Page 2 of The Mating Quest

As the words fled, the young one in the black T-shirt attacked from the rear, claws raking her arm. Blood welled, but she ignored it, dancing around, out of reach of Mark, the realthreat.

Blade in hand, she watched the Lupine for his weaknesses as he advanced. This was wasting time, and Brianna was inching away. Soon the Lupine would be hustled into a waiting car and she’d lose herchance.

Ilana flicked a tendril of magick at a pirate mannequin climbing down a rope, knife in his mouth. The dummy came to life and shimmied down, jumping onto the floor. Diners screamed and some applauded (Skins thought it was a show) and then stalked toward the terrified Lupine. The singer, warbling about love, ceased hissong.

He dropped his guitar and bolted toward Brianna, putting himself between the pirate and the young woman. With a loud growl, he kicked the pirate, sending the dummy toppling back into a startled table of diners. The pirate recovered, held out the knife as he staggered toward his attacker. The singer growled, protecting the youngLupine.

She knew him, the alpha who looked no more than 25, but in reality was much, much older. The tall, menacing stance, handsome face creased into a frown, light brown hair curling at the collar of his blue and green tropical shirt, tensed muscles hidingstrength.

The cool blue eyes that never even blinked, not even as he tore her cheek apart. Not even as she wished for death, for death at his claws would be welcomed. At least she would have died at gazing at something beautiful, mysterious andwild.

Cursing her stupid bout of female interest, Ilana clenched her fist. Damnit! Ethan! She hadn’t seen him, hadn’t even considered he might behere.

Seeing her, the alpha smiled. “You are nothing, Ilana. You stand alone. Nopack.”

The accusation hurt, because he’d managed to hit her onevulnerability.

“I have more than a stupid pack of wolves,” she snapped, and flicked tendrils of magick at two more piratestatues.

They came to life. Mark attacked one, and the statue lifted a cutlass, slicing a line of red on the Lupine’s arm. Grunting, Mark punched the pirate statue, dancing out of reach of theblade.

Suddenly a puff of silver smoke filled the air, and the crowd froze in place. The pirate statues assumed their previous positions and becamemotionless.

Tristan, the Silver Wizard, stood before her. He gazed around the room, looked at her and waggled hisfinger.

“Naughty Ilana. Didn’t anyone teach you to playnice?”

She bit back a smart reply. One did not mess with thesewizards.

Even if one was doing this to help protectthem.

Lifting her chin, she palmed her blade. “Go away, wizard. Don’t you have Lupines to slay or some such responsibilities? I am not yourcharge.”

He considered. “True. They are.” He waved a hand at the Lupines, who bowed their heads before their guardian andjudge.

“Your judge will arrive soon,” Tristanadded.

Right. She barked out a short laugh. “Xavier, the Crystal Wizard, guardian and judge of Mages? Doubt it. In all my years on this earth, he’s never once bothered withme.”

Tristan considered. “How many years have you walked thisearth?”

Too many. More than seven hundred and I grow weary of the cruelties I have witnessed and have been unable to stop.She smirked at him. “A girl never tells herage.”

Frowning, Tristan regarded her. “Your judge is not Xavier, but another wizard. He will deal with you. In themeantime…”

The Silver Wizard approached and touched her wounded arm. Skin knitted together, healing before her eyes and the stinging pain fled. Confused she tilted her head, her brows knittogether.

His mouth worked. “You look so muchlike…”

Abruptly he turned to the Lupines. He went to each one, touching their wounds and healing them. “Take Brianna back home. Ethan, you remainhere.”

Brianna’s female friend glared at Ilana. “Ethan, I saw it. She had a knife at your sister’s back. She would have killed her had I not walked into thebathroom!”

“Leave,” Tristanroared.

The Lupines scurried past as they hustled Brianna out of the restaurant. Frustration welled up. She swallowed past it. There would be another time, anotherplace.

But soon. She wasn’t certain how long the deal she’d struck wouldlast.