He was scowling by the time I finished. “So they definitely know about your forbidden power.” His jaw worked. “And I don’t know what kind of cameras they had, but if they were enchanted, it’s possible they were able to register your magical footprint, and during that encounter, your magic was off the charts. The logical conclusion is that they saw everything, including your use of your new power. It explains why they came for you and not your sister.” The hunter dipped his voice even more. “And it would explain why they attempted to abduct you immediately after you fled, because they know what you are. They know that you hold all of the power, and they really want you.”

Oh gods. I felt the blood drain from my face. Could he be right? That my secret, the one I’d spent my entire life hiding away, had been blown wide open for the entire community to know about? It was my worst fear.

I shook my head, not wanting to believe that Jakub and his men could know that much about me . . .

The Fire Wolf stepped closer to my side. “I can help you learn to control your new power and wield it.”

My eyes shot to his.

Burning embers rolled in his irises. “I could train you.”

“How could you possibly know how to train me?”

“I’ve seen your new power in action. I’ve felt it. I have a few ideas.”

But I couldn’t train with the hunter, with the wolf who wanted to claim me as his, and with the demon-born who my legs wanted to wrap themselves around at every second of every day.

If I thought I’d been pale before, that was nothing compared to the cold realization sweeping over my bloodless cheeks. Because all of the touching required during training, the magical flares, the erupting power . . . I could just see it all happening between us. We would be like two tornadoes colliding, an epic storm of unheard-of proportions.

In other words, we’d be fucking in no time, probably right on the mat in the middle of the training room. And then where would that leave me? I’d always wonder if what we had was real or merely the hunter’s wolf driving him. And worse, what if I fell for him—really, truly fell for him—while his emotions for me were only a result of the stupid mate bond, not actual lasting love.

I remained silent as I studied the asphalt beneath my toes. This was why I’d wanted a clean break.

“We should go,” I mumbled. I took a big step away from him, my heart pounding.

A questioning look burned on his face, but I swung away and hurried to the side door of the cab.

I slipped inside the car, and from the front seat Tessa sighed and rolled her eyes at me. “About time. You guys were yakking back there for an eternity.”

The driver grunted in agreement.

“Sorry,” I replied in a clipped tone just as the hunter slipped inside using the other door.

So much for making an escape.

The sedan sagged when it took the brunt of the Fire Wolf’s full weight. I felt him looking at me—his gaze ever watchful and assessing—but I didn’t have the energy to say anything further. So I kept my attention firmly focused out my window as I bit my fingernails while the driver pulled away from the curb.

The entire drive, the energy crackling between me and the hunter rose, and I was surprised that sparks weren’t flying in the air. Still, I refused to look at him.

When we pulled up to Prisha’s high-rise, I bolted from my seat, welcoming the cold wind outside as it met my flushed skin.

I already had Tessa’s massive suitcases on the sidewalk, with my smaller bag strapped to my back, when the hunter appeared silently beside me.

“Tala?”

I slammed the trunk closed as Tessa tipped the driver.

A harsh sigh came from the hunter. “Tala, we need to think about what’s to come, even if it’s upsetting you.”

I paused, my back to him. Oh, so that was what he thought. That I’d gone all silent from fear of Jakub, not from fear of how my body would betray me if I allowed myself to train with him.

I finally faced him and did my best to sound confident. “Are you still going on about the we thing?” I met his gaze, unflinching. It was the closest I’d come to asking him about his mate comment earlier. “News flash. There is no we. I can handle this on my own.” The truth was I totally couldn’t, but maybe Prish could help me figure it out. At least I didn’t want to bang her brains out when we trained . . .

Fire roared within the hunter’s eyes, but I ignored it and spun around, then marched toward the door.

OceanofPDF.com

Chapter 8

So, my grand plan had been to leave the Fire Wolf in the dust. Of course, he didn’t allow that.

After my harsh reminder that we were not a couple, the hunter’s lips pressed into a thin line, but he still rode the elevator with us to Prisha’s apartment. And from the elevator, he escorted us to her front door all the while watching our surroundings, his attention forever shifting to take in any threats which could potentially lay hidden in the well-lit hallways and beautifully decorated potted plants.

“They have good security here,” I said when I pulled my key out to Prisha’s apartment. “The potted hibiscus aren’t going to harm me, and Prisha’s entire apartment is warded. We’ll be safe.”

“Why wasn’t your apartment warded?”

I shrugged as Tessa watched us. A curious expression was growing on her face.

“Never saw a need for it,” I replied. The hunter glowered, and I rolled my eyes. “Until last week, I was an unknown supernatural just minding her own business in Chicago.”

I gave my sister a firm glare, ’cause if she hadn’t opened her big mouth, it would have stayed that way.

“Um, I’m just going to go inside.” Tessa bumped into me in her haste to escape.

Once my sister was gone and it was only the hunter and me, I pocketed the spare key and stepped inside the foyer. The warded magic surrounding Prisha’s apartment prickled my skin.

“When do you want to start training?” he asked, still in the hallway.

“I’m not training with you.” I paused, and it struck me that I was acting like a complete bitch to someone who had just saved my life.

Really, Tala? But damn, I didn’t know what else to do. I needed to keep my walls up with him. If I didn’t, I’d probably fall so hard and fast that I’d face plant. Still . . . being an ass to him wasn’t the best alternative either.

Taking a deep breath, I softened my tone. “I’m sorry, but I can’t train with you. Thank you for the offer though, and for what you did earlier. For saving me when Tessa called you. For returning the money to me. For all of it. Seriously, thank you.”

An unreadable expression descended over his face. “Why does this feel like goodbye?”

“Because it is.”

The bright lights above him highlighted his dark hair that I knew felt silky soft. It was so tempting to reach for those strands on the nape of his neck, to thread my fingers through them, and pull him in for another—

Nope! Not thinking about that.

I nibbled my lip as anxiety bubbled in my stomach. Why was he still just looking at me and not saying anything?

His nostrils flared, and he toed the line of the doorway, halting when the wards flared. His gaze drifted to my mouth, to where I nibbled my lip. A flash of heat flared in his eyes, and I abruptly stopped chewing it.

“You need to train. The offer stands.”

“Good night.” My heart hammered to life as I shut the door. And dammit, from there, I stood on my tiptoes and looked through the peephole.

In the hall, the hunter raised his gaze skyward before his nostrils flared. He shook his head, then withdrew his yellow crystal. In seconds, his portal was swirling like a cosmic void before he stepped through it and disappeared.