Page 267 of Primal Bonds

“But we would like your blessing,” Fane added.

“The alpha crossed his arms, biceps bulging in his green T-shirt. “How do I know you’re not going to put a cub in her and then disappear like you did with Evie’s mom?”

Fane drew a slow breath through his teeth. The man might be an alpha, but Fane wasn’t a member of his clan and so was outside the hierarchy. And frankly, it was fucking irritating to be scolded by a man so much younger than him.

But for Marjani’s sake—and because the man had a point, damn him—Fane replied calmly. “Because we’re mates. And I promised her that if and when we have a cub, things will be different this time. And I give you that promise now, too.”

“I have your word?”

“Yes.”

Adric sneered. “But then, what does your word mean?”

Fane ground his teeth. But he’d known breaking an oath would put a black mark against his name that he’d have a hard time shaking. He’d probably have to spend the next century living it down.

“For Goddess’s sake,” Marjani burst out. “Like you haven’t slept with half of the women in the clan, Ric. What would you do if you got a cub on one of them? Evie’s mom wasn’t his mate.”

“I know one thing,” her brother snarled. “I wouldn’t leave the mother of my cub alone for years at a time.”

“She took another partner,” Marjani shot back. “Remember Evie told us that her mom remarried? Kyler’s her half-brother. And later, after Kyler’s dad died, Fane helped out when he could. He wasn’t a free man—he was under the ice fae king’s geas, and he didn’t want the fae to know about Evie. Hell, I might’ve done the same thing if she was my kid. Those ice fae are cold bastards.”

Adric turned back to Fane. “Exactly what did you do for the king?”

“I was an envoy.”

“A spy, then.”

“I was a messenger—a negotiator. But yeah, at times I spied for him.”

Marjani bristled. “Look, Ric. Either you accept him, or I’m resigning as your second.”

Adric’s mouth hardened. Then he expelled a breath. “You know I don’t want that.”

She folded her arms over her chest. “Then stop the inquisition.”

“Jani?” Fane gave her nape a light squeeze. “Let me talk to your brother. Alone.”

“What?” Her look would’ve fried a lesser man. “You’re going to send me out of the room so the men can settle this?”

He shrugged. That was it exactly, but he wasn’t stupid enough to admit it. Instead, he brushed his mouth over hers. “Please, love?”

“Fine. See if I care if you ream each other a new one. I’ll be at Suha’s.” She stomped out of the den.

Adric shook his head. “Hell, I guess you are mates. She wouldn’t have left for me.”

Then the alpha had him by the throat. Fane blinked. Damn, the man moved fast.

“If you hurt her,” Adric grated in a voice that raised fine hairs all over his body, “I’ll rip off your fucking balls and stuff them down your throat. I can’t kill you—that would hurt Jani, too. But I can make you wish you were dead.”

“Hey.” Fane held up his hands, palms out. “I love her. I’ll rip off my own balls if I hurt her.”

He used his Gift to slip out of Adric’s grip, because the alpha needed to know Fane wasn’t powerless. He reappeared on the other side of the room.

Adric was right there. “Why? What could a man like you want with Marjani?”

His scornful gaze took in Fane’s expensive rayon shirt and close-fitting jeans. All his old clothes had been left behind in Iceland, of course, but he and Marjani had done some shopping in Toronto during the layover between flights.

Fane’s jaw clenched. “That’s an insult to your sister. The better question is, Why not? She’s smart, loyal. Beautiful, inside and out. And so brave she makes me ashamed. The woman faced down the ice fae king for me.” Fane shook his head. “She struck a bargain with him, do you believe it? The man could crush her with the magic in his little finger, but she made him agree to her terms. I’m a wayfarer, but when I broke the geas, he didn’t just take everything I earned while I was an envoy. He took my Gift, too. But she made him agree to a bargain that officially released me from the geas—and returned my Gift.”

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