Page 29 of For Toron's Pride (Toron's Pride 1)

“I don’t know if I can do this.”

Stella laid a hand on her shoulder, and Sienna grasped the hand like a lifeline. “Yes, you can. You’re strong and talented. You don’t take anything off of anyone. You speak your mind.”

Sienna swallowed and paced back to the mirror to check her makeup. Goodness, it wasn’t as if she’d never been to dinner before or for that matter as if these weren’t people she saw every day. She examined her dress and groaned.

“They’re naturals.”

Stella came up behind her and nodded, shoulders back

and the same haughty expression she displayed the day

Sienna met her. “You’re right. They are, and they should be

the ones to make the laws for all the members of Toron’s

pride.”

“Hold up!” Sienna spun on her heel. “I didn’t say all that. They are no better than the rest of us. We have the same urges, same needs. The naturals are not superior just because they were born shifters, and if any one of them tries to come off at me like that, I’ll let them know! Someone needs to be the voice for us regulars, especially those who didn’t choose this way of life.”

“Exactly.”

Sienna blinked and then waggled a finger at Stella. “You had me going off on a tirade for no reason.”

Stella laughed and shoved her toward the door while Sienna tried digging her heels in. “You are the voice the regulars need, and you just proved it. Besides, Toron wants you there as his mate, and you have a right to be at his side, don’t you?”

Sienna stopped at the door. “I’ve been thinking about it. I haven’t told him I’ll be his mate yet. I know for all intents and purposes, I am, but I don’t know.”

Her new friend just wouldn’t give up. “Well this is one more opportunity you can use to be sure. Go before you’re late.”

Sienna heaved a sigh and headed down the stairs.

Familiar and unfamiliar voices reached her from living room. She knew Toron had invited a few naturals who lived outside of Sutland, and most of them were staying at his house. Talk about having a crowd underfoot. Was she even cut out for this? Toron was no better, wanting to jump her bones at every chance. He didn’t care who heard them.

Still, he continued to train her, honing her ability to differentiate what she heard and smelled. Stella had taught her how to remain calm and not go off on people, especially during her time of the month. No way Toron could deal with that. She’d be forever grateful for the woman’s friendship since she had no girlfriends in New York.

When she rounded the corner into the living room, all gazes locked on her, and Toron stood closest with an outstretched hand. She smiled at him, catching her breath.

The man looked good enough to eat in his dark suit, and she congratulated herself on choosing the strapless ocean blue silk with a fitted bodice and draped skirt to complement

him. The way his golden eyes trained on her, she knew she looked great.

“Mm,” he murmured, and she blushed. He needed no other words. Sienna tightened her hand on his arm, and he covered it with his own. He must sense her jitters. “You are everything.”

He spoke as if he’d just said they were nothing, and warmth stole over Sienna’s being. This man loved her. Now more than ever, she knew it to be true, and she loved him too. All this time, she had been holding back because loving him meant giving into him to a certain extent, just as all of his people did. Yet, Toron wasn’t the kind of man to railroad over those he cared about. He listened to what she had to say, and that meant a lot to her.

Dinner began, and Sienna kept quiet among the raised voices around her. She scanned their faces, from youngest to oldest. Every one of the men and women sharing Toron’s table were naturals. Sienna had thought he ruled four thousand people like a king, but that wasn’t the case.

Toron took her hand beneath the table, and she turned her head to face him. “Okay?” he asked, concern in his eyes. Sienna stared at him. Why had she thought he was an arrogant prick in the beginning? Oh yeah, because he was. Toron could still get on his high horse, but it didn’t impress her. She usually said something to snap him out of it.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She leaned closer to him. “Are they like…”

“My generals,” Toron responded. “They help me with the people.”

“A well-run machine with no flaws,” one of the oldest and loudest of the men answered from across the table. Sienna had forgotten they could hear as wel as she. Everhart Cole kept her attention. “You haven’t shared your opinion,

Sienna. What do you think about the training policy for new recruits?”

Sienna scarcely kept herself from rolling her eyes. She glanced at Toron, and he nodded. “Well, to be honest, the way you all do things here isn’t a well-run machine at all . New recruits? Please, that would fit if you planned to raise an army against the humans or against other shifter clans out there, but look at how I was turned. I didn’t expect it, nor did I choose it. I was left with another newbie to get me past what was the scariest experience in my life. You don’t need to bring people down here. You need factions put together in whatever city you have shifters living, and there, experienced members of the pride can teach the newbies. Plus—”

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