of visitation.”
“You can spout laws all day, Keen”—Ty’s glared hardened—“but she’s not coming into this house. Hell, I don’t want her in Grayslake.”
Keen raised his eyebrows. “Not coming in? Amazingly enough, she is. Laws of visitation with a dash of occupation. It boils down to the fact that she can visit the territory and she can safely stay with anyone who grants her shelter. Since I live here, I’m granting it. Step aside, Ty.” Focusing on his older brother, he placed his foot on the bottom step and then rose to the second. Ty didn’t look like he was gonna budge. “Move. Aside.”
Finally, Mia spoke. “Ty,” she whispered. “You know he’s probably right.”
Keen almost snorted. Probably right? There was no question. He’d happily flip through the books in his office, his ex-office, and point out his justification for Trista’s presence.
Ty breathed deeply and then froze as a ripple, a gradual wave, overtook his skin. Brown fur quickly followed in its wake, coating his brother’s arms and neck. It snaked higher, slithering until his cheeks were equally covered. “I know that scent, Keen.”
“I’m sure you do. You met a lot of hyenas that day.”
That day. The day Ty waded into Boyne Falls and with the help of the wolves, rid the town of their infestation. Rid the area of shifters like Trista. He had no doubt there were many who deserved to die at the time, but what about women like Trista? What about them?
His brother shook his head. “No, it’s more than that. It’s—”
Mia placed a hand on Ty’s arm, cutting his brother off. The Itana’s attention was entirely on Trista and Keen refocused on the woman at his side. She tried to put on a brave front, but even he saw the stark whiteness of her face. It was then he sensed the trembles that traveled from her hands to his and her whole body seemed to buzz with suppressed fear. Cold. Hard. Fear.
She’d been more pissed than afraid of Keen, but she quivered beneath the strength of Ty’s glare.
Unacceptable.
He opened his mouth to blast his brother, but Mia beat him to it.
“Ty, she’s coming inside.”
His brother flung his arm out, gesturing toward Trista. “She smells familiar, Mia. And there’s something else. She’s—”
“She’s part hyena and from Boyne Falls. I’d be surprised if she didn’t. Now, she’s coming inside. Right this second.” Mia looked at Keen. “Do you want her in the guestroom that connects to yours?”
That had Trista freezing, but he didn’t take a moment to ask her why. He knew she didn’t trust him and he hadn’t given her reason to. But he had sanctuary within his grasp and he wasn’t going to squander the opportunity.
“Yes. That room is perfect.”
Mia flashed him a smile, wide and with a hint of happiness. “Good.” She removed her hand from Ty and turned toward the front door. “Come on in, then.”
Ignoring his brother’s glare, he tugged Trista up the steps. He made sure his body remained between the woman at his side and Ty as they passed. A low, rumbling growl came from Ty, quickly followed by renewed tremors from Trista. Keen curled his lip and exposed a rapidly lengthening fang.
He would take on Ty for Trista. Take him on and win.
He didn’t realize he’d stopped until Trista tugged on their joined hands, urging him to continue moving forward. He fought to keep his gaze intent on Ty’s, but eventually he was forced to look away, to follow the woman into the clan den.
They moved down familiar hallways, delving deeper into the house until they came to a stop near Keen’s suite.
When they reached the two doorways, Mia turned back to them. Her hand continued to stroke her large belly, palm gliding over her roundness in what he assumed was a soothing motion. The larger she got, the more often he found her rubbing her stomach.
“Here you are, then.” Her smile was a little more forced, but still held a hint of welcome. “I’ll just get Trista
“You can spout laws all day, Keen”—Ty’s glared hardened—“but she’s not coming into this house. Hell, I don’t want her in Grayslake.”
Keen raised his eyebrows. “Not coming in? Amazingly enough, she is. Laws of visitation with a dash of occupation. It boils down to the fact that she can visit the territory and she can safely stay with anyone who grants her shelter. Since I live here, I’m granting it. Step aside, Ty.” Focusing on his older brother, he placed his foot on the bottom step and then rose to the second. Ty didn’t look like he was gonna budge. “Move. Aside.”
Finally, Mia spoke. “Ty,” she whispered. “You know he’s probably right.”
Keen almost snorted. Probably right? There was no question. He’d happily flip through the books in his office, his ex-office, and point out his justification for Trista’s presence.
Ty breathed deeply and then froze as a ripple, a gradual wave, overtook his skin. Brown fur quickly followed in its wake, coating his brother’s arms and neck. It snaked higher, slithering until his cheeks were equally covered. “I know that scent, Keen.”
“I’m sure you do. You met a lot of hyenas that day.”
That day. The day Ty waded into Boyne Falls and with the help of the wolves, rid the town of their infestation. Rid the area of shifters like Trista. He had no doubt there were many who deserved to die at the time, but what about women like Trista? What about them?
His brother shook his head. “No, it’s more than that. It’s—”
Mia placed a hand on Ty’s arm, cutting his brother off. The Itana’s attention was entirely on Trista and Keen refocused on the woman at his side. She tried to put on a brave front, but even he saw the stark whiteness of her face. It was then he sensed the trembles that traveled from her hands to his and her whole body seemed to buzz with suppressed fear. Cold. Hard. Fear.
She’d been more pissed than afraid of Keen, but she quivered beneath the strength of Ty’s glare.
Unacceptable.
He opened his mouth to blast his brother, but Mia beat him to it.
“Ty, she’s coming inside.”
His brother flung his arm out, gesturing toward Trista. “She smells familiar, Mia. And there’s something else. She’s—”
“She’s part hyena and from Boyne Falls. I’d be surprised if she didn’t. Now, she’s coming inside. Right this second.” Mia looked at Keen. “Do you want her in the guestroom that connects to yours?”
That had Trista freezing, but he didn’t take a moment to ask her why. He knew she didn’t trust him and he hadn’t given her reason to. But he had sanctuary within his grasp and he wasn’t going to squander the opportunity.
“Yes. That room is perfect.”
Mia flashed him a smile, wide and with a hint of happiness. “Good.” She removed her hand from Ty and turned toward the front door. “Come on in, then.”
Ignoring his brother’s glare, he tugged Trista up the steps. He made sure his body remained between the woman at his side and Ty as they passed. A low, rumbling growl came from Ty, quickly followed by renewed tremors from Trista. Keen curled his lip and exposed a rapidly lengthening fang.
He would take on Ty for Trista. Take him on and win.
He didn’t realize he’d stopped until Trista tugged on their joined hands, urging him to continue moving forward. He fought to keep his gaze intent on Ty’s, but eventually he was forced to look away, to follow the woman into the clan den.
They moved down familiar hallways, delving deeper into the house until they came to a stop near Keen’s suite.
When they reached the two doorways, Mia turned back to them. Her hand continued to stroke her large belly, palm gliding over her roundness in what he assumed was a soothing motion. The larger she got, the more often he found her rubbing her stomach.
“Here you are, then.” Her smile was a little more forced, but still held a hint of welcome. “I’ll just get Trista
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