“I don’t want to be your lover,” she blurted. “No offense.” She couldn’t seem to shut up once she got words to pass her lips. “You’re a good-looking guy for someone who makes me want to run away from you screaming. But I met someone. He might be a cheater. I’m not sure. But I fell in love with him. I didn’t even know Vampires, Werewolves and what you are existed until a few days ago. You wouldn’t like me anyway. I’m a shitty cook. I’d end up killing you with food poisoning. And I drool when I’m asleep if I’m really tired.” She sucked in air. “Also, I think my grandfather is a piece of shit who doesn’t have the right to give me to someone as a gift. He’s a cheap bastard who never lifted a finger to help my sister and me. I hate him.” She sealed her lips together to stop babbling.

One of his black eyebrows arched upward. “Are you done?”

She managed a small nod.

He watched her silently but his thumb moved slightly to caress her throat. The soft touch distracted her from her terror a tiny bit. He didn’t seem angry over anything she’d said. He actually appeared to be a little amused, if she were to judge the softening of his features and the way one side of his full lips lifted as if he tried to hide a smile.

A deep growl came from Dusti’s left. She tried to turn her head but Aveoth prevented it when he wrapped his fingers around her throat. He didn’t cut off her air but he had a secure hold on her. He lifted his other hand and held it up, almost a signal for something to stop.

“Hello, Drantos. What are you doing in my territory without calling first to inform me you wanted to visit? I knew someone approached from half a mile away. You attempted to stay upwind but my senses are too keen not to hear that lumbering body of yours, no matter how skilled you’ve become at sneaking up on a target. And the wind shifted once to reveal your identity.”

Dusti strained against the hand still wrapped around her throat, just enough to see a sight that left her trembling on shaky legs.

A huge, black, hairy beast crept out of the edge of the woods and onto the path they stood in.

That’s what he looks like when he’s a hell beast, her mind acknowledged. The trembling grew worse since Drantos was a terrifying sight. Aveoth released her throat and gripped her hips to steady her. It helped.

She couldn’t stop gaping at Drantos. He looked similar to the scary beasts she’d already seen, only bigger, with those same evil-looking black eyes. He lowered his head so they weren’t staring at each other anymore. Bone popping noises began and she squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see him transform. It sounded painful and very uncomfortable.

“That woman belongs to me.” Drantos had his voice once he’d turned back into human form. “That asshole is mine too. I’m going to kill him for stealing her away from my family.”

“No.” Aveoth smiled coldly. “You may kill the male but you won’t touch her.”

“She’s mine.” Drantos stalked forward, snarled viciously, but halted. “Don’t do this, Aveoth.”

“Do what? Not allow you to harm Margola’s descendant?” The GarLycan’s voice deepened into a rumble that threatened violence.

“She’s my mate. I’d never hurt Dusti. I’d kill to protect her.”

“She doesn’t smell like you.”

“She’s wearing my cousin’s coat. That’s his scent you’re picking up. She was cold and it was the only thing available.”

He narrowed his gaze on Dusti. “He’s the one you spoke of? The cheater?”

Drantos snarled again. “Yonda wasn’t my girlfriend.”

Aveoth glanced between them but he cocked his head finally, arching one eyebrow at her in question.

She was too afraid not to answer. “He was seeing someone before we met. I didn’t know and I got upset when I found out.”

“She doesn’t understand,” Drantos rasped. “Dusti thinks like a human. I was trying to ease her into our world before I told her too much.”

Aveoth turned his head, watching Drantos. “You haven’t completely bonded to her yet. She doesn’t carry your scent.”

Drantos paled. “Please, Aveoth. I’ve bedded her and we’ve exchanged blood. We’ve begun the mating bond.”

A calculated glint flared inside Aveoth’s dark gaze. “You have the sister who is not human? I will trade your mate for her.”

“No!” Dusti blurted.

Drantos growled softly. “Silence, sweetheart.”

“No.” She glared up at Aveoth. “My sister is not a bargaining chip, nor will she agree to be your lover. Bat would castrate you the first time you fell asleep if you forced yourself on her.”

“Damn it, Dusti. Shut up,” Drantos ordered.

“You don’t speak for my sister.” She didn’t glance his way to see Drantos’s reaction. She wouldn’t deny being his mate if it got her away from the big GarLycan. “My sister is a person, not a thing to be traded.”

“I want her.”

That statement from Aveoth chilled her blood. “Too bad.”

“Dusti,” Drantos warned. “Please trust me and stop talking. You are only going to make the situation worse.”

“How is that even possible?” She gripped the strange leather arm guards Aveoth wore, avoiding the sharp silver spikes. “Please let me go. I can stand now.”

“No.”

“I said please.” Her temper flared. It wasn’t her life on the line at that moment. It had become about Bat’s. She’d face the devil himself to protect her sister. She pointed at Craig. “That asshole over there thought he could claw my leg open and get away with it. See that blood on him? I did that. Now please let me go. I am fed up with being manhandled.”

“Dusti,” Drantos pleaded. “Don’t, sweetheart. He’s not someone you want to get mouthy with. Just be quiet and allow me speak.”

Aveoth surprised Dusti by chuckling. Amusement sparked in his gaze that started to turn bright blue again. His hands on her loosened but he didn’t remove them from her body. “This is becoming entertaining.”

“I’m glad you think so. She’s been raised human.” Drantos kept his tone soft. “Dusti has no understanding of others, our laws, or how to show respect to any type of authority. She and her sister have a distinct talent for saying anything that comes to mind.”