Page 43 of Crescent Warrior

Cole didn’t bother with the other robe, tugging a towel around his waist, his eyes narrowed on the door with fury.

“Stop,” she told him quietly. “He’s just a friend.”

“A best friend,” he muttered, bitterly, and she sighed, rolling her eyes.

“Hey,” she called as she opened the door. “Everything okay?”

Xander was glaring at the bed, the pillows and sheets an absolute mess, as if it was attacked by a hurricane. He glanced at the mark on her neck, even deeper and brighter now than it was when he last saw it.

“We’re waiting for you guys. Just wanted to let you know.” His eyes were worried, looking between them and searching her for any sign of injury.

She smiled, reaching out to pat his cheek. The growl behind her almost stopped her, but she ignored it, reaching out anyway.

“I’m fine,” she said quietly, and he nodded, narrowing his eyes threateningly at Cole.

“You fuck this up again and just know that there’s a line out the door waiting for her, asshole.”

Hippolyta barely had enough time to spin around and shove her palm against Cole’s chest before he lunged.

“Stop it,” she told him quietly, meeting his eyes.

They were dark with fury.

“I’ll wait for your bags, Lyta,” Xander said, turning to leave.

“She has a mate for that,” Cole growled, bristling with hot temper and annoyance.

“Really?” Xander called, turning to tap his chin. “Because I’ve been carrying her bags for years. I wonder where her mate was then.” He lifted the same hand, middle finger jutting proudly. “Fucktard.”

Hippolyta choked on a laugh, her hand on Cole enough to stay any crazy attempts on Xander’s life.

“I swear he isn’t usually like this.” Her laugh caught in her throat as Cole turned sad eyes her way.

“I guess I don’t have any right to say anything,” he whispered, “since I wasn’t there when you needed me.”

She shook her head, the pain in her chest increasing.

“Xan is just going through something. He was sure we were mates—” The growl that left Cole’s chest sent a shiver down her spine. “But I told him from the beginning we couldn’t be. I didn’t tell him why and now he knows. It’ll just take a settling in period.”

He sighed, pressing his hand against his chest, rubbing hard. “It’s annoying, right?” he chuckled, watching her closely.

She shrugged, a smile playing on her lips. “It was cute. He was so sure, a pup chasing after his tail.” She turned to her closet, stepping inside.

“Lyta.” He cleared his throat behind her. “Would you be angry if another female wanted me to be her mate?”

“I’m sure many of them do.” She shrugged. “I can’t imagine that Nyx wouldn’t be overjoyed if you were hers. And Uncle Castor loves you so much that having you as a son-in-law would just be a bonus.”

She had imagined of that over and over, the nightmare playing in her head as she imagined him with Nyx. She was beautiful and soft, feminine in a way that Hippolyta would never be.

“You know I never even touched another female,” he rasped behind her.

She froze, her hands tangled in the pants on the racks she was choosing from.

“I know,” she said softly.

“I don’t care if you had a lover, my Lyta.” She peeked over her shoulder to give him an amused look and he cleared his throat. “Okay, I care. But I want you to know that it doesn’t matter.”

She nodded, grabbing hangers and tugging the clothing off, folding them neatly. She walked over to her bag, but he grabbed her arm, turning her to face him. She stared at his shoulder; the skin marred with bites, but not a mating mark.

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