Page 280 of Primal Bonds

Looping an arm around her shoulder, Adric nuzzled her cheek, offering reassurance in the way of their animals. She relaxed and turned back to Dina, who was now on Zuri’s lap. The wolf shifter made a dry, Zuri-type comment and both women giggled.

Adric made himself listen, smile. But Cara was right. He was edgy, although he hadn’t realized it was bleeding into his interactions with the clan.

He took a gulp of beer and forced his shoulders to relax.

One more drink, and he’d leave—or maybe check out the poker game in the back room. Because the only thing worse than this crowded bar was his solitary den.

The opening of the saloon’s outer door sent a blast of icy air down the short hall. A woman sauntered inside, her lush body poured into tight pants, a red leather jacket and ankle boots the same scarlet as her jacket. Wavy hair the blue-black of a raven’s wings framed her pretty, heart-shaped face.

One wide smile and Benny, the hulking earth-fada bouncer, fell over himself to wave her in.

Rosana do Rio.

Adric’s heart gave a hard knock. His cougar snapped to attention, eyeing her with a cat’s intentness.

What was she doing here?

And alone.

She headed toward the long wooden bar without bothering to remove her jacket or gloves. The woman didn’t walk, she sauntered, hips swaying, all high breasts and long-legged beauty.

All around the saloon, males—shifter and human—pulled back their shoulders and puffed out their chests. Zuri muttered a curse and set Dina back on her chair.

Rosana hadn’t gone ten steps when a human asked her to dance, a cocky blond college-type surrounded by three equally entitled wingmen.

Adric’s back teeth clamped together.

Not your business.

Rosana smiled and allowed the blond human to take her gloved hand. He led her onto the microscopic dance floor and set his hands on her hips, drawing her closer.

A growl scraped Adric’s throat. His claws slid out and he started to his feet.

No one touched Rosana but him.

“Easy now.” Zuri’s fingers clamped onto Adric’s wrist. He wasn’t just a good friend, but one of Adric’s lieutenants. “Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

Adric snarled. Back off.

Zuri removed his hand but stared back steadily. Not challenging Adric, just reminding him of who and what he was.

He sank back onto his chair, aware people were turning to stare at him. His friend was right.

Rosana was a dolphin shifter, a river fada—and he was alpha of the Baltimore earth fada. Water and earth fada didn’t mix. And Rosana wasn’t just any river fada, she was the sister of Lord Dion, alpha of Adric’s clan’s biggest rival.

Which meant he could look but not touch.

Rosana did one of those evasive twists women do, forcing the human to release her, and danced away.

Adric’s claws retracted.

“Drink your beer,” Zuri prompted.

He picked up his bottle but didn’t bring it to his mouth.

The lieutenant fingered his soul patch. “You want me to boot her sexy ass out of here?”

“For what reason?”

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