Whatever was in that room contained powerful magic. Hollis might not understand it, but he was right to keep the room locked up. But now that she knew of its existence, now that she’d had time to accept what was inside, she hungered to explore it. Voices. People familiar and unknown. Places long forgotten. She’d been too blindsided to make sense when it was happening. But no
w, with her mind clear, she was able to sort through some of what had reached her in the seconds she’d been in that room.
“Ellen?” Olivia interrupted her thoughts. “Was Hollis’s lab all you thought it would be?”
“It was big, white, and cold.” She stirred her margarita with a funny, little green plastic stick topped with a parrot. “I was not impressed.”
Mal laughed. “Don’t tell him that. No man wants to hear he left his woman unimpressed.”
“I am not his woman.” She growled back.
Mal shot her a curious look. “Here I thought you were going to bring the wolf out of him.”
“That is his choice.” Her irritation increased so she downed the entirety of her margarita. “One I will play no part in.”
“You look so pretty,” Olivia said.
Ellen scowled at her. “If you say so.” Olivia had insisted she’d feel better if she pampered herself—and showed Hollis what he was missing. Which had meant an endless afternoon of shopping. Olivia had loaded her down with underwear and bras, things Ellen avoided wearing as much as possible. After a few glasses of wine, she’d let Olivia drag her to the salon. Her hair was trimmed and styled, and her face had been painted.
Never in her life had she felt so ridiculous.
And yet, there was no denying the responses of the men present. She couldn’t decide if she liked it or not—to have so many eyes fixed on her.
“Ellen,” Olivia whispered. “Looks like someone’s going to be brave.”
“You can’t kill anyone here,” Mal reminded her.
“Dance?” a man asked. A very tall, fit, handsome man. He was smiling down at her, the glint in his eye telling her what he was really after. The dance was just the beginning.
Ellen slammed her glass down and stood. “A dance. Only.”
He grinned and took her hand. His touch was unsettling. Her wolf didn’t like it. At all. Not that her wolf was in charge. No, if she were, she’d be pining for Hollis—wondering where he was now? Was he with Kim? Working late? Poring over artifacts in the hopes he could cure them and save the world? Stupid, foolish man.
“You’re hot,” the man said. “Seriously hot.”
“It’s hot outside.” She stared at him.
He laughed. “Fine. Right. You’re gorgeous.”
She smiled. “That is a compliment. Thank you.”
The music pulsed and the strands of brightly colored lights, weaved back and forth over the courtyard, swayed in time. She closed her eyes, giving in to the rhythm and the need to move. Today had been a test. The airplane, no shifting, the lab, and now this. People. Bras. Dancing. And a strange man’s hands on her body. Strong hands, sliding along her back.
The scrap of material that made up Olivia’s dress choice left little to the imagination. She’d been shy of her scars, but no longer cared. He clearly didn’t mind. No, the pure appreciation on his face made her smile.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Ellen. You?”
“Dave.” His eyes slid down her neck to her breasts. Breasts that looked undeniably perky in the black lace bra Olivia had insisted she buy. “Damn,” he ground out.
She shook her head. From his scent, he wanted to take her to bed. And while the drinks and music had taken the edge off her temper, she knew better than to think this Dave could ever satisfy her. Not that her wolf would give him the chance. She was pushing to get out, to scare poor Dave far, far away.
But she wasn’t going to be ruled by her wolf tonight. Or her sad attachment to a man who didn’t want them. Dave wanted her. The lust in his eyes was promising and exhilarating. There was no reason she couldn’t enjoy his company a little while longer.
Chapter Thirteen
Hollis rolled the shirtsleeves of his white oxford to his elbows. He was tired. And pissed. He’d expected to eat at the hotel and work things out with Ellen. They needed to talk, to be rational, and to not let their emotions get in the way.