Page 24 of Crescent Warrior

“It was once,” he murmured.

She glanced at him then, her eyes shining with hurt. “I just wished that it was, Cole. You never cared enough for it to matter.” She glanced around again, searching the crowd. “We’re not doing this here. Go find Rosi.”

He clenched his jaw to stop himself from responding, turning to find his cousin’s scent instead. She seemed to be having a good time, laughing, and flirting with a group of men who were all fawning over her. He smirked at her and she flashed him a grin before reaching out for his hand.

“Oh, I’m sorry, guys. Have you met Cole?” They eyed him warily until she said, “My cousin. Lyta’s date.”

They relaxed a bit before one of them seemed to perk up with interest.

“Lyta? Our Lyta?”

“My Lyta,” was Cole’s immediate response.

The man blanched and nodded, not bothering to respond to him. Cole glanced at Ambrosia, who was smiling smugly at him.

“Come on,” he groused, tugging her off toward where Lyta was, still holding the child.

The little one was sleeping soundly on his mate’s shoulder, her thumb securely in her mouth, rivers of drool flowing unnoticed. His chest clenched with longing.

My Lyta would be the best mother.

Imagining her with their children wasn’t difficult. She would attack motherhood with the same gusto she attacked anything else, meeting each challenge with verve.

He would finally have a real family again. Reaching forward, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, dabbing at her moist skin. She was startled from her conversation with the man who had let them in, glancing at him with wide eyes.

“Is she drooling?” the blond asked, reaching his hand out to shake Cole’s again. “I didn’t get to introduce myself earlier. I’m Brandon, by the way.”

Cole shook his hand with a bit more force than necessary but Brandon just grinned back at him.

“Let me take her,” he said, not taking his amused eyes off Cole as he lifted the child from Hippolyta’s shoulder. He paused, his expression growing serious while narrowing his eyes at Cole.

“Lyta’s our girl. We protect our own and we have guns. You remember that.”

With the threat hanging in the air, he turned and walked away. Hippolyta turned to glare at Cole. He shrugged, handing the handkerchief to her. Her expression faltered and she narrowed her eyes, carefully.

“Are you waving the white flag?” she murmured.

“Yes, Lyta. Please. I surrender.”

Her jaw tightened and her brow furrowed. “I don’t forgive you.”

He closed his eyes, squeezing them shut. “You don’t have to forgive me, but please hear what I have to say.”

“Not right now. I have some people that I need to talk to, and I need you to not act like a lunatic. Can you do that?”

He gave her a lopsided grin. “I’ll try.”

She watched him cautiously before rolling her eyes. “Stay with Rosi. Make sure she doesn’t get into trouble. I’m going into the other room. You can’t follow, alright? They don’t know you and they don’t trust you.”

His jaw clenched. “But they know you?”

Her eyes flared with temper, and she took a step closer to him. It was the first time since he arrived that she voluntarily moved toward him.

“It’s none of your fucking business how they know me, Cole. As I said, you lost that right a long time ago.”

He stared into her eyes, willing her to see how he felt. The jealousy that was burning him inside.

I know I have no right, damn it, but it still hurts.

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