Page 128 of Taming His Vampire Mate

You need to knock it off with that ‘hero’ nonsense, wolf,Thierry replied, giving me plenty of side-eye. Even in the gathering dark, I caught it clearly.

I beamed at him.And why’s that, darlin’?

Unless you’d like to give your friend a show, let’s just stick to business, shall we? You can worship me later.

A thrill of anticipation ran through me. He was right, wasn’t he? With him here, we’d make short work of the monster, then I’d take him back to my cabin and make love to him all night long. I could hold him afterward. It wouldn’t erase his centuriesof grief, but it would be enough for tonight. And that was a goddamn miracle, wasn’t it? For both of us.

Thierry must’ve caught the tone of my thoughts, because he sucked in a shaky breath and let it out slow. Then he met my gaze again and nodded. His smile, soft and unguarded, held no sarcasm at all.

It struck me all over again how beautiful he was.

“Why’d you guys get so quiet?” Reed demanded suddenly, giving us both a suspicious look. “And you’re grinning at each other. It’s a little weird.”

“Never mind that,” Thierry said briskly. “When this creature emerges, you two will stand back and let me handle it.”

Reed snorted again. “Hardly.”

“Jeremy needs you alive,” Thierry said sharply, glaring at him. “Therefore,Ineed you alive.Youhave very little say in the matter.”

“I’ve been guarding this forest since I could shift. This is what we do. No way in hell am I standing down and letting a vampire handle this for me. Besides, it’s probably better than what’s waiting for me after this is all over.”

He shot me a hard look I had no trouble interpreting.

Ah, yes,Thierry said silently, unease rippling through us both.Darling, would you please release this poor boy from his obligation to challenge you? He’s irritating, but I’d prefer not to have to kill him.

I wasn’t sure if he was joking. He seemed deadly serious. The tension stretched between us like piano wire.

I wouldn’t want to. But if it’s a choice between your life or his, I’ll choose you every time.Thierry’s mental voice was deceptively soft. After a pause, he added,That probably doesn’t fit your notion of me as some kind of hero, does it? But I won’t lie to you. If it comes down to it, I’ll do whatever it takes to stop him from harming you. Even if it’s not really his fault.

Unease rippled through me. I was back now, and I’d already set a course of action that might get someone killed before the night was through. There was no way around that. My pack depended on me. One wrong call, and someone I loved—someone who trusted me—would be gone for good. I didn’t want to carry that burden anymore.

We’ll carry it together,Thierry said firmly.I’m not going anywhere. But you have to stop running from them. You have to release Reed from his compulsion to challenge you.

But the pack needs an alpha who—

We’ll figure it out, won’t we?Thierry’s mental voice sharpened.Before you and I can do this properly, we need to clear away everything that threatens us. This is one of them. It’s the biggest, apart from—

Magnus.

Thierry nodded slowly.I guess it’s not going to be an easy road for us, however you slice it.

You know I’m not leaving you to face him alone. No way in hell. Not for pack or for anything.

That’s not what’s in front of us tonight. Tonight, we protect your people. Tomorrow, we protect mine.

They’re all our people,I replied.

The moment I sent the thought, I realized how deeply I meant it. Somehow, in knowing Thierry, I’d come to see—andfeel—how he regarded others. His tenderness, even when it came with sharp edges. His relentless need to protect, born of never having been protected himself.

And that was mutual. Thierry had felt it too, back in the clearing. He knew what my pack meant to me, because he’d felt it through the bond. They were his people now, too.

Despite his words, there was no way in hell he’d ever lay a hand on Reed.

If it came down to it, I’d probably just settle for maiming him to protect you,Thierry corrected wryly. Then, with a flash of irritation that was mostly directed at himself, he added,Especially now that I know vampire blood heals wolves, too.

“You guys got quiet,” Reed commented. “Want to share with the rest of the class?”

Thierry shot me a meaningful look.