No, he thought. She wasn’t. Her brother was for not guarding her closely enough.
“How did you know about the tunnels?”
“You know about the tunnels?” Her eyes were wide, worried.
“Yes.” He left it at that, not wanting her to know his knowledge was only hours old.
“My mother knew about them. It was in her diaries.”
“So, your brother knows?”
She shook her head. “No, I never told him.”
“Why not? Why use them to get into the castle?”
She licked her lips. “I think you better go.”
His gaze narrowed. “Georgina—”
“Gigi,” she said quickly. “I only get called Georgina when I’m in trouble.”
“Hate to tell you, sweetheart, but you are in trouble.” He liked the nickname. It suited her better.
“With you?”
“With all of my brothers. Come here, Gigi.”
She shook her head.
The predator inside him stirred at her refusal.
Mine.
He stilled for a moment, shocked at the sound in his head. That wasn’t him. The bear? But the beast didn’t talk. He’d never heard him before. Maybe he was just getting an impression of a thought. He knew the beast wasn’t a mindless thing. That, in bear form, they retained themselves. The only thing that changed was their physical appearance. Although, for a moment he’d worried that Sawyer had no idea who they were. That first change was something he both looked forward to and dreaded.
“You trespassed. Illegally entered our house—”
“I’d hardly call it a house,” she interrupted.
He gave her a firm look. “And stole our property.”
“What do you mean?”
“You
ate our food. Don’t think that I didn’t notice one of my Twinkies was missing.”
“Your brother gave it to me!”
He frowned slightly. “Who?”
“Joe.”
“He did? Hmm, I’ll have to have words with him. No one gives my Twinkies away. Not without compensation.”
“So that’s what you’re here for? Compensation for a Twinkie? To punish me for breaking into your castle?”
“I’m not really into doling out punishment, that’s more Sawyer’s thing. Although, I don’t mind a bit of slap and tickle for foreplay.”