Shawn would always be a concern. How couldn’t he be? He was human. And he would never be a part of the Triad bond. He would always be out in the cold. Even though she was mad at him, she couldn’t deny that the link between them was as strong as her link with the Triad. It made no sense. But it was the truth. Nonetheless. And the last thing she wanted was for him to feel isolated.
Ryan held out hand. “Come on, I have no desire to do it, but I guess I’d better introduce you to the Pride. I’ll get nothing but shit tomorrow if I don’t.”
She snorted. “With an offer like that, how could a girl refuse?”
He rolled his eyes. “You’ll understand shortly.”
“You forget, I’m my father’s daughter. Worse than that, I’m my grandfather’s granddaughter. I understand the need for introductions to the right people.”
He looked at her second, and shook his head. “You’re too cute, you know that?”
She frowned and shot him a puzzled smile. “Where did that come from?”
His eyes were loaded with warmth, a warmth that seemed to shoot through her body and heated her up from the inside out. She wasn’t sure if that was to do with his powers because there were no weird gold wavy lines shooting from them like something from a Marvel movie, or if it was just the love that he felt for her... Either way, it worked.
“It’s just, you really don’t see it, do you? You really don’t see that, in your own right, you’re more powerful than your father. Almost as powerful as your grandfather. If anything, if anyone could replace him, it’s you. He gave you that power.”
His words filled her with unease. She wasn’t stupid, but that didn’t mean she wanted to accept the truth of what he was saying. If anything, it was the last thing she wanted to hear. Her grandfather had gifted her prestige and power of the family mantle, sure. But El had always wanted a quiet life. He’d known that, and had ignored her wishes anyway because she was the only one he’d felt he could trust.
“If Grandfather knew what was happening now... Then he’d go ape shit. This wouldn’t exactly be his idea of respectability.”
“We’d just have to tell him the whole truth.”
“Can we tell my parents?”
He shook his head. “We might not have to.”
Before she could pounce on that strange phrasing, someone shouted his name. His head whipped around and he pinpointed the person who had called his name within a handful of seconds.
“Who is it?”
He grimaced. “Somebody I should introduce you to.” He huffed out an impatient and exasperated breath. “Come on, let’s get this shit over with.”
Words to make love to, El thought with a smirk as he grabbed her hand and dragged her deeper into the crowd.
The second Ryan and El left the dais, Trip and Marc realized that was the moment to join them. Trip grabbed Shawn's arm, and as a threesome, they headed through the dozens of people in the crowd to reach their Triad brother and mate's side.
"Is it just me or is the crowd thicker than usual?" he asked Marc.
Marc shrugged. "I don't think so. The news might have spread about El and everyone is bound to be interested. Although, Ryan will be happy. Leilani had to cut and run. Not sure why."
Shawn pulled on Trip’s grasp on his arm. "Is this the official meet and greet?"
Trip grimaced. "It shouldn't be. There should be a larger ceremony. But because Ryan is so… well, antisocial, they realize that this is the best chance they'll have to meet her."
Marc turned to shoot Shawn a look. "They also know that if they meet her here, they will probably be able to speak to her. At a proper, official ceremony they wouldn’t have a cat in hell’s chance of actually talking to her."
"She's a big deal then, huh?"
Trip snorted. "She's their first lady, man. What do you think?"
Shawn wriggled his shoulders as he slipped through the crowd. He noticed that he was gaining a lot of attention, and knew that was because he hadn't been introduced either. Not that he was offended by that. Not when El, the so-called first lady, hadn't been introduced at all yet…
Ryan certainly was an unusual kind of leader. One totally uninterested by the regular politics of leadership. Shawn had to admit that made him like the man more.
In fact, he was surprised by how well he liked all three men who had barged into El's life. Men who he should have loathed on principle, were actually decent guys. He supposed that was fortunate, considering he’d be spending the rest of his natural with them. Whether he liked it or not.
The thought was a prompt.
He really needed talk to El.
He really needed her to forgive him, now.
Their connection was different to the one she shared with the Triad, and so, would need tending. That didn't happen if they were in separate sides of the house, and she was too busy hurting over something he couldn't change, something he actually regretted anyway, to talk to him. To let him explain.
The party was the last place he wanted to be. If anything, he was feeling low rather than festive. The ceremony had been interesting, and he had learned about the Triad bond, which was useful but now the schmoozing was on, he just wanted to go back to the lodge.
The next three hours, he watched as Ryan introduced El to some of the Pride's most important members. At least, he assumed they were.
In human society, the important people wore expensive clothes, had priceless accessories, and exuded wealth from their pores. Young or old, they all shared those three traits. Designer togs, gold and priceless gems dripping from their fingertips and for the men, watches that were worth the price of a house, and personalized perfumes and aftershaves that spoke of a person's affluence.
Here, though he shouldn't have been surprised, it was completely different. There were many different colors of toga in the mash up of people. He'd thought that was a creative choice. Then he realized the color denoted a level within the Pride. Of course, he didn't know what the colors represented, he just knew that if a woman wore yellow, she near as dammit curtsied when Ryan introduced her to El. But if the woman's toga was purple, she merely bowed her head. Of course, that didn't help with understanding where the men were in the power ranks—save for the new Triad brothers, they all wore loose linen pants. Unless they were with a woman as well, there was no figuring out their rank at all.
Some of the men kneeled at El's feet, others bowed at the waist, a few just ducked their heads.
There was a whole power battle going on, and because he was on the sidelines, Shawn saw it. Making note that a guy called Jared was particularly disrespectful to Ryan, he knew he'd be asking the others later what that was about. And not just because it could affect El's safety, but because it affected them all as a whole.
He couldn't deny that he was starting to feel the bond between the five of them.
He also couldn't deny that it made no sense, but it didn't stop the sense of kinship that was developing between the men.
It certainly wasn't developing between him and El though; the last thing he felt for El was kinship.
Almost snickering at the thought, Shawn backed off from the introductions, well aware that Ryan wasn't explaining Shawn's presence. Again, he wasn't offended. Something of this nature was bound to be delicate, and as he watched El and Ryan work the crowd he realized just how delicate.
The party had shifted away from the dais. The platform, only three steps high, was located in front of the lodge’s pool and was sheltered by a gazebo-style roof.
Though he knew he could return to the lodge itself, head to the kitchen and find a nice bottle of Johnny Walker, instead he headed for the platform and slumped onto the chaise longue. He didn't want to be a complete party pooper. He just wasn't feeling the vibe. And from this vantage point, he could oversee things and make sure El was all right.
The lodge overlooked a large expanse of backyard. So large there were several rises and hillocks. In between these craggy increments, there was a flat plane of la
nd. The last couple of days, he'd watched as workmen laid out decking on that land, upon which everybody was congregated now. Powerlines ran overhead, and even though the moon was shining brightly, the illumination was augmented by what seemed like thousands of strings of fairy lights.
If you were into that kind of thing, it was actually a pretty scene. Like something from a movie.
Especially when all the women in togas and the men in simple linen pants were taken into consideration. Throw in some flower necklaces and they could have been in Hawaii.
"Aloha," he said to himself with a low chuckle.
Crossing his feet at the ankle, he settled back into the chaise and people watched. It was, after all, what he did best.
The had to be over six hundred people here tonight, and he had to question why these guys had shown up when others hadn't. He classed the yellow toga-sporting ladies as being at the bottom of the ladder, but maybe there was a whole other ladder beneath that level too.
Pride politics looked complicated.
Rubbing his chin, he figured that was likely. The people here tonight were undoubtedly the Pride elite. He’d just miscalculated, that was all.
"Mind if I join you?"
Shawn jolted to attention, pissed at himself for failing to recognize someone's approach. He scowled into the semidarkness and recognized a yellow toga. "I'm not sure if that's appropriate."
The low chuckle had him scowling. "Appropriate? This has to be your first Triad party."
He scowled again, disliking the surety in the woman's voice. Rather than step away, she approached, and he recognized one of the women Ryan had introduced El to earlier.
"Marisa, I'm really not in the mood to talk." He knew he was being rude, but he spoke the truth. The last thing he wanted was to flirt with another woman. Firstly, because he wasn't interested. Secondly, because if El realized, she'd make his life hell. And she'd already done a pretty good job of that this week.
He really didn't need to stay in her bad books.
"It's probably a good job then that I don't want to talk.”
He sighed. "Cut the euphemisms. I'm not interested."
Another soft chuckle. He grunted at the sound, wishing he could tell her to back the fuck off, but also realizing from his recent musings that the woman was actually quite important within the Pride’s elite. While he would like to think that she wasn't his problem, anything or anyone that was an issue for El or the Triad was an issue for him.
"Everyone is wondering what it is exactly you're here for?" the woman, Marisa, murmured softly. As she spoke, she slithered forward. Her soft slippers whispering silently against the wooden decking as she carried on moving closer to him.
"As far as you’re aware, I’m here with your leader and his Triad, so do you really think it's wise to continue like this?"
"So secretive," she whispered in what Shawn imagined was supposed to be a seductive tone. Her voice had dropped an octave, and at any other time of his life, he would have undoubtedly found the husky tone appealing. But he was El’s now, and she was his. It didn't matter that he couldn't do the whole gold line, crazy beams flaring from his goddamn eyes shit, she was his.
He'd gone past the point of waiting for her. Having believed that there was no hope in even doing that. Though she believed her father was completely uninterested in her, Shawn knew differently. The man was overprotective. And after Marc’s suppositions, he was starting to wonder if there was a reason for that.
Like Joseph had to appear uninterested for Annabel's benefit.
It was something that had been bugging him all day. Jeez, before then. Ever since they'd visited the house and Joseph had given Shawn the third degree.
There was definitely a reason for the strange behavior Joseph engaged in where El was concerned.
Rubbing his chin, contemplating more of El’s past than her present, he was brought back to earth with a bang when Marisa placed her hand on his knee. Gritting out, "What the fuck do think you're doing?" he demanded as he waited for a reply, but he could sense that he'd surprised her.
Either she wasn't used to rejection, or she'd never figured he'd reject her.
One thing he'd learned about the Pride already… they were a bunch of elitist assholes. All of them believing they were better than humans.
Shit, maybe they were. He sure as fuck couldn't turn into a lion at will. And again, he couldn't do the whole Geordie-Star Trek-with his eyes thing, but he was a damn good foot soldier. Had been an even better lieutenant. And was a fine bodyguard.
"There's no need to be so rude," Marisa spat, bristling and finally taking a step back.
"There's every reason," came a voice from the shadows. One that had him stiffening in response. "When a man says no, that no is as strong as if a woman said it."
Recognizing the edge to El's tone, Shawn sat up a little. "It's okay, El. Everything is in hand."
"No. Everything isn't okay."
Marisa jeered, "Do you really need the First Lady to protect you?"
"Don't even go there, bitch." El let out a hiss that would have done any house cat proud.
Shawn thought of the times his grandmother's cat had been pissed off by her dog. When the small tabby's back arched, she'd let out a hiss worthy of a cobra and her fur had stood on edge. The pup, no idiot, had known to back off for its own sake.
Marisa didn't seem to realize she wasn't the cat in this situation.
“Excuse me?" Marisa demanded, not showing any of the deference she'd displayed earlier in front of Ryan—undoubtedly because El was human. "How dare you talk to me like that!"
"Oh, I dare," El said with a sneer.
"Look, just because you're the First Lady doesn't mean all the single men belong to you. If anything, it means the opposite. You have three!"
Marisa's snarl had El growling. But it was like no other growl Shawn had ever heard. At least not from a human. It triggered every single one of his flight or fight responses. The electrical charges sparking through the air had him on an edge he’d only ever experienced during a firefight.
Had he been in the jungle, he'd have been certain he was being preyed upon by a predator more dangerous than he. That growl was like nothing he’d ever heard before, and he wasn't the only one affected by it either.
Marisa had tensed up. Finally, seeming to register El’s mood wasn't one to be messed with, she held up a hand in surrender. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."
"You do more than intrude. He’s mine," El spat.
The platform was away from the flat ground where the majority of the crowd had gathered and was mingling. The moon provided illumination, but El approached from the shadows, and it was only when she was a few feet from him that he actually saw her. And when he did, he had to blink a few times. The El standing there was not the El he knew.
Her russet-colored hair which, earlier had draped over her shoulders, now seemed to be glowing. Maybe that was a flight of fancy. It could have just been the moon shining down on her, turning the auburn a gold, bronze color. But the moon wasn't responsible for her eyes. He'd only seen something like that recently. When Ryan had pulled his magic trick.
Gold bled through her irises in a way that had Marisa gasping for breath. First, he thought it was surprise. That the Pride female was stunned by what she was seeing, however, he quickly realized that El was doing something to her. Before he could do little else than gape in surprise, Marisa was falling to her knees. The dull thud of her bones against the decking had him cringing.
Frozen in place, he had no idea what to do next. El had never done anything like this before, it certainly wasn't like he'd forget something of this fucking nature. Then he realized, she’d frozen him in place.
That was why he couldn’t move. Not because he was scared, but because she was controlling his fucking body.
The thought was enough to have him bite out, "El. Release me!"
The bite to his tone had El flinching. The gold in her irises immediately dispersed, shrin
king away as though it had never been. In response, Marisa let out a deep gasp. It was like it was the first time she'd been able to breathe properly since El's arrival.
"Get out of here, Marisa."
The female didn’t swagger at his words. Instead, his command had her leaping to her feet and scurrying off into the darkness. He scanned the horizon and saw her return to the fold.
He wasn't sure if she would gossip about what had just happened, figuring she’d be too embarrassed. As far as the crowd knew, after all, El was human.
But what had just happened was beyond inhuman.
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
Chapter 15
When a female grabbed his arm, Trip carefully removed the hand from his bicep. The truth was, now he had El, another female’s touch was repulsive to him. A fact that Marisa should have known, he thought irritably, when he turned around and saw who the arm belonged to.
Marisa, the daughter of a councilmember, had been an irritation to them all at some point. Marc, especially. As the eldest, and the male who had lived alone for longest, he’d been the most susceptible to her feminine charms.
Though Marisa knew she wasn't his mate, nor the Triad's, it hadn't stopped her from trying to wheedle her way into their bond. The power play had done nothing but agitate him and Ryan, but Marc, who was definitely more responsive to her, usually listened when his Triad brothers would have ignored the annoying cat.
"What do you want, Marisa?" When she tried to reach for his arm again, he immediately backed off, ripping free from her hold lest she rubbed her scent on him.
Females were to be respected, and cared for, at all times. Males were dominant in Pride society, but that didn't mean they treated their females like lesser beings.
At times, Trip knew, certain females used that to their own advantage. Marisa was one such female. And it irritated the hell out of him that she got away with it constantly because of her position and her father's position on the council.
Finding Luna: A Lion Shifter Reverse Harem Romance (PRIDE Book 1) Page 22