Page 7

“You brought it up, so tell us about this conversation,” Lexie prompted, her smile broadening into a pleased grin.

Lexie was clearly having fun, but Tara didn’t want her to get the wrong idea.

“I admit I was intrigued. None of the other groups have pursued me so aggressively. But I don’t think they’re the right coalition for me.

I’m too independent. We’d drive each other crazy.

” So why couldn’t she stop thinking about them?

“I think all of the Shadows are terrifying,” Claire admitted. “I definitely need someone more laid back.”

Lexie studied Tara for a long silent moment then shrugged. “I just want you to be happy. What about Flynn and Levi? I know you’ve interacted with them. You’re staying in their cabin. They could just move back in and?—”

“As of this morning, they’re courting Bianca.”

“Really?” Lexie smiled, clearly happy about the news. “I hadn’t heard.”

Tara nodded. She was happy for her friend, but it left her in an awkward position. “I think they make an adorable couple, er, trio, but the men are moving back into the cabin soon, which leaves me out in the cold.”

“You’re only in the shelter until you find a coalition you’re willing to date,” Lexie countered.

“So, date someone,” Claire reinforced. “That’s what I intend to do. I will never be cold and hungry again. Not when the alternative is so interesting .”

Tara and Lexie laughed at her melodramatic inflection, but Tara’s mind was drawn back to that morning.

She’d been alone with Isaac and Jon for less than ten minutes before they had her naked and completely under their control.

She shivered. The experience had been way beyond interesting, but she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life with anyone that…

dominant was the only word that truly fit.

“I’m going to go mingle,” Claire said. “Let’s all get together for lunch or something. I’d love to hear more about mated life.”

“I’d like that,” Lexie told her.

“Me too,” Tara added.

Claire melted into the crowd and Lexie looked at Tara. “Is she really as well adjusted as she’s pretending? Her brother was torn apart right in front of her a few weeks ago, yet she is ready to party. It doesn’t make sense.”

The reminder filled Tara with guilt. She’d been so focused on Akari that she forgot that one of her friends had been traumatized too. “She’s hiding from the pain. I’ll talk to her, see if she’ll let me counsel her.”

“Good. I’m worried about her.”

Everyone around them started whispering and the crowd suddenly parted. Tara looked across the room to see what had caused the disruption. Diego was returning from the refreshment table where Lexie had sent him a short time before.

Diego’s dark gaze locked on his mate and Lexie smiled. “Took you long enough,” she chided playfully.

After handing Lexie the wineglass, Diego took her face between his hands and kissed her mouth. The exchange was a carnal mating of lips and tongues. “You like it when I make you wait,” he teased when he finally raised his head. “How much longer do we have to stay here?”

Lexie laughed. “Until we find Tara a coalition.”

As if hearing her stipulation, the massive doors to the lodge banged open and Isaac, Jon, and another male strode in.

Tara had never seen the third male before, but it stood to reason that he was Kyle.

Everyone scrambled out of their way, much as they had for Diego.

Did Shadows practice intimidation, or did it come naturally?

“You don’t look happy,” Lexie noted as the Shadows reached her and Diego. “Were there complications?”

Ah, this wasn’t a social visit. Shadow Team One was reporting to their leader.

“The mission went smoothly,” Isaac told her. His vivid green eyes shifted toward Tara for a moment and a sudden rush of heat cascaded through her body. “Unfortunately, we were unable to determine anything useful.”

“We’re not scientists,” Kyle grumbled. “I have no idea why Zion thought we would be able to figure out what the hell they’re doing.

” His shaggy brown hair just brushed his shoulders and he had pale blue eyes.

He was lean and exuded a sense of leashed strength.

Lexie was right. Kyle wasn’t quite as intense as the other two.

“Maybe if you explained what you saw, or better yet show the images to someone with a medical background, they could figure out what it all means,” Lexie suggested.

Show them images? Tara was pretty sure Lexie didn’t mean photographs. Shadows could extract images from a person’s memory without them knowing about it. Why was she surprised that they could pass them from mind to mind?

Diego nodded. “I’ll have Malik contact you in the morning.”

“It would be helpful if Kane were there too,” Isaac said, suddenly tenser than before.

“Kane?” Diego was clearly surprised by the request. “What does Kane have to do with this?”

Isaac looked at Tara before he responded. “Is it alright to discuss this now or should the details wait?”

Diego followed the direction of Isaac’s glance and chuckled.

“Tara is my mate’s best friend. Whatever Lexie knows, Tara knows.

” Then he realized what he’d just said and turned to Tara.

“I’m being rude. This is Shadow Team One, as you’ve likely figured out.

Isaac is team leader.” He motioned to each male in turn. “That’s Jon, and finally Kyle.”

“I met Isaac and Jon this morning,” she said softly. “But it’s nice to meet you, Kyle.”

“Likewise.” A smile slowly passed across his lips and his vivid blue gaze lingered on her face.

He held out his hand and she shook it. His fingers engulfed hers and tingling heat zinged up her arm.

A warm flush crept up her neck and pinkened her cheeks.

Was Kyle as sexually aggressive as the other two?

How soon could she find out? Her mouth went dry, so she quickly raised her glass and took a sip of wine.

“Please continue,” she urged when she could speak again. “I didn’t mean to derail the conversation.”

Isaac turned back to Diego and went on. “A couple entered the cabin while we were there. She seemed intimidated at first, but the rest of the conversation convinced me that she was not being abused.”

“That’s debatable,” Kyle grumbled. “Babcock is giving her injections that spike her libido. Her mate’s attitude was upsetting.”

“Spiking her libido wasn’t the purpose for the injections. It was a side effect,” Isaac argued.

“And she still agreed to be injected?” Tara wanted to know. “If she was being forced in any way, we need to?—”

“She wasn’t,” Jon assured. “Her mate insisted that the choice was hers and she agreed to the next injection. She might feel pressured by her desire to please him, but she was not being forced.”

“You think they’re trying to breed her.” Diego guessed. “Is that why you want to speak with Kane?”

Isaac nodded. His hands were clasped behind his back and his features remained tense. “I know he hates talking about his captivity and I won’t ask any personal questions. I just want his insight into what we witnessed.”

“I’ll arrange it,” Diego told him.

“Thank you, sir,” Isaac responded. “I wish we had better news.”

Nearly all the hybrids had been, or in many cases still were, in the military when they’d been captured by Nuevo Biotech.

The familiar culture and heightened aggression of the hybrids led them to create societies with strict rules and rigid power structures.

Each village had chosen its strongest member, or members, to lead.

Any misbehavior was dealt with swiftly and severely.

Social dynamics were arranged similarly.

Each feline coalition had its own cabin and the coalition leader’s word was law.

Not surprisingly, females were expected to do as they were told.

According to Lexie it was only in the bedroom that their submission was absolute.

The rest of the time, women were encouraged to find challenges and meaningful ways of contributing to the village.

It was the absolute submission part that worried Tara. Lexie had adapted to Rydarian expectation with relative ease, but Tara valued her independence. She wasn’t sure she would ever be happy under someone else’s control.

“Are you enjoying the party?” A hint of mockery rippled through Isaac’s deep tone.

Awareness pulsed between them, warm and electric. “I know these gatherings are necessary. We don’t have a lot of opportunities to interact with anyone. Still, there are much better environments if you want to get to know someone.”

“Like the storeroom upstairs?” Jon suggested with a fleeting grin.

Tara just glared at him and took another sip of her wine.

“My teammates have the advantage over me.” Kyle’s friendly tone drew her attention.

“I wasn’t at the meeting this morning, but I’d love the opportunity to learn more about you.

” Kyle managed to appear engaged without seeming predatory, until he said, “Our cabin is nearby. We can escape the noise and get to know each other.”

Tara swallowed hard. She knew damn well what would happen if she went to their cabin.

Finding mates was the point of all this, and Isaac and Jon had already indicated their intention to claim her.

Hybrids were driven by instinct. It took them minutes or days to determine compatibility, not months or years.

She sucked in a steadying breath and considered her options.

If she wanted to remain in the village, she had to choose a coalition.

And these three were the only males who had attracted her interest. She found them physically appealing and was intrigued by their abilities. Why not find out more about them?

She licked her lips and stated, “I’d like that, as long as you understand that all I’m agreeing to is conversation.”

“You’re safe with us, Tara,” Jon assured her, but the smoldering intensity in his dark eyes made it hard to believe.