Page 5 of Guardians

And what happened to Akari was one example among many of the despicable behaviors of the wolves. Something had to be done, but none of the cats wanted the situation to escalate to full-scale war.

As if summoned by Kane’s troubled thoughts, Malik sat down on the wooden bench beside Kane and handed him a mug of frothy ale. “You’re thinking about the blonde again, aren’t you?”

“Actually, I’m not,” Kane told him. “First time in days, but I was thinking about the wolves.”

Malik tensed, his dark gaze icing over. “There’s only one solution for the wolves and we all know it. Make an example of Elias and anyone else who touched Akari. The entire pack needs to know that anyone who harms one of our females dies. Period.” He paused for a long pull of ale. Fighting back memories, no doubt. “We’re bigger and stronger than the wolves, and we outnumberthem three to one. I don’t know why Zion is being so hesitant about this. What they did to Akari was intolerable. There must be a reckoning.”

“I agree. And so does Zion,” Kane stressed. “The question is when and how to retaliate. Zion is trying to avoid needless slaughter. The ones who hurt Akari must die. Our laws are clear about that, but attacking their village indiscriminately makes us no better than them. And how do we identify Akari’s attackers without traumatizing her all over again?”

Setting his mug aside, Malik stood and moved closer to the fire. His restlessness was understandable. Kane felt it too. “I hadn’t thought of that,” Malik admitted. “I just want them dead.”

“We all do. But it’s complicated. Which is why Zion is taking his time.”

Malik turned his back on the fire as he faced Malik. “Well, the options couldn’t be laid out any clearer. We debated them for hours. The final decision is up to Zion. Let’s talk about something else. Anything else.”

Kane lifted his ale and smiled. “You’ll get no argument from me.”

“Where’s Diego? No one explained his absence at the meeting tonight.”

Diego and Malik were the other two members of Kane’s coalition. They were all guardians. They shared a cabin, but were often given very different tasks. Malik’s skills and knowledge were based in medicine. Kane headed village security. Diego and his team of ‘Shadows’ provided Zion with reconnaissance and stealthy attacks. They could blend so well with their surroundings and move so soundlessly that they seemed almost invisible.

“It’s been a while since we scouted out the lupine village,” Kane explained. “Zion wanted to make sure nothing significant has changed before we plan our attack.”

“Wise precaution.”

“Diego should be back tomorrow. Did you need him for something?”

Malik shook his head. “I was just curious where he’d gone.”

They lapsed into silence for a moment while Kane sipped his ale. As he forced thoughts of the wolves from his mind, Lexie’s image resurfaced. Her hair was the color of honey, a warm multi-toned gold. There was a delicate symmetry to her features that made her appear both sensual and innocent at the same time. And her eyes were the brightest, most vivid shade of green that Kane had ever seen.

“Now you’re thinking about Lexie,” Malik accused with a dreamy smile.

“Guilty. I don’t know what I’ll do if she refuses the offer.”

“You said that she seemed to be drawn to you,” Malik reminded, his brows scrunching up over his nose. “Was it just a look or did you speak with her?”

“It was several looks and a much too brief conversation. I know she’s interested, but all of them seem uncomfortable with the idea of mating with a coalition.”

Malik shrugged, unconcerned with the statement. “That’s to be expected. We’ve had three years to accept this new reality. They’ve been here a few months. Besides, we went from the pit of hell to relative freedom. Their journey was backward from ours.”

Kane nodded, but her reticence bothered him. “We need to court her, show her what life with us would be like.”

Malik laughed, a soft rumbling sound. “I have no idea what life with us would be like. I’ve never shared a woman before. Have you?”

Kane had, but the memories surrounding the situations were so dark and unwelcome that he just shook his head. He’d had no control over anything that happened while he was in captivity so he would not take responsibility for the events.

“Tell me more about the human females,” Malik prompted with a wicked grin. “How many of them are young and pretty?”

“Do looks even matter at this point?” Kane countered. “We lucked out with our mate, but I think most of us will be thrilled to have a female in our beds regardless of her outward appearance.”

Malik nodded. “Unless we find a way off this rock, which isn’t likely. Human females are our only option.”

“And we are theirs,” Zion stressed as he joined them by the fire.

Zion had been speaking with Flynn and Levi, two of his guardians, over by the table where the meeting took place. Kane had been so engrossed in his conversation with Malik that he hadn’t noticed Zion approach. Kane liked Zion, respected the hell out of him, but their relationship was entirely professional. Zion had a few close friends. Kane just wasn’t one of them. They weren’t at odds, yet they didn’t socialize.

“Despite our mutual distrust,” Zion continued, “we’re stuck with each other.”

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