Page 97 of The Mating Quest

Her stomach somersaulted. Food was the furthest thing from hermind.

Then he cupped her face with his hands, his expression soft. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there this morning when you wokeup.”

He kissed her gently, so gently emotion closed herthroat.

Knowing he’d never kiss her again like that after he discovered thetruth.

“I’m nothungry.”

Barely had the words fled her lips when she felt herself yanked away. They materialized inside a living room. Her head slightly dizzy, she forced herself to focus and realized with a start Aiden Mitchell sat on the sofa with a visibly upset Dakota, Aiden’s mate, Nia, and Darius, Aiden’s beta wolf. Several other Lupines milled about, pacing restlessly. She recognized Kyle Morgan, part of Aiden’s securityteam.

Tristan had transported them to the Mitchell Ranch. Her heart sank. Surrounded by Lupines again. Terrific. Probably because they were safe here… but she didn’t relish all these wolves knowing what Ethan would soon findout.

Maybe if I get torn apart by wolves, no one will bother putting the pieces back together and I’ll die for real thistime.

The sour stench of fear arose in her nostrils. With a start she realized it came from her. Several Lupines glanced at her, noses twitching. Even Ethan glanced at her. “You okay,sweetheart?”

“Fine.” She rubbed her damp palms against her leathers. “Nowwhat?”

“We’re waiting on Tristan.” Aiden Mitchell stood, went to the fireplace. “He told me Gideon is in grave danger and may be cast into shadow because his talisman was found. This is the safest place to discuss a plan of action. No one can infiltrate this ranch, not with Danu’s fairieshere.”

Tristan materialized inside the living room by Aiden. The alpha looked at the wizard. “How bad ishe?”

“Badenough.”

“What are we waiting for?” Dakota burst out. “We have to find Gideon’s talisman and stop this and savehim.”

“If you knew where to look,” Aiden said with resignation. “We can send trackers with you. My best ones arehere.”

Kyle spoke up. “I’m more than willing to help and so are mymen.”

“We can start in the places Gideon frequented when he was mortal,” Ethanmused.

“Ilana knows where it is.” Tristan gave her a hard look. “Because she found it before in the WinterKingdom.”

No one spoke. She could hear the rapid beating of her heart, the churning in her stomach as everyone stared ather.

Ethan turned to her. “Ilana, is thistrue?”

The bewilderment on his face made her wince. Everything they’d shared between them would now vanish. Including the trust he’d placed inher.

She couldn’t meet his gaze. “It istrue.”

Voices erupted in angry protest. Dakota’s mouth opened and closed. She looked wounded, as if Ilana had stabbed her. Desperate for something normal, Ilana began braiding her hair, the movementsoothing.

Ethan grasped her wrist, staying her hand. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me this before? Or were you going to let my sister blithely walk intodanger?”

“Let go ofme.”

“Ilana, I wantanswers!”

“Let go of me,Ethan.”

He released her, his expressionhard.

Her hands dropped to her side. She stared at the floor. It was too painful to look at Ethan and see the betrayal she knew was on hisface.

“I found the talisman, years ago. Ethan, please, I was going to tell you… at the righttime…”