Shifter's Lady by Alyssa Day Page A

the phone.
    She stood there, wanting nothing more than to slap his egotistical, superior face.
    Wanting nothing more than to kiss his egotistical, superior face.
    She did neither but simply turned to retrieve her bag as ordered, accepting the truth behind his words. There was certainly something between them that needed to be explored.
    If she had the courage to do so.

EIGHT
    Ethan led Marie through the throng of silent, wary shape-shifters clustered around the entryway to his headquarters and home. He nodded to William, his second-in-command. “My office in ten minutes. Try to reach Kat. Her cell was turned off when I tried. If it’s still off, track her down.”
    Marie lifted her head, the strain of the afternoon evident in her pale and drawn face. “She’s with her…boss, if that helps, planning a meeting for tomorrow.”
    William nodded and headed toward the back of the mansion and Ethan’s office, opening his phone as he went. Ethan stopped, realizing the necessity of introductions and some sort of explanation. He put his arm around Marie’s shoulders and scanned the group of his pride members who stared at her; some hostile, some neutral. All curious.
    â€œThis is Marie, Bastien’s sister from Atlantis. She came for a visit and is having the worst damn vacation on record,” he said bluntly. “I’m sure William has told you that Fallon’s pride brother, Travis, called alpha challenge upon me.”
    He looked around, meeting each gaze, noting and appreciating the anger and loyalty on every face. “We need to return her to Atlantis until I take care of this little problem,” he continued. “In the meantime, I charge every one of you to protect her as if she were your own litter sister.”
    A few gasps met his words and more than a few speculative glances were cast Marie’s way. But nobody even thought about arguing with him. Gregory, one of his fiercest pride-brothers, stepped forward. “I will guard her with my life, Ethan,” he vowed, dropping to one knee before his alpha and bending his head to bare his neck. “For the honor of the Cypress pride.”
    Every panther there echoed the call. “For the honor of the Cypress pride!”
    Marie stared around at them, eyes widened and lips parted slightly. She tilted her head to look into his face, and the floorshifted underneath him when his gaze met hers. The echo of passion from her kisses resonated through his body so hard and fast it was like a body blow. Only the presence of half of his pride prevented him from throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her to his bedroom to continue what they’d started on Kat’s couch.
    He took her hand and headed down the hall toward his guest suite, then changed his mind and veered off to the left toward the master suite. “Now I’m a damn caveman,” he muttered. “Next I’ll shift into some kind of saber-toothed tiger.”
    He realized Marie was almost running to keep pace with his long strides, so he slowed but did not release her hand.
    â€œWhat did you say?” she asked.
    â€œNothing important. This is it. You can stay here until we can reach Alaric to come get you,” he said, flinging open the doors to his rooms.
    She followed him into the room, then stopped. “It’s very…elegant,” she finally said.
    He laughed. “Smooth and diplomatic, I’ll give you that. It’s a damn bare room.”
    He looked around, trying to see the room through her eyes. Devoid of furniture except for a bed covered by a plain blanket, the space was huge and barren.
    â€œWhy does the prince of cats lead such a stark existence, I wonder,” she murmured, but she wasn’t mocking him. She’d spoken with concern and warmth in her tone. Two emotions he’d never expected to find in his bedroom.
    He’d found lust there. He’d found callous indifference, spite,