IAN PLAYED DIRTY. HOLLY STARED AT THE COLLECTION of items on her desk after her last student left, shaking her head. He played dirty, and he was using his daughter to do it. She hadn’t seen him in three days, since he left her apartment Sunday. But he was making his presence and his intent known.
Monday, she and her class were discussing various types of insects and animals. Shelby asked her what her favorite was, and Holly answered butterflies, because they started off as one thing and then transformed themselves into something else, a thing of beauty. Later on, some of the kids were talking about their favorite colors, and Shelby asked Holly what hers was. She told her it was pink.
The next morning, she got to school to find a gorgeous glass butterfly on her desk, its wings a vibrant pink and blue. Then yesterday, during a lesson, they were discussing flowers, and again Shelby asked her what her favorite was. And this morning, there’d been a pink vase full of daisies on her desk. Her students teased her mercilessly all day about her ‘boyfriend’, and Shelby had just smiled serenely at her, a twinkle in her eyes.
Holly resolved not to answer any more questions about her favorites to Shelby again, but the little girl was as much of a sneak as her father. She must have overheard Holly telling another student this morning that her favorite dessert was double fudge brownies, because when they came in from recess this afternoon, a box of just that from Mansfield’s bakery was sitting on her desk.
He was waging war on her heart, and he wasn’t above using his eight-year-old daughter as a soldier in his battle.
Despite herself, a smile curled the corners of her lips up. As much as she hated to admit it, it was genius. Shelby was a weak spot for Holly, and it had taken no time at all for him to recognize that fact. And using her to find out Holly’s favorites… yeah, he was playing dirty, but she had to admit, he was playing smart, as well.
Because he was winning this battle. Giddiness welled up inside her as she looked at the gifts again. When was the last time she received a gift from someone other than her students? She was going to push down the panicky voice inside her and let herself enjoy these.
Pulling the bakery box toward her, she opened the lid and tore off a corner of a brownie, popping it into her mouth. Heaven. Heaven in the form of a brownie. Rolling her eyes closed, she savored the bite, chewing slowly. This may be the best brownie she’d ever had in her life, and that was saying something, since she’d tasted every brand she’d ever come across.
“They’re good, huh? You look like you’re really enjoying that bite.”
Eyes flying open at Ian’s voice, huskier than usual, she looked over to see him leaning casually on the doorframe. Even with the distance between them, she could see the heat in his eyes, and answering heat washed over her skin. The heat from his gaze almost melted the brownie she was holding. Swallowing hastily, she grabbed her bottle of water and took a sip, trying to control her emotions before speaking.
“They’re very good, but you really shouldn’t have. But I’m kind of glad you did. Thank you,” she replied, smiling shyly at him.
“It was my pleasure. And after watching you eat that bite, it felt more like a gift to me instead of you,” he said, voice silky and deep, caressing her nerve endings as he strolled into the room. “They’re from Piper’s bakery. Best baked goods around.”
Lord, he looked good. Dark blue jeans and a tight blue shirt that showed just how muscular he was and showcased his bright blue eyes, heavy work boots on his feet. His longish light brown hair was falling around his face, and she felt the foreign urge to run her fingers through the silky strands, push them back out of the way. Her core tightened with desire, and she resisted the urge to squirm in her chair as she watched him come to a stop in front of her desk. She was in so much trouble.
“Who’s Piper?”
“She’s Jax’s fiancée.”
“Jax? He was at the dance, right?”
“I forget that you don’t know us very well yet. Yeah, he was. Jax is one of my fighters, along with Seth and Cammie. Piper is Jax’s, Amelia belongs to Seth, and Alex belongs to Cammie.”
“Belongs to?” she asked with a frown. Part of her objected to the terminology, and part of her longed to hear him say she belonged to him. Oh, boy. She was even further gone than she thought. “You talk like your fighters own their partners.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily say they own them. And it’s a mutual thing. They each belong to the other. It goes both ways. But isn’t that the way it should be? I know I’d love to belong to you,” he replied, eyes seeming to change color with intensity as he gazed at her.
She got lost in the depths of his bright blue eyes, watching as specs of silver appeared to dance in the blue. So beautiful. Swallowing hard, she finally managed to wrench her eyes away, looking at her desk where all his presents were sitting.
“You really shouldn’t have done all this,” she said with a wave of her hand to the gifts, clearing her throat when her words came out breathy.
“I wanted to. And it’s not much. Nothing like what I want to give you.”
There was absolutely no double entendre in his tone, but her mind immediately went there anyway, conjuring up all the things he could give her with his body. Slamming her eyes closed, she took a deep breath and tried to get ahold of herself. She was supposed to be resisting him. Right? At least, she thought she was. Those two parts of her were still duking it out. Maybe resisting him until she made up her mind was a better way of saying it.
Yet here she was, only three measly days after he declared his intentions, already in serious danger of melting into a puddle at his feet and begging him to take her now.
“Even one gift is too much. And you’ve been using Shelby as your spy,” she said, raising an eyebrow and praying her thoughts weren’t showing in her eyes.
“And?” he replied, a smirk on his lips. “All’s fair in love and war, right? And this is both.”
She stared at him blankly. Did he just use the word love in context with her? Breathing deeply, she tried to calm her racing heart. It was just a phrase. It didn’t mean anything, especially since there was no way he could have meant it like that.
This man was turning her from a sensible, logical twenty-six-year-old into a silly twelve-year-old who read into things that weren’t really there.
“Speaking of Shelby, isn’t she waiting on you? You should probably run along so she’s not waiting in the car for you.”
Leaning against the side of her desk, he crossed his massive arms and shook his head. “Amelia picked her up. I’m going to look at some properties for a gym, and a plot of land I might be able to build one on.”
“A gym? You’re opening a gym? What about the barn?” she asked in surprise, just then realizing that other than fighting every weekend, she had no clue what he did for a living, or if that was it.
“I’m thinking about it. I haven’t totally decided, but I’m leaning more and more toward it. And we’re still going to repair the barn, but we’re not open to the public there. This would be a gym for everyone. I thought I’d ask you to come along.”
“Me? I know nothing about gyms. Other than rehab years ago, I’ve never been to one.”
“You can still recognize a good building when you see it. I want this to appeal to women as well as men. You’re a woman, so you qualify to give me an opinion on that basis alone.”
“Why don’t you ask one of the women in your fighter crew?”
“They’re all busy this afternoon, and this was the only day I could get access to all the properties. Come on, come with me.”
“I don’t know…”
“I promise to keep my hands to myself, if that’s what you’re worried about,” he said, a twinkle in his blue eyes.
Searching his gaze, she frowned as she realized the silver specs she saw earlier were nowhere to be found now. Deciding it wasn’t a big deal, she thought hard for a moment before slowly nodding against her better judgment. His eyes, and the look in them, should really be made illegal, for the good of all womankind.
“Okay, I’ll go with you. But I’m holding you to that promise. Keep your hands to yourself.”
A smile curled his lips as he watched her stand up, gathering her things. “I promise. No cane today?”
Shaking her head as she pulled her sweater on, she replied, “No, it’s a good day, although it’s in my car just in case.”
Grabbing her bag and the box of brownies, she shook her head when he held out his elbow to take. She wasn’t going there, wasn’t going to touch him even for something as innocent as that. No touching, or she’d risk losing herself to him even more. And she was already further down that road than she wanted to be, especially since she was still wavering on what she wanted.
Okay, maybe she knew what she wanted already. Maybe she didn’t want to resist any longer.
The panicky part of her was on high alert, screaming for her not to lose herself more to him, but it was too late. This could be bad. This could be disastrous. But it didn’t look like she was going to be able to help herself.
Following him as he led her to the parking lot, she came to a halt in from of the large black pickup truck in front of her. It was huge, which made sense, because a guy as large as him needed something equally big to get around in. But it was jacked up, and that was going to be a problem.
“Um, maybe we should take my car,” she said, staring at the distance between the ground and the bottom of the truck. It had step sides, which would help a normal person, but with her leg, it still seemed impossible.
“I’ve seen your car, and there’s very little possibility of me fitting in it. It might as well be a clown car compared to me.”
Pursing her lips, she had to admit his statement was pretty accurate. “I don’t think I can go with you, Ian. With my leg, there’s no way I can climb in there.”
“I’ll help you,” he said, opening the back door of the truck. He took her bag and the box of brownies from her, putting them in and shutting the door. Surprised, she watched him open the front door and beckon her forward.
“How are you going to help me?” she asked warily, taking a few steps forward.
“I’ll give you a lift up. Don’t look like that. This isn’t touching for the sake of touching. This is just help.”
Studying him for a moment, she finally suppressed a sigh and gave him a tiny nod. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of this and turn this into something it wasn’t. Besides, it truly wasn’t anything. Surely, a quick touch to help her in the truck wouldn’t affect her much, if at all.
When she was standing in the open doorway, Ian moved behind her and gripped her waist to lift her up. His hands were so big, they nearly spanned her waist, and she wasn’t a dainty woman by any means. His fingers tightened momentarily, and she couldn’t prevent a small gasp from escaping. He didn’t linger, quickly lifting her onto the seat and stepping back. Once she was settled in, he gently shut the truck door.
Watching as he rounded the truck to get in on the driver’s side, she tried to calm her racing heart and convince herself that she wasn’t disappointed the touch hadn’t lasted longer. She didn’t need touches at all from this man, let alone lingering ones.
Big. Fat. Lie. She already needed to feel his touch again. The part of her that wanted him was definitely winning over the part of her that was still terrified.
Clearing her throat and needing a distraction from her thoughts, she asked, “So do you own gyms elsewhere? Is that what you do for a living, or are you exclusively a fighter?”
Shaking his head, he replied, “No, I’ve never owned a business. Fighting brings in a pretty steady income, especially when I win. And Seth owns a business, building homes and businesses, doing repairs. I work with him on those projects. I don’t actually need to work, but I hate being idle. I like keeping busy, and I’ve been wanting something of my own. A gym would give me that. I’m not too sure about how to handle the business end of things, but I’m willing to learn. And the other end of the business, the training and stuff, that I know I can do.”
“I guess that makes sense. And I’m sure you can learn anything you need to about the business aspects. You don’t need to work, though?”
Glancing over at her with a quick shake of his head, he said, “No. I’m by no means rich, but I have enough to live comfortably, with some put back for harder times. My uncle, for all intents and purposes, left me a good bit of money about a year or so ago.”
“For all intents and purposes?” she asked, watching as he made a right turn, his thickly muscled forearms flexing with the movement.
“I was adopted, so he wasn’t my blood uncle. From the time I was about two, until I was seven, I was in foster care. The Gallagher’s started out as foster parents, but they adopted me about six months after I moved in with them. I was in Cheyenne before they took me in.”
“Oh, I didn’t know. I bet they love having you back home, and having Shelby close, now.”
“I’m sure they would have,” he replied with a soft smile. “They died in a car accident my senior year in high school, and I lived with my uncle the last couple months of the school year. Then I left town, and stayed gone until about three years ago.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Ian. That’s rough.”
“It definitely wasn’t easy, but I got through it. And while they passed away too young, they lived full and rich lives. There’s comfort in that.”
Holly nodded, understanding the sentiment all too well. But hearing a small slice of his background gave her pause. He’d lost everything to him, all of his family except Shelby. His birth parents, then his adopted parents and uncle. All those loved ones, and yet here he was, willing and wanting to take a chance with her. If he could move on and take the risk—why couldn’t she? Something she definitely needed to think about.
Ian pulled to a stop in a parking lot, and she looked around, stopping him before he got out of the truck. “No.”
“What?” he asked, looking at her in surprise. “We haven’t even gone in yet. I know the outside looks rundown, but it wouldn’t take long to renovate it.”
“I’m sure it wouldn’t, but Ian, look around. You want this to be a place women come to as well, right? You have to think about what they need, and safety is a big part of that. Eagle Creek doesn’t really have any bad parts of town, but this is one of the old, rundown sections. Look around. There aren’t any street lights here, and the closest business is a block and a half down the road. Safe town or not, some women wouldn’t feel comfortable coming and going here, especially after dark.”
Brow furrowed, he looked around and nodded. “I guess I can see that. That’s something I never would have thought of. See, it’s a good thing you came along,” he said as he glanced at her with a grin.
Heart fluttering, she made a noise of agreement and looked around as he pulled out and drove to the next destination. They stopped three more places, going inside two of them, but Holly wasn’t all that impressed with them, and she could tell Ian wasn’t, either.
“This is starting to look pretty pointless,” he muttered as they sat in the truck after touring the last building. “None of those were right for a gym, even with renovations. If I do this, I want it to be perfect.”
“Don’t go giving up on it now. Aren’t you the one who said once you set your sights on something, you don’t give up? You mentioned a plot of land. Let’s go check that out.”
Exhaling, he nodded as he drove them back through town. He pulled to a stop at the spot, and they both sat in silence as they looked around. Holly could feel herself getting excited as she did, and she could easily envision a gym here.
“Ian, I’m no expert, but this is looking pretty perfect to me. It’s in the newer part of town, and surrounded by other businesses and plenty of streetlights. The plot is big enough to do anything you wanted on it. And you could make this whatever you wanted. You obviously know exactly what you’re looking for in a building, and you’d have the freedom to make it a reality. It would be a lot of work, and a lot of money, but so would renovating an existing building to fit a gym. I really do think this is perfect.”
A grin slowly lighting up his face, he nodded as he looked around. “You’re right. I can see it perfectly in my mind. This can work, really well actually. And cost isn’t that big of an issue. The rewards balance out the risk.”
Flushing, she glanced out the window as she remembered him saying something along those lines Sunday. But it was in a totally different context. She wanted to ignore it, but she found herself thinking about it more and more, wondering if he made a valid point. And she had to admit—maybe he did.
He drove them back to the school, parking next to her car. When he opened her door, she turned sideways so he could help her out. He placed his hands on her waist, but then paused, not lifting her out yet.
“Thank you for coming with me, Holly. It meant a lot. And not just because you had valuable insight,” he said, his thumbs rubbing lightly against her sides, making her breath catch. “I wasn’t sure you’d agree to go, but I’m really glad you did.”
“Yes, well… I’m glad I came, too.” His eyes twinkled, and flustered, she rushed out, “I mean, because of the gym, and all. I think it’s exciting. And I had fun.”
“I did too,” he said, voice deepening, a hint of gravel in his tone. “I enjoy any time spent with you. Maybe more than you know.”
Swallowing hard, she searched for her voice, but it just wasn’t there. He was gazing into her eyes like she already meant everything to him, and she was helpless to resist the pull. Eyes dropping to her lips, he slowly leaned in, giving her time to pull away.
Don’t do it. Push him away, get out of the truck, and leave now, she ordered herself, to no avail. She hadn’t made up her mind about what she was going to do, but she wanted his kiss. Wanted it more than her next breath. Assuring herself that she just wanted to assuage her curiosity, see what kissing him would feel like and it would never happen again, she held still and waited as he came closer and closer.
When their lips met, she was completely unprepared for the sensations that shot through her. Her eyes slid closed as she leaned into the kiss, and there was an explosion of color in her mind, every color seeming to correspond with a sensation or emotion she felt. As his lips caressed hers, it was like she felt it in every part of her body, everything coming alive and tingling, even her toes.
Her hands reached out and clutched his shirt, bunching the material in her fists as his lips parted. Her own followed suit, but he didn’t take advantage, still kissing her softly, long, open mouthed kisses that left her feeling boneless. Hands tightening around her waist, he brought her in closer, the kiss intensifying while still remaining gentle.
She had no idea how long they kissed. It felt like it went on forever, and yet wasn’t nearly long enough. He slid his tongue across her lips in one last caress before pulling back, and she fought to contain her disappointment that the most amazing kiss of her life was over. And it hadn’t even been a French kiss. Just the press of his lips against hers had caused sensations to streak through her body she’d never felt before.
Pressing his forehead to hers, he stayed just like that while they both struggled to control their breathing. Her heart was beating like she’d just finished running a marathon, and she felt certain his was the same. God, what a kiss.
“You promised no touching,” she whispered, saying the first thing that came to mind.
Pulling back, he smiled crookedly at her. “That wasn’t touching. That was kissing. You okay to stand if I help you out?”
“Of course,” she blustered. “You must think pretty highly of yourself. Your kissing skills aren’t that good.”
Lies. All lies. His kissing skills were off the charts, much better than merely good. And judging by the twinkle in his silver speckled blue eyes, he knew she was lying. Not calling her on it, he lifted her easily, stepping back and setting her on the ground. He left his hands on her waist until he was sure she was steady on her feet, and then he let go, his fingers sliding across her waist in a lingering caress.
Walking to her car in a daze, she unlocked the door and watched as Ian rounded the car, putting her bag and brownies on the passenger side. He came back around the car and stopped in front of her, so close she could feel the heat of his body seeping into hers. She thought for a moment that he was going to kiss her again, but he didn’t.
And she wasn’t disappointed. Really.
Reaching a hand up, he trailed his fingers down her cheek. “Thank you again for coming with me. And for that amazing kiss. Be safe going home.”
“I will,” she replied faintly, her whole being focused on the echo of his touch on her skin.
“I’ll see you soon.”
Nodding, she turned and climbed into her car, starting it and pulling out of the parking lot. When she looked in the rearview mirror, he was standing with his hands shoved in his pockets, watching her leave. Heart clenching, she turned back to the road, but the image stayed in her mind’s eye as she drove home, and another piece of her heart was claimed, his name written in big block letters on it.
A few days ago, she’d been so sure that staying away from him, that resisting him, would be easy. She honestly had no desire for a man in her life, and didn’t want to accept the risk that came with having one. But Ian wasn’t just any man. He was like no one she’d ever met.
Risk versus reward. The risk was there, for sure. But she was beginning to believe, wholeheartedly, that with Ian as the reward, it was worth it. Panic gnawed at her gut and climbed up her throat, but she did her best to push it down. It might be best to go into this cautiously, slowly, give herself time to get used to the thought of putting herself out there again and risking everything.
But she thought, in time, she just might be able to do this. And the thought of having a man like Ian by her side, a daughter like Shelby completing the picture, was the most beautiful image she could ever see.
IAN DROVE HOME ON AUTOPILOT, HIS WHOLE BEING focused on that toe curling kiss. It had been chaste by most standards, but it had still been knock-your-socks-off amazing. Better than any kiss he’d ever had, a million times over.
He was positive Holly felt the same way. The dazed look in her blue-green eyes had said as much. Running a hand through his hair, he exhaled, feeling his body react just to the memory of kissing her. He’d heard mated pairs talking about how much more intense physical contact was with a true mate, but in his wildest dreams, he hadn’t expected that.
All of it—the kiss, spending the evening with her, it all just strengthened his resolve to win her over. She was his mate, true, but this wasn’t even about that. It was about him, the man, needing her in his life more and more. That his tiger agreed and needed her too was just an added bonus.
Getting out of the car, he smiled as Shelby came out of the house, breaking out into a run. Skidding to a stop in front of him, she said breathlessly, “So? Did Mrs. White go with you? Did you have a good time? Did you kiss her goodnight?”
Laughing, he reached out and ruffled her hair. “Whoa there, sweets. Slow down and take a breath. Yes, she went with me, and we had a good time.”
“And? Did you kiss her? Girls like to be kissed.”
Narrowing his eyes, he said, “What do you know about kissing? You’re eight. You shouldn’t know about that kind of stuff yet.”
“I’m eight, I’m not stupid, Dad,” she replied with a roll of her bright blue eyes. “Jax, Seth, and Cammie kiss their mates alllll the time, and they all seem to enjoy it. That means Mrs. White would, too, since she’s your mate. I think it would only help your case if you kissed her.”
“I think it’s about time I had a talk with my fighters,” he muttered. “They’re far too free with their thoughts and actions around you.”
“You didn’t answer the question, Daddy. Did you kiss her?”
Surprised, he stared at her, unable to answer her question. She hadn’t called him Daddy since she was very small, and his heart swelled impossibly big in his chest. When she first came to live with him, she rarely even addressed him at all, and now here she was, calling him daddy. The change in her was truly remarkable.
Clearing his throat of the emotion clogging it, he replied, “That’s not something I’m going to tell you, squirt.”
She squealed, clapping her hands together. “That means you did! You would have just said no if you hadn’t. That’s great! Good job, Dad.”
A smile curled his lips, but he still felt compelled to caution her. “Whether I kissed her or not, it’s still not a done deal, Shelby. Please don’t get your hopes up. I haven’t pulled this off yet.”
“You will,” she said confidently. “You got this. And I’ll help you in any way I can.”
Shaking his hand, he started to reply when she grimaced, clutching her stomach. It was a gesture he’d come to know well in the last few months.
“Do you need to shift, sweets?”
Looking reluctant to answer, she finally sighed and said, “Yes. I’ve been putting it off, but I guess I should.”
“Honey, it’s okay. Shifting is perfectly natural, and you have all this open space to roam in. And I’ll be with you every step of the way. It’s okay,” he repeated firmly, infusing his voice with all the conviction he could muster.
Nodding, she said, “I know you think so. I’ll go to Seth’s shed and shift. Meet you in the woods.”
Heart heavy, he watched as his daughter walked to Seth’s old workshop, small shoulders slumped and posture stooped. He wished with all his might that he could make things better for her, but he couldn’t. Or better yet, go back in time and be able to stop the atrocities committed against her.
If Farrah was standing in front of him right now, he didn’t think he’d be able to stop himself from wrapping his hands around her throat and squeezing.
Turning, he headed to the woods, pulling his shirt off as he went. When Shelby started shifting at age five, Farrah, and the other tigers, put her in a cage. They said because of her low status, she wasn’t worthy of roaming the woods around their village, like the other tigers.
As a result, Shelby’s tiger was unruly and unmanageable. And despite the freedom to roam here, Shelby still hated shifting, putting it off until it physically hurt her. She had flashbacks, and she was nervous of her tiger, scared sometimes that her animal wouldn’t give her her body back.
Hitting the tree line, he quickly finished stripping, immediately shifting into his tiger. It was quick, a blinding flash of pain while his bones broke and reformed, the sound of the pops echoing through the woods and bouncing off the trees. In moments, he was standing with all four paws planted on the ground. Twitching his tail, he opened up his senses, taking in his surroundings while he waited on Shelby. Shifting with him made it a tiny bit easier on her, so he always shifted and roamed with her.
He’d just spotted Shelby’s small tiger, still more cub than anything, coming toward him when he caught a flash of orange from the corner of his eye. Hackles rising, he quickly put himself between Shelby and the unknown tiger, hissing out a warning. No one was going to get to Shelby, and he’d die before he allowed her to be hurt.
The other tiger approached slowly, slinking low to the ground, head canted and neck exposed in a position on submission. Still tense, Ian held himself ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. The tiger turned its head slightly, locking eyes with him, and it was then Ian relaxed, recognizing those dark brown, yellow flecked eyes. A sniff of the air when the tiger was closer confirmed what he knew. It was Kian.
Growling in annoyance, Ian dismissed him, turning back to Shelby. His cub bounded up next to him, rubbing her body along his before going to Kian without hesitation and doing the same. They all turned as one and started walking deeper into the woods, Shelby bounding away to romp and play with youthful energy.
They stayed out there for almost an hour before Shelby tired. When she was ready, they walked back toward Rocky River. Ian and Kian stopped at the tree line as Shelby continued on, heading to the shed to shift back and dress.
Focusing his energy, Ian shifted back to human form, glancing at Kian. “Go dress and come back to the main house. You can have dinner with us.”
Kian inclined his head in a regal nod, turning and walking away while Ian quickly dressed. He wasn’t sure why Kian showed up today, but he was grateful. He’d been worried that withholding the information about Zane had damaged his friendship with the prideful prince, but Kian coming over today said that not all was lost.
Ian owed Kian so much, and he’d hated to think he’d repaid that with something that hurt him. Kian’s tribe, the War Cats, was Farrah’s tribe, as well. He’d been absent for most of Shelby’s life, traveling the world, staying in India, his family’s home country, for most of that time. And when he came back home, he was appalled at Shelby’s treatment.
He’d been kind to Shelby, stepping in as her protector, and lobbying hard with his father to let Ian have custody of her. Ian had been fighting for just that for the majority of Shelby’s life, but he hadn’t made any headway, and he knew without Kian, he never would have gotten her back.
He’d never be able to repay the prince for what he did. Kian had his eternal gratitude.
Walking up to the house, he met Shelby as she was coming back from the shed, and he could see Kian coming up toward them, as well. Seth came out of the house, throwing a wave Kian’s way.
“I went and picked up dinner from the diner for everyone. I got your usual, and Kian’s, too. I saw him in town and he mentioned coming over today,” Seth said as he reached them.
“Did you get me a giant, gooey cheeseburger with extra pickles?” Shelby asked hopefully.
He ruffled her hair with an indulgent expression. “You know I did.”
“Glad you came,” Ian told Kian, holding back while Shelby and Seth went inside.
“Of course. I never intended to stay gone. I just needed time to process.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what I sensed about Zane. I should have, I know.”
“No, you shouldn’t. I understand why you did not. He was on the fence, as you said. Not on the bad side yet. There was no need to mention something that hadn’t happened.”
Exhaling, Ian rubbed a hand over his face. “I still feel like I should have warned you somehow.”
Kian was quiet, staring off into the distance, a pensive expression on his face. “Zane’s my cousin. We’ve always been close. He’s my second, my family, my friend. But I’m not blind to his faults, Ian. I know him, perhaps better than anyone. I know he has the capacity to go dark. I’ve just been trying to use my influence to keep him on the light side. And I think sometimes that I have failed him, failed to keep him on the right side of that fence you speak of.”
“That’s not your failure, my friend. You tried. Whatever side of the fence he ends up on, that’s on him, not you. He’s a grown man and can make his own decisions.” Ian wanted to say more, but he knew there was nothing he could say at this moment, so he just clapped Kian on the shoulder. “Now let’s go eat.”
They headed inside, where everyone was gathered in the kitchen. They were all there. Cammie and Alex, Seth and Amelia, Jax and Piper, Kian. And Shelby of course. He wished Holly was there. She’d never been there, never been a part of their crew, but despite that, he felt her absence keenly. Could picture her there with them so clearly. And he swore to himself that one day soon, she would be there, an everyday part of their lives
Food was passed around the table, and they were just starting to dig in when Alex barked, “Stop!”
Everyone froze, and Ian raised a brow at him. “What’s going on?”
“Something’s wrong,” the dragon shifter muttered.
Standing up, he went around the table, studying everyone’s dinner and even picking up plates to smell them. Ian frowned as he stopped between Ian and Kian’s plates. He smelled both, and with a grim expression, he stuck a finger in each one’s mashed potatoes and tasted them. Ian fought the urge to protest, because he knew something was going on.
When Alex hesitated and glanced at Shelby, Ian said softly, “Sweets, why don’t you go up to your room? I’ll call you back down in a few minutes. Maybe start on your homework, if you haven’t already.”
Scowling at him, she replied, “What’s happening? I don’t want to be sent to my room like a little kid. You don’t have to shield me.”
“But you are a kid,” Ian said softly before firming his tone. “Go on now. I’ll come get you in a minute.”
Glowering at him, Shelby sat stubbornly for a minute before shoving back from her chair. They all sat in silence for a moment, listening as she stomped up the stairs and slammed the door to her bedroom.
“She’s definitely coming out of her shell,” Cammie said with a chuckle.
“That she is,” Ian replied with a smile that faded as he turned to Alex. “Now tell me what’s going on.”
“At first, I just sensed something was off. And then I smelled something I recognized from my time with Ivan. When I looked, I noticed the color of your and Kian’s food seemed a little off, but I wanted to check them all. And everyone’s checked out fine. Except your and Kian’s plates.”
Frowning, Ian cast a glance at the respective plates. He and Kian had similar taste in food, and they usually ordered the same things when they ate together. They looked okay to him, but he knew Alex had experience with this kind of thing.
“So what’s wrong with them?” Jax asked, frowning at the plates.
Alex hesitated and then finally said, “Poison. Their food was laced with a type of poison designed specifically for shifters. I was taught to recognize the smell, look, and taste of it, because Ivan had many enemies.”
“Motherfucker.” Piper stared at their plates before reaching over and snatching Jax’s away from him. “And you’re sure?”
“I’m positive,” Alex replied quietly.
Ian pushed his plate away with a curse, watching as the others did the same. “It looks like it was just mine and Kian’s, but I’d feel better if we all dumped our food.”
Cammie stood up, eyes troubled. “I can fix something here.”
“What the fuck is going on here,” Seth said, looking around the table. “First the barn roof collapses, now poisoned food. And both times, it was Ian and Kian who were targeted.”
“We don’t know that for sure,” Ian said quietly. He was trying to remain calm for his crew, but he felt anything but. His gut was in a knot and his tiger was clawing painfully at his chest. He couldn’t lose any of his fighters and their mates, and Shelby… Dear God in Heaven, he couldn’t lose his daughter. “The food, definitely. But the roof could have caved in on anyone. It just happened to be myself and Kian inside when it happened.”
“Who could be going after both of you?”
Seth opened his mouth and Ian glared at him. “Don’t. Don’t accuse without facts. And they might not be going after both of us. Kian and I always order the same thing from the diner. And we both got it this time. Whoever it was knows this, but they’d have no way of knowing who ate which one, so they poisoned both.”
“This is like something out of a novel,” Amelia said softly, eyes troubled. “And whoever is doing this doesn’t seem to be planning a happy ending.”
“No, they don’t,” Ian agreed grimly. Looking at Kian, he said, “Are you ready to admit you need backup now?”
“I am not. I’ll be fine.”
“Are you delusional, dude? If Alex hadn’t stopped you, you would have eaten that dinner. Eaten the poison. You need to accept you need someone, your pride be damned,” Seth spit out.
“If you don’t want to call anyone in from the War Cats, then I want you to leave the hotel and come stay here. We have the room,” Ian said.
“And put everyone here in danger, if it’s me who’s being targeted?” Kian asked in disbelief.
“There’s safety in numbers,” Ian replied softly. “I know you don’t want to admit it, but you’re more vulnerable by yourself.”
“I think we should all come back to stay here,” Jax said quietly. “At least until we get this figured out. You’re right, there’s safety in numbers, and more eyes watching and more people here to have your backs can only be a good thing. You have the room, even with Kian staying.”
“I don’t want you all to put your lives on hold for me,” Ian said with a frown.
“Ian,” Piper said. “I’ve been with this family the least amount of time, but I could see how much you all meant to each other right off the bat. And that’s what you all are, a family. The bonds you all have formed with each other are even thicker than blood. And I know for a fact, there’s not one person in this room, mates included, who wouldn’t lay down their lives for you. Who wouldn’t be gutted if we lost you.”
“She’s right,” Amelia said. “And you’ve done so much for each and every person in this room. Let us do something for you. Coming to stay here until the threat is neutralized is a small thing compared to the sacrifices you’ve made for your fighters, for all of us.”
Dropping his eyes, Ian pretended to study his hands, his throat tight with emotion. Gruffly clearing his throat, he nodded, looking back up. “Okay, then. If you’re all okay with it, who am I to say no? And I appreciate this. I really do.”
Everyone’s eyes turned as one to Kian, who had been silent during the exchange. Holding up his hands, he exhaled heavily, saying, “All right. I’ll come stay here until we get this figured out.”
Ian smiled and gave him a small nod. “We’ll get this figured out quickly.”
“What about Holly?” Cammie asked as she bustled around the kitchen, getting dinner ready.
“Holly?” Seth asked with interest.
“Holly is Shelby’s teacher. She’s also Ian’s mate. Shelby told me,” she replied with a smile.
“Dude, you found your mate and didn’t say anything?” Seth exclaimed.
“There’s nothing to say yet. She has some reservations, so I’m working on it.”
“But you are working on it?” Jax asked, his green eyes probing.
“I am,” Ian replied, smiling at the thought of Holly.
“I gotta say, I’m kind of shocked. I thought we were going to have to get all sneaky or clobber you over the head to get you to take a mate,” Seth said.
“With anyone else, you might have. But Holly’s different. And you should see her with Shelby. She’s perfect.”
“Awww,” Amelia said, a mushy look on her face.
Ian cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Anyway. I don’t think Holly is in any danger. Whoever this is, isn’t going after her. But I’ll probably back off until we get this figured out. I don’t want to draw attention to her.”
“If you back off, you’ll lose momentum. And you might not be able to get it back,” Cammie said softly.
“It’s a risk I have to take. Her safety is more important. But I’ll be watching her from a distance. I won’t leave her defenseless.”
“I guess I understand that. But the second this is over, get right back in the game. I’m going to get this dinner made fast. I know we’re all hungry. And you should go talk to Shelby. I know you want to protect and shield her from everything, especially stuff like this, but she needs to know. She has to be on her guard, as well.”
Pushing back his chair, Ian nodded as he stood up. He hated to let Shelby in on more ugliness in the world. She’d already been exposed to enough. But Cammie was right. She needed to know so she could be wary of any potential danger around her.
Heart heavy, he made his way to the stairs. Just a couple hours ago, he was light as air, enjoying the most amazing kiss of his life, and looking forward to more. Looking forward to the fight to win Holly’s heart. The last thing he wanted to do was pull back, but he had to. Like he said, her safety was more important. The most important thing to him, aside from Shelby.
His tiger roared in pain inside him, and it doubled Ian over, stealing his breath. The animal was in anguish over not being near his mate. Ian did his best to reassure him, telling him they’d still be seeing her as they watched over her, but he was in as much pain at the thought as his cat, and it didn’t do much to lessen their pain.
As much as it physically hurt him, knowing he had to stay away and not be in direct contact with her, he had to. It was what was best, for all of them. Because Lord knew, if something happened to her, Shelby would be devastated, and he… well, he’d be hard pressed to survive it.