Page 57 of Of Flame and Fate

“Not exactly,” Bren answers, looking directly at Emme whose face is practically on fire.

“Not exactly?” I ask, my voice shrilled. “How do you ‘not exactly’ sleep with someone?”

“I kissed her, all right?” Bren says, his face flushing once more. “It was no big deal.”

Emme regards him with so much hurt, it takes all I have not to launch myself across Johnny and beat the cockiness right out of Bren.

“Youasshole,” I tell him.

Gemini appears about as thrilled at the news as I am. At the same time, he doesn’t seem surprised. “Did you know about this?” I ask.

“I didn’t know the details,” he admits. “Based on their mutual . . . aromas when they’re around each other, we’ve had our suspicions.”

“We?” I ask.

“Aric, Koda, and I,” he replies, doing a double-take when he catches sight of my non-too-pleased expression.

“And you didn’t tell me.”

“Taran, it happens,” he says. “Whenlonewolves join a pack, they often become attracted to unmated females during, ah, certain periods.”

I think I might actually kill someone. “Are you trying to tell meBren is in heat?” I swallow hard. “Withmy sister?”

“Hey,” Bren says, appearing insulted. “Brencan hear you.”

“No way,” I bite out.

He shifts in his seat. “Taran, look.”

I shake my head, the tension thickening the muscles along my shoulders making it hard to move. “Don’t sit here and tell me all this is you being horny.”

He knows what I mean.

“I’m not doing anything,” he rumbles.

“Why?” I demand.

His stare flickers to Emme. “I told her it wasn’t a good idea.”

Emme presses her lips, something she does when she’s trying not to cry. That’s when I finally get it. She doesn’t just like him, and he’s doesn’t just want to sleep with her. They’re mates. Holy shit,they’remates.

And he won’t do anything about it!

“Stay away from her,” I tell him, my expression and tone as dark as he’s ever witnessed.

“Taran,” he begins.

“I’m serious, Bren,” I say, cutting him off. “If you’re not going to man up, you need to keep your fucking distance.”

His eyes flash with anger and more emotion than I’m used to. I expect him to argue, he doesn’t, and in a way it upsets me more.

“I will,” he promises. He bows his head, but not before casting one last look at Emme who’s seconds from falling apart.

Lightning crashes in front of the helicopter, rattling it hard and causing the stretcher to bounce in place.

Koda yells from the front. “We’re here. But we’re not going to make it to the peak.” The cabin explodes with a flash as lightning strikes once more. “We have to land on the side of the mountain. Hang on!”

Chapter Thirteen

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