Page 24 of Fennick’s Fortune (Sentinels of Apollo #2)

“You’re always welcome to continue on your own, Hadar.

I told you that. We’re working daily to contact and warn shifters and others of the danger and encourage them to band together.

The larger the group, the better. We have no clue the numbers Pytho has, and we can’t forget, they’re gathering regular humans to help them.

We ran into one this summer who was a fanatic,” Banner said.

He frowned at Hadar. No one chose to argue about his stupid remark regarding Apollo not being real.

“I say we forget about the Knights, their followers, and Pytho for today and enjoy the nice weather, great company, and wonderful food,” Asa suggested. Everyone in the house agreed, except Hadar, whom we ignored.

In no time, the men were shooed outdoors.

The other women inside assisted me in putting away the food until it was time to reheat things.

With that out of the way, we went outside so I could finish saying hello.

It was a slight din of voices as I was welcomed by the rest of the Sentinels and Asa’s people.

I returned all of them. When I was done, Fennick brought me something to drink, and we sat with the others.

Banner’s backyard was designed for entertaining, much like Brax and Fennick’s.

I wondered what the other men’s homes were like.

“Do you all have great yards like the three I’ve already seen?” I asked the group.

The first to say yes were those from Asa’s group, who said the houses they were staying in were amazing.

“We hope to find something out of town, like their homes. It would make letting our animals out much easier and safer,” Orion said.

“You may have to look for a bit, but it’s not impossible,” Gunnar told him.

“Are there places or areas around that we should avoid?” Bruce asked.

“Not in general, though those closer to homes and towns are riskier. We don’t risk the townsfolk seeing wild animals, even if some of them are indigenous. We don’t want any hunters getting ideas,” Royal answered.

“Should you be talking so freely in the present company? No offense, but not everyone here is one of us,” Hadar said haughtily.

His eyes shifted to Cerys and Twyla and then back. What an absolute ass. All the Sentinels frowned, but none like Brax. He straightened and pinned Hadar with his gaze.

“I trust Cerys and Twyla with my life. They’re not a risk. I’d be more afraid of you saying something you shouldn’t in the wrong company. Just because they’re human doesn’t make them untrustworthy. Just as being a shifter doesn’t automatically make you trustworthy.”

The verbal slap was loud and clear. Hadar’s face turned red, but he didn’t say anything. I noted how Asa’s face showed embarrassment at what his youngest son said, while Adir’s was angry. Leah shook her head.

The conversation shifted to other topics, and Hadar remained silent.

As the day passed, it became time to get the meat on the grill.

Banner had precooked ribs, so it would only take a short time to heat them on the grill after slathering them in barbecue sauce.

He also had hamburgers, chicken, and steak.

Fennick stayed close by my side, no matter where I was, until I convinced him it was unnecessary.

He made me promise to call for him if I felt I needed him.

I smiled and agreed before sending him off to talk to his friends.

I assisted in the kitchen, where I mainly popped things in the oven to warm on low heat, so there wasn’t much to do.

I excused myself to go to the bathroom at one point.

When I came out, I decided to step outside the front door and see what it was like out there.

The back was still busy, and I wanted just a few moments of peace.

I was out there for maybe two minutes when Hadar came rushing around the side of the house.

I wanted to groan. Why did he have to be the one to see me?

I tried to head off any discussion. “I’m heading inside. I needed a moment to get my breath. See you out back,” I said as nicely as possible.

I swung around to head back to the front door.

I didn’t make it. Hadar got there before I did.

I wasn’t frightened that he’d harm me with so many around.

I could scream for help if I needed it. I wasn’t in the mood to put up with his nonsense.

My hope that he had gotten over his infatuation was wrecked.

His earlier behavior and attitude suggested that he was still possessive for no apparent reason.

I knew without a doubt that I hadn’t given him any mixed signals.

“Akiva, stay. We need to talk. Take a walk with me,” Hadar demanded.

“There’s nothing we have to discuss that can’t be said here or even in front of the others. I’m not taking a walk with you, Hadar,” I informed him firmly.

“I disagree. You’ve been avoiding me and staying alone with an unattached male. That’s reason enough.”

“Well, I’m an adult, so who I choose to stay with, single or not, is none of your business. I’ve been busy, but even if I have avoided you, that would be your fault. You refuse to hear me when I tell you there is nothing between us and never will be.”

His frown turned to a scowl. “That’s foolish talk, Akiva.

We were beginning to get to know each other, and then as soon as we met these Sentinels, you latched onto one and went off with him.

I know he’s a bear, but that’s no reason for you to be with him.

I’m the man meant to be your mate. This whole having children thing is overrated.

My brother has two brats. All they do is cost him money.

We’ll enjoy life free of that responsibility.

We can travel and spend our time however we want.

No need to find babysitters and all that hassle,” he said with satisfaction.

The guy had no clue what kind of woman I was.

If he did, he would’ve never said what he did.

Deciding to leave him there, I moved to the side.

I’d go around the house and in through the back door.

That was my plan, but Hadar jumped from the porch and landed in front of me.

Nova had been only partially alert. She knew I could handle myself.

His move caused her to come to attention.

If it came down to it, and I shifted to my bear, it was highly doubtful his coyote could defeat me. I issued my warning.

“Get out of my way, or I’ll make you move,” I growled low.

Nova was close to the surface because I noted the change in my vision.

My vision became sharper, and the colors, especially the blue and green spectrum, became brighter.

I held my hands at my sides. If he came at me, I could do a partial shift, something most shifters can’t do, and I’d let my hands become claws.

A good swipe of my paw would tear half his face off if I landed it right.

I moved back to put more distance between us.

“Akiva, what’s gotten into—” Hadar’s sentence was cut short by Fennick charging around the house. He was furious. It was clear to see. His eyes were zeroed in on Hadar, and the way they focused on the other man, I knew Ripper was looking out. How he hadn’t shifted, I didn’t know.

“Get away from her,” Fennick snarled.

His voice came out so deep it was hard to understand him.

More proof that his bear was on the cusp of breaking through.

As much as I would’ve defended myself against Hadar, I didn’t want him and Fennick fighting.

I had no doubt who the winner would be, but having a Sentinel kill someone he was supposed to protect wouldn’t go over well with the Council of Oracles.

If I had done it, that would have been a different story.

I ran to Fennick and stood in front of him.

His eyes barely flickered to look at me. His focus was on Hadar.

“Behind me,” he growled out.

“Fennick, look at me. He didn’t touch me. I’m alright. Don’t fight him. He’s not worth it,” I pleaded.

More people had come to see what the commotion was about. The air was tense and charged. It reminded me of a powder keg waiting for a tiny spark to ignite the whole thing.

“Fen, let him go,” Royal yelled. Simon and Shiloh were whimpering.

I glanced down and gasped. Fennick’s hands had transformed into claws.

It appeared he could do it, too. Not knowing what else to do to keep him from going fully into the berserker mode he was about to trip offline into, I reached up and grasped him behind his neck and pulled.

Slowly, his head lowered to mine. I kissed him when he was close enough, which required me to be on my toes.

I’d been eager for more of his kisses these past two days.

The moment our lips met, it was a different kind of explosion.

Fennick’s mouth devastated mine. It was the most lustful kiss I’d ever experienced.

A purely masculine groan of pleasure escaped his throat.

His mouth pressed to mine. He licked, nipped, sucked, and caressed it.

It went from rough to tender and every degree in between.

I let him suck my tongue into his mouth so I could tease his tongue.

My temperature was rising, and I was approaching a point where I knew I would be stripping and letting him have me on Banner’s front lawn.

I fought to regain some kind of control, but Fennick wasn’t helping me.

Vaguely, I heard Hadar arguing and being told by several people to shut up and be quiet unless he wanted to be killed.

I had no idea how long Fennick and I were lost in each other before he slowly eased himself away.

His face was flushed, like I knew mine was.

His hands were gripping my hips, and they were no longer claws. He was breathing as hard as I was.