Page 29 of The Mating Quest

“Watch your tongue, wolf,” Tristan told him, his gaze turning from dark tosilver.

“I will not. Ilana is not a puppet you can jerk on strings to see how she reacts. She’s a person and doesn’t deservethis!”

“Ethan, remember who you’re addressing,” Ilana said and she soundedworried.

He didn’t care that it was the Silver Wizard. Ethan took a deep breath, not caring that he could feel the wizard’s power swirling around him, like a gathering storm. “You’re a right bastard for putting her throughthis.”

He saw the energy ball in Tristan’s hand, violet and silver, and knew he’d pushed the wizard too far. Ethan didn’t run. He stared down Tristan, bracing himself because damn, this was going tohurt.

Badly.

“Ethan, no,” sheyelled.

Ilana sidestepped him and dove as the energy ball sailed through the air in his direction. She yelped as the energy slammed into her. Swearing he ran over to her. She shuddered violently, as if someone tasered her. After a few minutes, she held up ahand.

“I’m okay. But damn, that hurt,” she muttered, taking Ethan’s hand as he helped her to stand. “Wizard, did you have to dothat?”

“I wanted to see if you would take a hit for Ethan.” Tristan looked satisfied. “Now we may return to the dining hall and resume our meal. Shall we? The twins’ bedtime is soon and I promised astory.”

The wizard vanished, leaving Ethan and Ilana alone in themeadow.

Ethan managed to finally find his voice. He repeated the words said to her earlier in themeadow.

“What are you, IlanaSimmons?”

Chapter 9

Reckoning time.Ilana reluctantly took the hand he offered her and stood. Tristan’s little energy ball had vanished, for which she wasglad.

But she had to find a way to explain what had happened.Damn I thought I’d have moretime.

Wasn’t this always the way? Soon as she felt a little comfortable, even started to make tentative inroads at knowing people, something happened to screw it up. Make them fearher.

Not that she could blame them. She’d be afraid of her aswell.

“I’m a Mage. You knowthat.”

“No ordinary Mage. Mages don’t have much power. Not like you do.” Ethan’s voice remained mild, but his gaze sharpened. “Caderyn wanted you on this quest for a reason, but Tristan was still suspicious of you. So what areyou?”

“It’s… complicated.” Suddenly she was so damn tired. “For now, know that I can’t throw thermal energy and manipulate weather. Not really. The dagger… it was a gift from Caderyn and with the right spell, I can dissipate a storm. Doesn’t always work, especially with natural weather. But that was a baby tornado, thanks to Tristan and his damn testing ofme.”

He took her elbow. Nowwhat?

“Back to dinner, and this time you’re going to eat. You didn’t touch yourfood.”

“What are you, mymother?”

“I’m the leader of this mission, and as such, until it is over, you answer tome.”

Ethan’s voice gentled. “You didn’t touch your food and you need to keep your energy up. I need you rested for tomorrow’ssearch.”

She wanted to protest, except that when they reentered the dining hall, all eyes turned to her, and she saw with resignation several pairs of those eyes glared. Lupines had seen the entire show, and they knew she wasn’t one of them. Or one of anything they recognized and could trust. Should be used to this by now, but it stillhurt.

Ilana pasted on a fake smile, went to leave, but Ethan didn’t release hisgrip.

Aiden and Nia, standing off to the side, exchanged glances. Ethan bristled. “Listen to me, everyone. I appreciate all yourhospitality…”

Hostility, more likeit.