“No.” Drantos shook his head and cupped his hands over hers.

“You’re being unreasonable. You heard your father. I’ll go pretending to be Bat so the little girl is set free. You guys can come to the rescue then and arrest him.”

“We don’t arrest,” his father clarified. “We capture.”

“Whatever,” Dusti murmured. “You’ll have Decker and the little girl will be safe.” She peered up at Drantos. “I can pull off playing Bat. Who knows her better than I do?”

He studied her features. “Sweetheart, you don’t look that much alike.”

“Did you miss the part about how he hasn’t seen us since we were kids?”

“What if Decker has seen photographs of your sister? She’s an attorney. Doesn’t she participate in cases that draw media coverage? It’s possible he knows what she looks like.”

Dusti seemed to consider it. “He hasn’t seen her since she’s been in a plane crash and had to spend days in the woods, without access to makeup. My sister is always really put together—so I won’t be. I can fool him. It’s not like I have to pull it off for a long time.” She leaned to the side, staring at his father behind him. “Right?”

“Yes. We just need time for Lake to grab the child and get her clear.”

Dusti smiled at Drantos. “See? I’ll just act snooty and butt hurt for a few minutes. I can do a Bat rant for that long.”

It could work—but what if it didn’t? Drantos considered it.

No. Decker would kill Dusti if he detected the lie. “I can’t risk your life. You’re my mate. My first priority is your safety.”

“It’s a little girl,” she reminded him, as if he could forget.

“I can’t lose you.” He tightened his hold on her hands braced against his chest. “Don’t ask that of me.”

“I’m not asking, Drantos. I’m telling.” She leaned to the side again, looking at his father. “I was told mates are allowed to argue in private so you need to step outside because I think that’s about to go down.”

“Did she just order me out of your home?”

Drantos ignored his father. “I’ve made my decision.”

Dusti’s eyes narrowed and she tugged her hands free. “It’s not your decision to make. It’s mine and I’m doing it.”

“It’s too dangerous! Do you ever listen to me? How did you survive in your world for so long?” Drantos felt his fangs elongating out of annoyance and anger. She could drive a man insane. “I love you. We’ll think of another way to get the child back that doesn’t involve putting you in danger.”

“Wow, that wasn’t insulting at all.” His mate rolled her eyes. “Your people think I’m useless already. Would one of your women do this? I think they would. Don’t even bother answering that.”

The matter was too important for the luxury of being sensitive to her feelings. “Our clan women grow claws to fight off an attacker and can shift to run for their lives, if need be. They are able to defend themselves long enough for help to reach them. What are you going to do? Glare at them and yell insults? Perhaps threaten to have them arrested by your human law enforcers? Decker will kill you. You admitted he has no use for you. He’ll know who you are!”

She surprised him by lunging forward and smacking her hands on his chest. “You’re wrong! I’m going to do the same damn thing I’ve done my entire life—which I survived without you, by the way. I’m going to use my brains and bullshit my way through this.” She shoved but wasn’t able to move him. “You’re pissing me off.”

“I know the feeling. I forbid you to do this.”

Her mouth opened and she backed away, releasing him. “As if you can. You might be my boyfriend but that doesn’t mean you can order me around.”

“Mate,” he snarled.

“Whatever!” She backed off and defied him further by addressing his father again. “I’ll do it. Count me in.”

“No!” Drantos spun on his father. “She’s not.”

His father glanced between them, finally holding his gaze. “It will only be a few moments. We’ll follow them at a distance so the lookouts don’t detect us and surround the area. Lake only needs to grab the child and run. We can attack then.”

“With Dusti in the middle of it without any defenses.”

His father took a deep breath and blew it out. “Your mate thinks she can fool Decker. He won’t want Batina dead. His life is in danger and he believes the only way to avoid Lord Aveoth killing him is to use the sister as a bargaining chip. You’re being unreasonable, Drantos.”

“Yes, he is,” Dusti huffed.

He turned to her. “Stay out of this. You thought I was insane when I told you about VampLycans. Your thinking process isn’t always clear. This is a clan matter.”

“You can’t have it both ways.” The anger drained from her face and he hated to see the sadness in her eyes. “I’m either a part of this clan or I’m not. Let me do something useful. Geez, Drantos. It’s a little girl we’re talking about. I’d rush into a burning building if I knew one was inside. I’d have to be a total selfish asshole not to. I convinced a freaked-out guy that something looking like a hell hound was actually a bear with mange. I can do this. It’s not as if I’m going to have to pretend to be some stranger. It’s Bat.” She put her hand on her hip, cocked it out, and threw back her head, jutting her chin. “Don’t make me take off my high heels and beat you to a pulp, you big ape.”

His father snarled. “Ape?”

“That’s how Bat speaks,” Drantos explained, watching Dusti. “That’s what her sister calls Kraven when she’s angry.”

Dusti eased her tense body and softened her voice. “I can do this, Drantos. Give me a chance. I’m not totally useless.”

Her need tugged at his heart. “This isn’t how you prove that to the clan. This is too dangerous.”

“Yeah. I’ll get pregnant instead.” She snorted.

Drantos sighed and shook his head at his father. “We’ll think of another way.”

The front door opened and his mother walked in. “What’s the holdup? Lake is pacing outside.” She nodded at Dusti. “Is she too afraid to go?”