LITMIR.BIZ

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lifted his wide shoulders in a shrug. “Patrons were extremely generous tonight.”

      Why? Were males already trying to win the human’s favors?

      The ache intensified.

      Adrian walked away.

      “The girls are in the opposite direction,” Thane informed him.

      “I know. I must speak with Xerxes first.”

      “About?”

      Adrian stopped, sighed. “He told me to inform him of any inappropriate advances made toward the human.”

      Thane’s blood flashed ice-cold in less than a second. “Inappropriate advances were made?”

      “In a sense. She was grabbed.”

      His budding rage fed off the ache, both growing exponentially. “Where? How?”

      Adrian told him of the three Fae regulars who’d clasped her arm and sniffed her, then pushed her away.

      It was something the other barmaids endured every day. Something he had always overlooked and the girls had handled. Just then, he wanted to commit murder. “You will toss the trio over the edge of the cloud the next time they enter the bar.”

      Surprise darkened Adrian’s navy eyes. “You risk war with their families.”

      “I have more stakes.”

      “I don’t think—”

      “This isn’t a negotiation, Adrian. You have your orders.”

      The berserker gave a stiff nod.

      No other employee would have dared to speak out of turn—or to delay the completion of his orders—but Adrian had more liberties than most, and they both knew it.

      After Thane and his boys had physically recovered from the worst horrors of their imprisonment, they’d returned to the demon dungeon and freed the other prisoners trapped inside. Adrian had been among them, captured soon after his family had cut him off.

      Thane stalked around the corner and came up behind the human. Her gaze met his in the glass, and she gasped, spinning to face him. She was prettier than he remembered. Prettier than a few hours ago, even. How was that possible?

      From her silky fall of dark hair, perfect for fisting, to her wide, gray eyes that held a mixture of awe and fear, to the Cupid’s-bow lips he would have given anything to have wrapped around his shaft, to the freckles dotting her skin.

      How did she draw him in a way no one else ever had?

      Differing shades of pink infused her cheeks, each one lovely, utterly captivating.

      Would she look this way after climax?

      He bit the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood. Calm. Control.

      “What’s your name?” he barked more harshly than he’d intended.

      Panic flared in eyes that seemed to shadow with a thicker waft of smoke before she stared down at her feet, blocking her emotions. Her fear and panic actually doused his desire.

      “I’m Elin.”

      E-lynn. Lovely. Delicate. Fitting. “And your last name,” he said, consciously using a much gentler tone.

      She shifted several inches away. “Uh, well, it’s Vale.”

      Why the hesitation? Because she didn’t want him to do any digging, find her family, and send her away?

      An excellent idea. Finally the madness would stop.

      Except, fury was like gasoline being poured over him, and dread was the match. Put her in the line of danger? No. Here, he could protect her. Here, he could watch over her the way she had watched over him at the Phoenix camp.

      He owed her. Yes, that was the reason he sought to protect her, when he’d never done the same for another.

      “Why did you help me?” he asked. “How did you help me?”

      She blinked, seemingly surprised at his questions. “You were trapped, like me, and I didn’t like it. I thought we could save each other.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I stole Frost from Kendra.”

      “Frost?”

      “A new medication that combats the effects of poison like hers.”

      He would have a supply of Frost delivered by the end of the day. “How did you manage to steal it?”

      “I snuck into Kendra’s tent while she was sleeping. And just so you know, it was a one-time thing. I won’t steal anything from you, promise!”

      Was that what her unease was about? “I’m not worried.”

      “Oh. Okay.” Her shoulders sagged with relief.

      “You have nothing to fear from me. I’m grateful to you, Elin,” he said. “What you did for me...”

      Her jaw dropped. “Uh, no sweat. Really. We’re even.”

      He wished she had asked for a boon. He wanted to give her something, anything. “How did you get the Fae to tip you so well?” he asked, changing the subject. He dusted a fingertip along the edge of the ruby choker.

      The flush returned to her cheeks, tantalizing him. My human is sensitive to touch.

      No. Not my human.

      “Not because I did to them what you supposedly did to the Harpy,” she muttered.

      The bravery was welcome. The attitude, not so much. He ran his tongue over his teeth. Someone told her of his sexual preferences.

      That someone would die.

      Who was he kidding? Everyone had probably talked.

      The fact that she knows doesn’t matter. You weren’t going to seduce her. Her disgust is meaningless.

      True. But still it bothered him. “No one is allowed to question my choice of partners—or my actions.”

      She met his gaze, unflinching. Her lids narrowed, her lashes almost fusing. “Gotcha. Won’t happen again, sir.” She gave him a jaunty salute.

      Was she...mocking him? “Besides, what do you know of such things, hmm?”

      “I know quite a bit about getting it on, thank you,” she said, her tone prim. “But you’re right. Who you do isn’t any of my business.”

      Who, she’d said. Not what. She didn’t know the particulars. His relief was palpable.

      Living here, however, she would find out. And soon. Any ease she had with him would cease.

      But what did she mean, she knew quite a bit about “getting it on”?

      “Why did the Fae tip so well?” he repeated.

      Clearly uneasy, she shifted from one foot to the other. “Well...you see...it’s like this. I told them that you...well, that you had a few extra stakes and the stingiest people at the bar were going to be extended an invitation to join the Phoenix on the lawn.”

      He suddenly wanted to...grin? “You lied?”

      “Never!” She crossed her arms, now defiant. “After everything I’ve witnessed, there’s a good chance I’m right.”

      And now she won’t back down. Fascinating.

      “The girls made more money than ever,” Adrian called. He hadn’t yet moved from his perch. “But I’m not sure we’ll have customers tomorrow.”

      Had Adrian taken Elin under his protection? Was he hoping to shield her? Even from Thane? Or did the male desire her, the way a normal man desired a woman?

      The thought settled Thane, even as it angered him. Another defender would ensure she remained safe. But another admirer

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