Dead After Dark by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love, J. R. Ward, Susan Squires Page B

moment, he thought he was still trapped in human form. But as he blinked his eyes open, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was a wolf and he was home.
    He rubbed his snout against the lilac-scented sheets. Bride always sprayed them with her spring water stuff whenever she made the bed. Normally he hated the smell. But today it was heaven.
    “How you feeling?”
    He lifted his head to find Vane propped against the wall, watching him. Flashing into human form, he was grateful Vane had put him under the covers. “I’m okay.”
    “You look like shit.”
    “Yeah, well, I wouldn’t date you either, asshole.”
    Vane gave a short laugh. “You must be feeling better. You’re back to you usual surliness. And speaking of surly, Zarek was here. He wants to talk to you when you’re up and about.”
    Why would an ex–Dark-Hunter-turned-god want to talk to him? “What does he want?”
    “He filled me in on what’s been happening at Sanctuary. They cancelled their celebration and have the whole place locked down until they get to the bottom of this new attack. No one can come or go.”
    “Good. Where’s Angelia?”
    “She’s in the nursery and refuses to come out. I think she’s hoping her patria can track her here and release her from us animals.”
    Fury snorted at the idea. “Nah, she’s probably plotting my dismemberment.” Sitting up, he took a breath before he stood and went to pull his clothes out of the chest of drawers.
    “You know I can dress you.”
    Fury scoffed at his brother’s offer. “I don’t need your help.”
    “Then on that note, I’m going downstairs to eat dinner.”
    Fury’s ears perked up at that. “What did Bride make?”
    “Leftover turkey and ham.”
    “Mashed potatoes?”
    “Of course. She knows how much you love them.”
    That made his stomach rumble greedily. Fury debated on whether he should eat or see Angelia.
    He was really hungry . . .
    But . . .
    “Save me some.”
    Vane inclined his head to him. “Wouldn’t think otherwise. Oh, and Fang has been dying to know if Aimee got his note.”
    He pulled on his pants. “I gave it to Sasha to hand to her. So I assume she has it by now unless Dare happened to eat Sasha before he could complete his mission.”
    “Doubtful. Z would have been a lot surlier had that happened. I’ll let him know.” Vane exited the room.
    Fury finished dressing, then left to see Angelia. He knocked on the door before he pushed it open to find her sittingin the rocker with her back against the wall. She jerked up as if she’d been napping.
    Damn, she was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen. Especially the way her lips were swollen from sleep.
    She almost smiled until her face froze as if she remembered that she wasn’t supposed to be nice to him. “What do you want?”
    “I wanted to make sure you were all right.”
    She tightened her grip on the chair’s arms. “No, I’m not all right. I’m stuck here with animals whom we both know I hate. How can I be all right with that?”
    He gave her a droll stare. “Yeah, well, no one’s beating on you. From where I stand that looks pretty damn good.”
    Angelia looked away from that gimlet stare of his and tried not to focus on how handsome he was. On how beautiful those turquoise eyes could be . . .
    But the longer he stood there, the harder it was to remember he was nothing but an animal just like the ones who’d threatened her downstairs.
    He stepped into the room.
    She shot to her feet to keep distance between them. “Stay away.”
    “I’m not going to hurt . . .” His voice trailed off as his eyes dilated dangerously.
    Angelia swallowed as she recognized her worst fear had manifested.
    He’d caught her scent. Terrified, she backed into the wall and prepared to fight him until one of them was dead.
    Fury couldn’t move as raw lust burned through him. His body instantly hard, it was all he could do not to attack her. No wonder she’d blockaded herself in this room. “You’re in