Changeling Winds: Episode Two (The Bachelor Battles Book 2) by Angela White Page B

clear in his reaction, and I wanted to offer my assurance, but I couldn't. Hearing them and their carefully controlled tones was an amazing agony to be battled. Their voices raised in emotion were only to be survived and I remained frozen as each word sank into my lust and spun it harder.
    “You think we should?”
    On my right, sweet, dark skin close enough to grab. Fire .
    “It's against the rules!” their leader snapped sharply.
    My grip tightened on the fork. Such anger!
    “You don't want one of the others in here do you? At least we know we’re safe with this one.”
    Overlooked had a sarcastic ring to his voice that instantly brought him up to tie with the blond for the top of my list. He was no cringing male.
    “You only know what we’ve all read in the files! Being a Pruett doesn’t mean anything!” the leader again, hissed fury pelting me with white hot gravel that stuck to my skin and burned! I'd been wrong about there being no spark in them. They were as full of rage as I was.
    “See,” Overlooked pointed out.
    There was a brief silence with their attention solely on me. I held very still...
    “Maybe.”
    “She should have snapped already!” A snort of scorn from Overlooked and a waved hand that swirled their scents - that delicious burnt chocolate - into my brain, where it began searing me alive.
    An angry shrug came from their leader “Maybe she just doesn't want us very much!”
    My head jerked up at that, flames in my solid red orbs. The fork in my grip snapped, digging into my palm…
    They all cringed back and because of it, I managed the impossible. I stayed in my seat.
    The fork clattered loudly, pieces sliding along the china. Breathing harshly, I lowered my head and concentrated on the slow drip of my blood. After a moment, the conversation, the torment, resumed.
    “None of the others we've seen have that kind of control. And we agreed she’s the one,” Overlooked insisted quietly.
    I wondered about that, but didn't ask, very aware of my last minutes with them flying by.
    “We want a new vote.”
    “You’ve seen the matches! She's brutal!”
    “It's just the Change.”
    “Exactly - a constant danger! We’d never survive the trip.”
    “It’s not dangerous to a true mate.”
    Overlooked sounded like he was familiar with it and I let my hot gaze rise to his clean-shaven face. “You know how it works?”
    He shook his dark head, beautiful gray gaze almost glowing with something I identified as hope.
    “Not really, but… I've heard that there’s a bond, that it's impossible for a mate to be hurt, even in a rage, after it forms.”
    I'd heard the same from Candice, but like the other bachelors, I wasn't sure I believed it. “Precautions should still be taken.”
    He shrugged in obedience and the movement sent that powerful scent over the table. Mmm … He was the one layered in that intoxicating scent and I was betting it was natural. He didn’t seem the type to spend time primping before a mirror. There were too many calluses on his big hands for that, too many tan lines that said unlike the others, he didn’t always stay inside the dome. That was something he had to be doing without the Network’s approval. Males were never alone outside. Because of that, I might have suspected he had a lover but he wasn’t registered.
    His eyes met mine with a deliberate gleam that there was no way to miss and my guts churned harder. He wanted me to notice him, remember him. His scent washed over me again and I found myself bringing it into my lungs like I’d been denied air for a very long time. As I smothered a groan at the flames, I snorted mentally. No problems there. I wasn’t likely to forget a smell that made me feel out of control. It wasn’t something I’d ever encountered before.
    Overlooked wasn’t shying from my gaze, and I held his stare as the heat sparked. “Are you registered?”
    He still didn’t look away. “No.”
    I realized we were having a conversation in