not. He was instrumental in helping Kip and some others from McKinnon and Associates retrieve stolen Wendayan magic.”
He’d written her about the theft. “I can see why. He’s very impressive.”
“What was the bizarre part?”
This would be hard to explain, but she needed a sounding board. “You’re aware that Elana was human until she mated with Kalan, right?”
“Yes. She’s now a bear. So?”
“That means her brother should be human.”
He set the hot pan in the sink and the contact with the water made it sizzle. “Your point?”
She crossed her heart. “As goddess is my witness, Brian gave off a shifter signature, faint though it was.”
He shook his head. “You probably sensed the other shifters in the room and became confused. Were you drinking?”
Her mouth dropped open. “No, I’d just arrived. And why would you doubt me?”
“I’ve met Brian. He’s all human. No shifter blood in him.”
He’s your mate! Only you can tell. She wished her tiger would go to sleep, especially since her animal was being so freakin’ horny with no basis for it. Tell your brother how your body vibrated with intense need, and then how you could feel my claws dig into your belly because I was begging for my release.
Ignoring her little inner demon, she conceded. “Fine. Maybe he’s not a shifter, but I was curious about him. I asked him how long he’d been in Silver Lake, to which he promptly set down his drink, excused himself, and walked out of the party.”
Dalton slid the plate of eggs in front of her. “Eat these. I’ll make more.”
“No, you take them. I’ll fix myself a sandwich.”
He pulled the plate back toward him. “Are you upset that he didn’t fall for your siren ways?” Dalton asked, acting like the typical, smug big brother.
She waved a hand. “I don’t have siren ways. All I wanted was to find out more about him. Between you and Elana, I’ve learned that he had a rough life.”
Dalton shoveled a forkful of eggs in his mouth, chewed, and then swallowed. “True.”
“Anyway, as soon as Brian left, Elana went into labor and stopped breathing.”
Dalton dropped his fork, and it clanked against the edge of the plate. “Is she okay? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Both she and baby Aiden are fine. Sorry. I’m still a little dizzy from all that running.” Even now, her muscles were shaking. “I had to carry her in my arms from the Cove to the hospital, but we made it in time. Rye said the baby had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. I think when Elana sensed her shifter baby choking, she lost her own air for a few seconds.”
“That’s some scary shit about the baby and about you having to run all that way. Did anyone see you?”
“I doubt it. If they did, they wouldn’t know what the blur was. Besides, if anyone is going to get caught, it’s you. I haven’t used my Wendayan talents but a handful of times. Seems to me, you use yours more often.”
He shook his head. “I use my talents sparingly. Hell, Kalan doesn’t even know what I’m capable of.”
“I think he’ll figure it out now that he knows what I can do.”
Dalton lowered his head and finished off his plate of eggs. “I thought you wanted a sandwich.”
She had wanted something to eat, but now she’d lost her appetite. Dalton was a very private man, and she hoped she hadn’t messed things up between her brother and Kalan.
Chapter Six
‡
F or the last few hours, Brian had walked the aisles of the lumber department, making certain that all the pieces of wood were lined up perfectly. It was the only way to keep his mind off Jillian and how he’d almost screwed up with his sister. What had he been thinking tossing a near stranger the bear and then asking her to deliver the present to Elana?
Answer? He hadn’t been. It was all Jillian’s fault too, with her wide-set eyes the color of the sky on a cloudless day and hair the same hue as the richest golden oak. Her delicate face
He’d written her about the theft. “I can see why. He’s very impressive.”
“What was the bizarre part?”
This would be hard to explain, but she needed a sounding board. “You’re aware that Elana was human until she mated with Kalan, right?”
“Yes. She’s now a bear. So?”
“That means her brother should be human.”
He set the hot pan in the sink and the contact with the water made it sizzle. “Your point?”
She crossed her heart. “As goddess is my witness, Brian gave off a shifter signature, faint though it was.”
He shook his head. “You probably sensed the other shifters in the room and became confused. Were you drinking?”
Her mouth dropped open. “No, I’d just arrived. And why would you doubt me?”
“I’ve met Brian. He’s all human. No shifter blood in him.”
He’s your mate! Only you can tell. She wished her tiger would go to sleep, especially since her animal was being so freakin’ horny with no basis for it. Tell your brother how your body vibrated with intense need, and then how you could feel my claws dig into your belly because I was begging for my release.
Ignoring her little inner demon, she conceded. “Fine. Maybe he’s not a shifter, but I was curious about him. I asked him how long he’d been in Silver Lake, to which he promptly set down his drink, excused himself, and walked out of the party.”
Dalton slid the plate of eggs in front of her. “Eat these. I’ll make more.”
“No, you take them. I’ll fix myself a sandwich.”
He pulled the plate back toward him. “Are you upset that he didn’t fall for your siren ways?” Dalton asked, acting like the typical, smug big brother.
She waved a hand. “I don’t have siren ways. All I wanted was to find out more about him. Between you and Elana, I’ve learned that he had a rough life.”
Dalton shoveled a forkful of eggs in his mouth, chewed, and then swallowed. “True.”
“Anyway, as soon as Brian left, Elana went into labor and stopped breathing.”
Dalton dropped his fork, and it clanked against the edge of the plate. “Is she okay? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Both she and baby Aiden are fine. Sorry. I’m still a little dizzy from all that running.” Even now, her muscles were shaking. “I had to carry her in my arms from the Cove to the hospital, but we made it in time. Rye said the baby had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. I think when Elana sensed her shifter baby choking, she lost her own air for a few seconds.”
“That’s some scary shit about the baby and about you having to run all that way. Did anyone see you?”
“I doubt it. If they did, they wouldn’t know what the blur was. Besides, if anyone is going to get caught, it’s you. I haven’t used my Wendayan talents but a handful of times. Seems to me, you use yours more often.”
He shook his head. “I use my talents sparingly. Hell, Kalan doesn’t even know what I’m capable of.”
“I think he’ll figure it out now that he knows what I can do.”
Dalton lowered his head and finished off his plate of eggs. “I thought you wanted a sandwich.”
She had wanted something to eat, but now she’d lost her appetite. Dalton was a very private man, and she hoped she hadn’t messed things up between her brother and Kalan.
Chapter Six
‡
F or the last few hours, Brian had walked the aisles of the lumber department, making certain that all the pieces of wood were lined up perfectly. It was the only way to keep his mind off Jillian and how he’d almost screwed up with his sister. What had he been thinking tossing a near stranger the bear and then asking her to deliver the present to Elana?
Answer? He hadn’t been. It was all Jillian’s fault too, with her wide-set eyes the color of the sky on a cloudless day and hair the same hue as the richest golden oak. Her delicate face
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