her hand reaching out to him. He steps back, and her face falls. “The warlock has obviously done something to warp your thinking,” she continues, sending a biting look in our direction, “and is that really a surprise, after what he did to you?”
Connor barks out a laugh. “What he did to me?” he repeats. “You mean, save my life?”
Her smile turns patronizing. “Now, Connor, we all heard the tales. He was the only one there the day you were ‘attacked,’”—she finger quotes the word—“and warlocks aren’t exactly known for being truthful. Are they?” Her eyes are soft, but there’s an expectancy in them, as if she truly thinks that Connor’s going to turn his back on me and Vaelor with just a few words from her.
“She’s actually insane,” I mutter to Vaelor, but not quiet enough. Her eyes swing toward me with the most feral gleam, her wolf prowling just under the surface.
Vaelor pushes me back a step, shielding me with his body. Selena turns back to Connor, her eyes glistening with tears.
She should go into acting.
“You can’t forsake our bond, Connor,” Selena pleads. “Not for them, not for an illusion. Youmustknow that.” She steps forward again. This time, Connor holds his ground, and her eyes soften with hope. “Our fathers have been going on runs together, and they’ve used that time to discuss an alliance with our families. Imagine the kind of power we’d hold if the Thierras and Thorntons aligned.”
“My father approves, does he?” Connor’s tone is mild, but there’s a note of danger lurking behind each word. Selena is oblivious, pleasure infusing her face as she takes another step, almost in touching distance now.
My mouth flattens into a line, irritation filling me at the idea of her touching him.And if he lets her…