Mira followed Josh down the hallway to find chaos had taken over the bar. Humans scrambled to get out of the way of the two huge males fighting in the middle of the dance floor. Both remained in their human forms, but Kade’s softly glowing eyes betrayed how close he was to losing it.
She rushed forward.
Josh grabbed her. With his hands on her hips, he lifted her and dropped her into the waiting arms of the bouncer. “Stay here, kitten. I’ll handle this.”
The human wrapped his beefy arms around her. “Josh is right, Mira. You don’t want to get in the middle of this one. That new guy tossed me clear across the room when I tried to stop them.”
He meant Aron. Kade was well-known at the Black Widow. She didn’t bother fighting to break free of the human’s hold. The male was as stubborn as Josh. She also didn’t want to hurt him. Not all mortals were as tough as her beloved human.
A few feet away, Josh shoved the fighting shifters apart. “Break it up.”
Kade paid no attention to the order. He tried to sidestep him to get to Aron. Josh flung an arm out, stopping him. Kade turned his angry gaze from Aron to Josh. Kade’s lips lifted in a silent snarl. Josh backed the enraged shifter to the wall and got up in his face.
She was too far away to hear what Josh said to Kade, but she could guess. No doubt, Josh was warning Kade to control himself, that they were around humans.
Another bouncer held Aron back. Aron towered over the human male but didn’t use his strength against him. He turned his head. She followed the direction of his gaze. Zoe stood off to the side, eyes wide and arms banded across her chest.
“Let go.” Mira pushed at the hand holding her. “Fight’s over.”
The male released her, and she hurried to the frightened female. “What happened?”
Zoe peered past her to where Josh spoke in hushed tones with Kade. “I was dancing with Aron one minute. Then, Kade pulled him away from me and started pummeling his face. I don’t know what started it.”
Mira knew. Jealousy. Zoe was Kade’s beloved human. He might not want to be saddled with her, but no way would he let another shifter touch her.
Poor Zoe. She didn’t know what she was in for. Guilt welled within Mira. If it hadn’t been for her insane jealousy, Kade wouldn’t have had to lick Zoe’s wounds in the first place.
“I’m sorry, Zoe. This is all my fault.”
Zoe frowned, the confused look so similar to the one Josh wore on occasion. Up close, she could see the similarities between the siblings. They had the same eyes and straight nose, only Zoe’s features held a delicate edge. A cleft dimpled her chin too.
How could she have ever thought Zoe was Josh’s lover? Mira asked herself the question, but she knew the reason why. She’d been clouded by her primitive side that wanted to defend what she considered hers. It wasn’t an excuse, just the truth and one that shamed her.
“It’s not.” Zoe shook her head. “You didn’t tell Kade to act like a Neanderthal.”
“It is. If I hadn’t hurt you in the first place, Kade wouldn’t have made you his beloved human.”
“Oh, please. Don’t be ridiculous. Kade didn’t have to do anything. I was fine on my own.” Amusement glinted in Zoe’s eyes. “Between you and me, I think he was looking for a reason to get his mouth on me.”
Not likely. Kade avoided commitments to anything that extended beyond his family. In his eyes, the pride came first. Even if he had been attracted to Zoe, he wouldn’t have acted on it because of Zoe’s tie to Josh. No, it wasn’t lust that drove Kade to lick Zoe’s cuts. It was honor. Maybe guilt. It had been his order that kept her from seeking out human medical intervention.
Kade stepped next to them, forehead creased and mouth pressed in a thin line “And I hoped you enjoyed it because it’ll never happen again.”
Zoe’s grin returned. “We’ll see, my pretty kitty.”
“Stop calling me that.”
Zoe blinked innocent eyes at him while Mira hid a smirk behind her hand.
“But it’s true. You are pretty, and you’re my kitty.”
“I am not pretty nor am I yours.” Kade growled the last.
Zoe tilted her head and pursed her lips. “So did you succeed in defending my honor, my pretty kitty?”
Kade bared his fangs, a sure sign Zoe was getting to him. Thankfully, no humans were close enough to see. If Josh’s sister wasn’t careful, she’d find herself on the receiving end of a focused shifter’s attentions. Something told Mira that Zoe wouldn’t want that. There was a wildness about the human. She’d resent being caught.
Aron pushed Kade out of the way. He inhaled deeply and turned furious eyes onto her before flicking his gaze to Josh who stood several feet away, talking to his bouncers.
“Did you bring me here to shame me?” Aron looked down at her, derision on his face. “So be it. You’re on your own.”
Mira grabbed his arm. He glanced at where her lightly tanned fingers were wrapped over his darker skin. “No, don’t leave. I didn’t want this to happen.”
Aron’s expression hardened. The intensity of his fury was easy to see, even with the contacts hiding his unique black and gold eyes. The color combination matched his blond hair with its single black stripe. After a moment, he turned his head slowly to settle his piercing glare on Josh. The muscles under her fingers rippled and the faintest prickling of fur tickled her palm.
A low, rumbly growl trickled past his lips. He pulled his arm away and strode toward Josh, his intent clear.
“Aron, stop!”
He kept walking. Josh turned and lowered his chin. He spread his arms out to the side, hands flexing. Inviting the fight. Excitement flashed across his face, but Aron wouldn’t fight fair. There’d been murder in his eyes when he had focused on Josh.
She ran forward and grabbed Aron. He shoved her away and continued his steady approach. She turned worried eyes to Kade. He gave a small shake of his head.
Why wasn’t he getting involved? Ridiculous, stubborn males.
In a desperate move to avert the fight, she jumped in Aron’s path and pressed her palms to his chest. He stopped and focused his enraged gaze to her. She sensed Josh’s approach. Josh dropped his hand on her shoulder, inches from her scar. A whip of electricity skipped through the seared entry points. The response startled her. She dropped her hands from Aron’s chest and glanced over her shoulder.
Josh slid his gaze from Aron to her, a fierce stamp of possessiveness in his eyes. The sight left her breathless.
“Release her,” Aron ordered.
Josh looped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest. He settled his palm over her lower belly. “No, I don’t think I will.”
“I wasn’t around the last time, but I’m here now. Mira is mine to protect, always has been. You’ve signed your death with your deplorable act. Nobody will ever force her again,” Aron declared in a low voice.
What was he talking about? Force her?
She went over the words. Finally, they clicked. She settled against Josh, her anxiety easing, and shook her head.
“Josh didn’t force me to do anything.” She cleared her throat. “I meant I hadn’t planned on…talking to Josh tonight.”
Aron snorted, the relief in his expression evident. “I’d say you did a lot more than talk.” He held his hand out to her. “No matter, say good night to the human, Mira. We’re leaving.”
She placed her hand in his. Josh took her other so she was stretched between them. How fitting. It was the same battle taking place in her heart between what she wanted and what she should embrace.
Josh stepped closer so their chests touched. He stroked his thumb over the corner of her mouth, a light touch that made her tremble.
“Thank you for the kiss. It was wonderful.” He brushed his lips over her cheek. “Dream of me tonight.”
Aron tugged her away, mumbling under his breath about foolish romantic humans. “Let’s go, female. The night’s young, and I’m not done with you.”
She allowed Aron to lead her away, but her gaze remained locked on to Josh’s blue eyes. He grinned, and butterflies took flight inside her belly. Oh yes, he would star in her dreams. Tonight and for an eternity.