Free Knights of Stone - Lachlan by Lisa Carlisle Page B

on?”
    Bloody hell. She’d turned the questioning around on him without revealing one damn thing. “Ladies first.”
    “Oh no, no, no.” She wagged a finger. “I’m not giving up one iota of information unless you share.”
    Lachlan groaned inside. She was so damn determined. He pictured bending her over his lap and smacking her lush behind to get her to bend her strong will just an inch. “Are you always so stubborn?”
    “Can’t be a pushover in my position, now can I? I have pack mates to protect. Surely, as alpha of your clan, you’d understand that.”
    “I do,” he agreed, now curious about her position in the pack. “So if you’re a beta, does that mean you’ll one day be alpha?”
    His mind swirled with the implications. He led the gargoyles; she’d lead the wolves—if they managed to restore the veil. What had been separate worlds for as long as he could remember. What had it been like before the battle—did the different kinds interact? He’d been a kid, and so much was a blur. What stood out most were the battles.
    Her mouth twitched, indicating he hit a sensitive topic. “Sort of.”
    “Sort of how?”
    “I’d rule with someone else.”
    Curiosity spiked even higher. “Who?” A pendulum pounding out seconds in his chest chanted the answer, which he refused to believe.
    She glanced to an unfixed point in between the trees. For a prolonged moment, the only sounds were that of the forest—the gentle breeze ruffling the leaves and the muffled sound of distant insects. At last, she spoke. “Seth.”
    Daggers shot into him from every angle when she confirmed what he’d feared. Or that’s how acute the pain seemed to sear through him when she mentioned Seth’s name. A most unexpected reaction. She couldn’t be with that arrogant bugger, could she? “Are you together?”
    “No,” she replied with a sudden shake of her head. Just when he thought he could exhale, she added. “Not yet.”
    He breathed to slow his racing heart. “Yet?”
    “It’s expected we’ll rule together, one day. As mates.”
    “Mates?” What was wrong with him, repeating her like a parrot? Only the single word came out through a strangled voice. He cleared his throat and began again. “You’ll mate—with him ?” Shock and distaste were clear from his tone.
    Her demeanor contorted, etched with some sort of conflict. “Why am I telling you any of this? It’s none of your business.” She raised her chin in a regal manner fitting for the queen of her pack.
    “I’m not trying to pry,” he said. “But you—and, and—him?” He tried to keep emotion out of his voice this time, but still failed.
    “Aye.”
    Despite what he perceived as her attempt to appear stoic, her inner battle flickered in her eyes.
    “Why do you care?” she pointed out.
    “I—uh.” When had he ever been at a loss of words this way? “I can’t picture you with him.”
    “You don’t even know me.” She exhaled, seeming to deflate. “It’s what I’m expected to do.”
    “What is?” Why did this bother him so much? She was right, why should he care?
    “Find my mate and rule with him and have lots of strong wolf pups to continue the pack.”
    The bitter note in her tone tore at him.
    “Is that what you want to do?”
    She raised her chin and fixed her stare his way. “Why are you asking me all these questions?”
    “I don’t know.” His honest answer surprised him. “I guess I’m curious.” What a stupid reply. He doubted she’d reveal another word.
    After a pause, during which she eyed him with clinical speculation, she said, “I’m the alpha’s daughter. Seth has been loyal to my father for many years. It’s natural for the two of us to become the next alphas of our pack and lead the way my parents did.”
    For a brief moment, he pictured himself in Seth’s place as Raina’s intended mate. Where did such an unsettling idea come from? He didn’t believe in love and mates; what a foolish waste of time. Those