Page 43 of Guardians

“Well then, let’s get them settled so we can all get some sleep,” Kane suggested.

Flynn waved him on. “Go deal with your mate. I can take it from here.”

“They also need something to eat,” Malik warned. “They’ve been living on protein bars for weeks.”

“I’ll take care of it. Unless you want to dig fence post holes for the next few months, you have better things to do.”

“Thanks.” Kane turned to the crowd and whistled to get their attention. “This is Flynn. He’s going to take you to your new quarters. Most of you will be in the two large dormitories. The rest will be in the surrounding cabins. The cabins are first-come-first-served. Speak up quickly if you want a little more privacy.” Everyone just stared back at him blankly, so Kane concluded, “You’ll also be given something to eat. Just follow Flynn.”

“Right this way,” Flynn called out cheerfully.

Lexie started to follow the crowd, but Malik rushed over and stopped her. “Don’t even think about it.”

“You’re with us,” Kane stated sternly.

“I’d rather stay with the others for a night or two. They need help adjusting to?—”

“No,” Diego said emphatically. “Your place is with us.”

“But I really want?—”

“Don’t argue,” Kane interrupted her this time. “You’re in enough trouble as it is.”

Her jaw dropped and she put her hands on her hips. “I’m in trouble because your boss is obnoxious?”

“We’ll discuss this when we reach our cabin,” Kane insisted.

She glared at him, but fell into step as he headed for their cabin cluster. She’d been doing so well. Kane couldn’t believe her behavior a few minutes ago. And why the hell had she chosen Zion to go off on? She’d seen firsthand how intolerant he was of belligerence.

Diego shoved the door open and motioned her inside. She hesitated, glancing backward, then reluctantly entered the cabin. Malik entered after Kane and pulled the door closed behind them. Silence encompassed the cabin, making it seem menacing and still.

Lexie moved to the center of the room, then spun to face Kane. “So what did I do that was so damn terrible?”

She knew exactly what she’d done, and her attitude was still rebellious. Kane shook his head. It was going to be a long night if she kept this up. “You were disrespectful to the village leader and refused to back down even after it became obvious that you were making him angry.”

“Zion is a coldhearted asshole,” she protested. “There was no reason to back down.”

“You’re an occupant of this village, which means Zion is your boss too,” Kane argued. “You don’t have to like him, but you will show him respect.”

“He’s a heartless tyrant,” she persisted. “If more people would stand up to him, maybe he’d?—”

“A tyrant would have ordered all the humans back out into the forest,” Diego defended. “They’re here because Zion allowed it. For that matter, so are you.”

She just glared at him defiantly.

“You were disrespectful to me as well,” Malik pointed out. “Am I a heartless tyrant?”

“No, you were defending one,” she snapped.

Talking to her right now was clearly a waste of time. Kane understood that she was lashing out because of a deeper hurt, but her behavior still needed to be corrected. The power structure within the village hadn’t developed out of preference. It was a necessity. Instincts among the hybrids ran deep, and Rydaria was a dangerous place.

“Undress and get on your knees,” Kane ordered.

Her hostile gaze shifted to him, but she simply said, “Not this time. Zion was being a jackass. I don’t regret telling him off.”

“Then it is our job to make you regret it,” Diego warned.

Lexie’s heart thudded painfully in her chest as her mates closed in around her. Each wore a harsh, disapproving expression, but she refused to give in. Always before, she could see the wrongdoing in her behavior. This was different. Zion deserved every word she’d said to him. She’d called his attitude inexcusable because that was what it had been.

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