Page 44 of Juneau Heat (Urban Heat 1)

Her dad ignored him and crossed his arms over his chest. Shiya noted how fast Kasen calmed down. No one disrespected her father and got away with it—even her brother.

Shiya began to step out of the cabin, but Birk blocked her p

ath. “Kotori, she needs boots.”

Her lover disappeared and returned in seconds with a pair. She wondered whom he beat to take them, but didn’t ask questions. Her feet were freezing. Kotori stripped her wet socks off, and held her up while she stuck her feet into the warm boots. Birk waited close by, alert to anyone trying to hurt her. Her heart warmed at seeing them there, but so easily they could have been killed. All around lay injured men, and a couple of Kotori’s people picked up their fallen and melted into the scenery.

“We’re going, Shiya,” Birk said. “I have the feeling your father won’t allow your brother to go too far again when it comes to you.”

Her stomach dropped. She felt a sob rise in her throat, but swallowed it. The hesitance in Birk’s expression made her wonder what he wasn’t saying. “Yes, I’m safe. My dad’s never been a fan of using us girls. Birk, what are you not telling me?”

He scanned the area. Several of Kasen’s men were close, but not in hearing distance. They stood at alert as if they suspected Birk and Kotori would take her. She resented the thought since her brother had started this mess. Birk eyed the men and turned toward the trees. He found his route blocked. Now she knew her dad coming hadn’t put an end to the fighting. He’d stopped her being used as the pawn. As far as he was concerned, Birk and Kotori were still on his list. Had anyone told him about her relationship with them? They must have, or he would wonder why she would work as bait in the first place.

Kotori held his hands to the sides, claws forming from his nails. Each one slowly turned black, and he growled low and threatening. Something told her Birk wouldn’t stop him if he attacked her family.

She swung to face her father and brother and raised her voice. “Dad, please, just let them go.”

Her dad held out his hand to her, standing several feet away. All she had to do was step away from her lovers and over to her dad, but to do so meant turning her back on them. With Shiya so close, her dad wouldn’t give the order to shoot Birk and Kotori. She knew how he worked. Yet, she also knew, out there in the trees, even though she couldn’t see them, Kotori’s people weren’t far. They had a standoff, and it depended on her decision.

She looked up at Birk. “You don’t want me long term, right? You think I’m weak because I’m human?”

“I don’t think you’re weak.” He touched her cheek, and she heard her brother swear. Birk didn’t spare him a glance. He smiled at her. “I should kiss you thoroughly right here, but it might be too much for them.”

“Birk.”

“Beautiful Shiya.” He sighed, and she thought she saw pain in his eyes. “Kotori killed several men today.”

She gasped. The man in the cabin with her wasn’t the first.

“If he feels you’re threatened, I can’t make him back off. Do you understand the kind of man he is?”

She nodded.

“He won’t hesitate if it’s your dad or your brother. He won’t even hesitate if it’s your precious sister. Had she stood in the way today . . .”

Her throat dried, and she swallowed, trying to find moisture where there was none. They’d been to her suite, where she and Kasen had left Shae. “My sister—”

“She’s fine.”

“Th-Then we can’t be together,” she concluded.

“You’re from a family of hunters. Unless they back off, which I think they won’t now that they know there are others like us here, we’re at an impasse. They kill us, or we kill them. If we kill them, you will never forgive us.”

“If they kill you, I won’t forgive them either,” she insisted.

Birk went on. “Your dad’s going to call you to his side, and to keep you safe, we will allow it.”

She frowned.

He ran a thumb over her bottom lip. “Damn it, I want to taste that mouth once more. Go to him.”

“But they’ll—”

“Go.”

No! I’m not going to let this happen. I can’t.

“Tell me one thing, Birk.” She turned to Kotori, whose glittering dark eyes barely reflected reason. Even though he hadn’t shifted into the bear, he appeared to be all animal. “Kotori.”

---