Warrior Fae Trapped (Warrior Fae 1)

“I want to work out a deal,” Devon said, ignoring her comment. “I hate cooking. I figured I’d buy groceries if you cooked.”

That offer was too generous, especially now that she knew about the phone and computer. She was beyond grateful, but she was already at Code Red in the burden department. She didn’t want to put him out any more, not when he was perfectly fine with takeout and his current setup. Roger would definitely be open to an advance. He had to be.

“With school, sometimes I don’t have time to cook,” she lied, trying to find a polite way out of this. “I don’t know that I could hold up my end of the bargain.”

“Just make sure we have freezer stuff, then,” he replied.

“And then there’s the issue that you might not like what I make.”

“I’m not picky. I ate a mushroom the other day, remember?”

“Right…” She stirred the pot of oatmeal, which didn’t need nearly as much attention as she was giving it. “But I would have no way to get all the groceries.”

Devon shifted his stance, his patience drying up. “I’ll drive you, obviously.”

“It’s just…” Charity lowered her voice. “It’s not really fair if you help shop, buy, and don’t even get all your meals cooked. It’s kind of to my benefit, you know? I can’t accept that.”

Yasmine huffed in disdain. Charity’s face flared hot with embarrassment.

Devon didn’t notice. He leaned into her space, imposing upon her with his size and the power and energy coiled within him. She could feel his wolf begging to get out, flirting with her. Coaxing her.

“Stop making this complicated,” he growled, a command that shocked into her body. He was trying to quell her defiance by dominating her, like the alpha he was.

Fire licked up Charity’s middle. The unruly thing within her bloomed heat.

His nostrils flared and his eyes sparked. Electricity crackled between them. His eyes traveled her face before settling on her lips. She could almost feel them tingle.

“Will you do it or not?” His deep, rough voice coated her skin. “And stop trying to challenge me, Charity, or I’m going to answer.”

Macy’s face went slack. Then pale. Charity barely noticed.

That sweet inferno surged inside her, feeling the call of Devon’s magic. The heat boiled higher, filling her. Excited tingles prickled her flesh. She felt wild. Reckless. Damn good.

His wolf might want out—but her unnamable power wanted out, too.

She grinned. “Sure. To the groceries.”

He bristled, and his power flirted with her senses, strong and heady. His stare burned into her, his wolf scrabbling for a foothold again. The sensation fanned her fire to impossible heights. Her palm itched for a sword.

He shook his head slowly. “Knock it off, Charity. I’m serious.”

Excitement swam in his gaze, negating his words. Something deep and hot pounded in her body, begging for fulfillment.

“See? This is why she should be removed,” Yasmine said, cutting through the moment. “She doesn’t follow orders.”

“She’s not pack. She has an excuse to defy his orders. You, on the other hand…” Macy muttered.

As if a ruler, bent too far, suddenly snapped, Devon whirled toward the hall, power rolling from him. He pinned Yasmine with the stare he’d just shown Charity. The scowl dripped off her face and she took a step back.

“You need to learn when to speak, and when to remain silent,” he said.

“Yes, alpha.”

He glanced at Macy. “I’ll speak to you in a while.”

“Yes, sir,” Macy said, back to looking at her hands.

Charity itched her chest as the indescribable euphoria dwindled away. “Well. That was exciting.” She turned back to the oatmeal, not able to keep the smile from her face.

“Have you lost your mind?” Macy asked quietly. “You don’t challenge him. You just don’t. One day he might lose control of his wolf. His wild side will be forced to subdue you.”

A thrill arrested Charity. Her body tightened up, most notably in the feminine areas. She blinked at Macy.

“Exactly,” Macy said, swiveling her head to watch Yasmine follow Devon out.

Macy had misinterpreted Charity’s look, thankfully. Charity wasn’t afraid of Devon trying to subdue her.

She was afraid of her excited reaction to the thought that he might try.Chapter Twenty-EightLater that evening, Devon pulled into the supermarket parking lot with Charity fidgeting in the seat next to him. They hadn’t spoken since breakfast, and frankly, he’d been glad for it. She was a distraction he hadn’t needed today. Two more people had been reported missing, an elderly woman and a teen. Devon had no illusions about what had happened—they were food for a newbie that had lost control and drained its blood source dry. A higher-level vamp had probably disposed of the body. A newbie wouldn’t have had the presence of mind to do it.

The first newbie they’d taken out had been reported missing, too. It was only a matter of time before the others were reported missing. Devon needed to pin down the rest of those creatures before anyone else paid the price, and before the MLE office was contacted to work with the Brink police on the missing persons. Roger was counting on him.