Page 3 of The Mating Quest

Ethan finally raised his head, scowled. “Tristan she tried to harm one of mine. My sister. Let me deal with her. It is a matter ofhonor.”

Tristan held up a hand. “Patience, youngSkywalker.”

Ilana snickered. Ethan glared ather.

“Patience! I’ve been patient enough with her… and Brianna is fearful one day she’ll succeed at stealing thelocket.”

“Fear is the path to the dark side,” Tristandroned.

Even as she laughed at the joke, Ethan looked puzzled. She rolled her eyes. “Star Wars, you stick-in-a-mud Lupine. Don’t you and your people ever watch sci-fi?”

“Now Ilana, stop criticizing Ethan. They have a fine collection of romantic movies. Ethan is a sucker for love.” Tristan gave a sly smile and then he gazed into thedistance.

“He ishere.”

Swirls of pale smoke filled the room. A coldness bore down her bones. A big man stepped out of thesmoke.

“Ilana,” the man rumbled in a deep, smokyvoice.

Her blood ran cold. Ethan smiled withsatisfaction.

“Caderyn, the Shadow Wizard. Ilana, you’re in for it. They called out the big guns for you,” hemurmured.

Shegulped.

Dressed in black leather pants, the Shadow Wizard was bare-chested. Two leather straps crossed his muscled chest and were held together with a brass ring. Twin swords were sheathed in leather scabbards upon his back. His eyes seemed dark as pitch, with gray shadows like mist. Long, dark blond hair was woven with thick strands of silver, and tipped with dark strands. An intricate tattoo of ancient Celtic runes covered his right shoulder and rightbicep.

Muscled and fierce, he looked a natural warrior, with a handsome face that seldomsmiled.

Worry replaced fear. She had seen Caderyn before, and his waist-length hair had been all dark blond, not silver as it was now. Was the wizard losing his power? Hisimmortality?

Time could be running out. She bit her lip, bowed her head before his immensepower.

“Ilana,” Caderynrumbled.

She took a few paces back, only to land against Ethan’s hardbody.

“Hold her still for me, Ethan,” The Shadow Wizardordered.

The alpha wrapped his hands around her arms, keeping her trapped as she writhed againsthim.

“Care to tango with me instead?” he whispered into her ear. “At least with me, you’ll have a fighting chance and die like a warrior instead of evaporating like a Popsicle on a hot summerday.”

Ilana jabbed her elbow into his muscled abdomen. He didn’t evenflinch.

Warm breath feathered against her scarred cheek. “You’re attractive and I’m amazing in bed. I’ll show you a wealth of pleasure before I take you down. You can die remembering unforgettable sex instead of screaming from memories of a bloodbath ofpain.”

“I’d rather fuck a two-headed ogre with herpes,” she snapped, lifting her chin to faceCaderyn.

She’d welcome Caderyn turning her into dust. Let himtry.

“I’m not afraid to die,” she told the ShadowWizard.

Caderyn lifted his hand as if to strike her. She braced for the mightyblow.

Instead, he gently touched her face. Warmth flowed through her body, such astonishing and healing warmth, tears rolled down hercheeks.

Never had she felt such wondrous acceptance and love, as if the family she’d searched for her entire life had smothered her in kisses andhugs.