Page 10 of Their Defiant Mate

Lexie and I are babysitting the gathering. Diego did not sound happy.Please, come distract me.

Wishing they had something more definitive to report, Isaac told him,We’re on our way.

Rumbling laughter and boisterous conversations echoed through the lodge. Tara watched it all with a vague sense of detachment. There were thirty-eight women and well over a hundred hybrid males mingling in the large open room. The number of attendees was supposed to be limited to one hundred twenty, so both sides were bending the rules. Fresh fruit and thinly sliced meats had been used to create a variety of finger foods. There was even a bar offering a small selection of Rydarian liquor. Each item appeared to welcome the females. In truth they were temptations, subtle enticements meant to wear down the women’s defenses.

“Are you alright?” Lexie asked, her voice warm and filled with compassion. “You’ve hardly spoken a word all night and we both know that’s not like you.”

Tara glanced at Lexie and sighed. “Zion gave me an ultimatum this morning. If I don’t convince Akari to let a team of Shadows take the images of her attackers from her mind, he’ll make me move into the shelter.”

“Sounds like Zion.” Lexie shook her head and the overhead lights gleamed off her long blonde hair. “How did Akari react, or haven’t you asked her yet?”

“She’s thinking about it.”

They lapsed into silence for a moment. Tara took a sip ofiollaberry wine and struggled with the fallout of her conversation with Zion. Her wrestling match with the Shadows in the storeroom had a lasting effect. She hadn’t been able to ridher mind of their images or the sensations they’d unleashed in her. Having an intense weekend encounter with them would be amazing, but binding herself to someone so domineering was far less appealing.

“There you are,” Claire cried as she worked her way through the crowd. “Can you believe this turnout? There are even more people tonight than the last time I attended.”

Lexie nodded. “People aren’t obeying the rules.”

“Can you blame them?” Claire defended. “It’s been years since any of these guys have touched a female, and the women are trying to avoid starvation and freezing to death.”

“You make it sound so transactional,” Tara grumbled as her gaze swept the room. Without even realizing it, she was looking for her Shadows.HerShadows? Oh, this wasn’t good. “I want companionship and stability, protection and passion.”

“And the right coalition can provide it,” Lexie assured with a dreamy smile. “I’ve never been happier.”

A bit of Claire’s cheer fell away as she asked, “Where are your mates? I’m surprised they let you out of their sight.”

“Kane and Malik are out on patrol. Diego is around here somewhere.” Lexie rolled to the balls of her feet as she tried to spot her mate, but apparently the room was too crowded. She shrugged and turned back to Claire. “Has anyone caught your eye? You’ve been to several of these, haven’t you?”

“This is my third, and there has been no real spark with anyone yet.”

“Keep an open mind and it’s bound to happen.” Lexie shifted her gaze to Tara, a playful smile curving her lips. “What about you? Did sparks fly between you and Zion this morning?”

“Good God, no! I can’t stand that jerk.” Tara shuddered just thinking about the arrogant hybrid. This was not really the time or place for this conversation, but getting Lexie alone was almost impossible. Besides, it might be nice to have more than one opinion on the possibilities. “Do you know Isaac and Jon from Shadow Team One?”

“Zion ordered Team One to work with Akari?” All playfulness vanished from Lexie’s demeanor and her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Team One is Diego’s go-to team. He uses them for everything, but Jon can be downright scary. Was Kyle there? You didn’t mention his name.”

Pivoting toward her friends, Tara lowered her voice as much as the noisy room allowed. “Isaac mentioned Kyle, but he wasn’t there this morning. What’s he like?”

Lexie’s brows arched and her smile returned. “Is there a particular reason we’re talking about Shadow Team One?”

Lexie knew Tara too well. They’d been through too much together to attempt to keep secrets from each other. “I might have had a private conversation with Jon and Isaac after we left Zion’s office. I was wondering if the conversation might have been less… overwhelming if Kyle had been there too.”

Claire listened intently, but said nothing. Like Tara, Claire looked at Lexie and waited for her to answer.

“You’ll like Kyle,” Lexie predicted. “He’s less intense than the other two.”

Tara let out a shaky breath as she fought back erotic memories of what had gone on in that storeroom. “Jon and Isaac could definitely use a little balancing.”

“You brought it up, so tell us about this conversation,” Lexie prompted, her smile broadening into a pleased grin.

Lexie was clearly having fun, but Tara didn’t want her to get the wrong idea. “I admit I was intrigued. None of the other groups have pursued me so aggressively. But I don’t think they’re the right coalition for me. I’m too independent. We’d drive each other crazy.” So why couldn’t she stop thinking about them?

“I think all of the Shadows are terrifying,” Claire admitted. “I definitely need someone more laid back.”

Lexie studied Tara for a long silent moment then shrugged. “I just want you to be happy. What about Flynn and Levi? I know you’ve interacted with them. You’re staying in their cabin. They could just move back in and?—”

“As of this morning, they’re courting Bianca.”

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