Free Wolves’ Bane by Angela Addams Page B

outside.
    “Did Kelly see it all or did you just hear the shouting?”
    Andrew moved into the room and closed the door. “Part Kelly, part shouting.” He took the seat across from Cal, the one that Morgan had been sitting in moments before. “Why didn’t you tell her what she wanted to hear?”
    Cal looked up at Andrew with surprise. “What, lie to her?” He shook his head. “I can’t lie to her. She can read me—she can tell when I’m not being honest, wants to look into my damn eyes to see if I’m telling her the whole truth.”
    Andrew nodded. “Ah yes, that was something Kelly could do to me too. It sucks. I forgot.”
    He nodded and rolled his eyes. “You’re telling me.”
    “You should have bonded with her the other night.”
    He shrugged. “I know, but I couldn’t willfully hurt her. She hinted that she’s been through heartbreak before.” Well, that and the fact that she seemed to have the world’s worst opinion of her worth. Maybe I don’t deserve that kind of respect and love, maybe it’s just not meant to be for me… that had caught Cal off guard. It had taken everything in his power to not grab her and give her a shake before ravishing her lips in a sincere showing of her worth to him. But he couldn’t do it…he couldn’t do anything that would reassure her or deepen that connection. It would be better for her as well if they didn’t fall in love with one another.
    “Cal, you of all people know the consequences of forming an attachment to her. It’s too risky, especially if she is Lazarus’s bride.”
    Cal pursed his lips and nodded, his eyes never leaving Andrew’s. Ah yes, his cursed heritage. He’d experienced the fallout from a mating that involved one of Lazarus’s brides—his childhood was filled with hushed conversations about his mother’s dishonorable death, how she’d betrayed the Order and ruined his father. It was the reason why he’d taken his vows to the Order so seriously. He would not carry that legacy forward. He would not blacken his vows with betrayal. It was just his fucking shitty luck that his Huntress was linked to the king. Déjà fucking vu.
    “So what do you suggest I do then? I can’t tell her the truth, can I?” He sneered. “I can’t tell her the real reason why I won’t form an attachment to her.”
    Andrew shrugged. “No, I don’t think that would go over well either, but this bullshit about fearing her death is only half the truth. You’re walking a fine line, especially if you feel like you can’t lie to her.”
    “Yeah, it’s how she could die that I have a problem with.”
    Andrew rubbed his temples briefly before returning his gaze to Cal. “You’re going to have to convince her somehow. Every day that goes by without the two of you being bonded is wasted time.”
    “Convince her without lying to her.” Oh sure, that sounds easy. Hey hon, I need to bond with you so that you can take on your destined role…oh, and if we have sex, which we probably will, then no strings attached because I might have to kill you later, and I couldn’t handle having to do that if I was in love with you. Sure, easy as pie.
    Andrew nodded. “You’ll have to find a way. She’s a young, passionate woman. I’m sure that you can convince her to bond.”
    “It would be a hell of a lot easier if she’d been raised in the culture of the Order.” Cal blew out a harsh breath. “She says she has no family, which I’m assuming means she was never told anything about her heritage.”
    Andrew nodded. “We can’t expect her to feel the same sense of duty that we do. There’s no reason for her to commit—other than through her connection to you. We got lucky with Kelly and Candy, but we can’t count on all of the chosen coming from families who have kept the traditions alive. It’s a new challenge for us to face, trying to convince her to buy in, to be willing to make whatever sacrifices are necessary.” He slapped his knees before standing.