Free Dying Wish: A Novel of the Sentinel Wars by Shannon K. Butcher Page A

need?
    Iain came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, a cloud of soap-scented steam following in his wake. His hair was damp, and the shadow of stubble was gone.
    “You haven’t moved,” he stated.
    She wasn’t sure how he knew that, but she let the words pass by. They were unimportant to what he’d say in response to her next question.
    “All the unbound men need me. All of them want me—with the apparent exception of you. They all think I’m some kind of miracle. How in the world am I supposed to live up to those expectations? And how do I pick who gets to live?” And who had to die.
    Iain was going back through his conversations with Jackie, trying to determine how she’d realized he didn’t want a union with her, while he formulated the answer to her question.
    Anger at his carelessness gathered in a swirling mass behind his eyes. If anyone found out that he didn’t want her the way he should, it could compromise the Band of the Barren. He couldn’t betray them, even unknowingly. He had to keep up the ruse and figure out exactly where he’d gone wrong so he wouldn’t do it again. And he had to make sure she told no one what she suspected.
    He stared at her, calculating his next move. She was more perceptive than he would have guessed, and if he didn’t convince her to drop this line of questioning, he might accidentally reveal something crucial—somethingthat could get his brothers killed. The real question was, if it came down to a choice between the Band or Jackie, who would he choose to live? She could save only one man, but she could cause the death of many.
    Just the thought was enough to make the monster inside of him rear its head and howl in rage. He wouldn’t let her hurt his brothers. He wouldn’t let her curiosity send good men to die at the hands of the Slayers.
    “This partnership is a long-term thing,” he told her carefully, keeping his anger in check. “Permanent in most cases. You need to pick a man you can stand to spend eternity with.”
    “And how the hell am I supposed to know that? I don’t even know what I want for breakfast tomorrow.”
    It didn’t matter what she wanted. It was her duty to save one of them, and he was going to make sure she did it. “You’re an intelligent woman. You’ll figure it out.”
    “And if I want you?” she asked, her voice quiet and uncertain.
    “Don’t,” he snarled before he could stop himself. His beast pounded at its confines, demanding to be set free. Just for a moment. Just long enough to force her to do the right thing.
    She took a step back, fear flickering through her expression.
    Iain fought the urge to follow her up and use his bulk to intimidate her, scare her. It didn’t matter how he got her to pick Cain or one of the others, so long as she did. “I’m not the kind of man you want to spend eternity with.”
    Her brows lowered over her gray eyes, hiding her fear. “So, you’re just going to let yourself die?” she asked.
    “I have no intention of dying anytime soon.”
    “Then why aren’t you falling over yourself to convince me to be with you, the way the others have?”
    “I’ve made promises.”
    “To another woman?”
    He’d been thinking about how he couldn’t fail the men who looked to him for survival, but her question gave him the excuse he needed. “Serena,” he said, trying to sound sad. “She died the night of the attack. All I found of her was a pile of severed hair and part of her skirt.” There hadn’t even been any blood, as if she’d simply been picked up and carried away, never to be seen again.
    To add veracity to his story, he went to his duffel and pulled out a golden locket. In it was a miniature portrait of Serena and a small braided lock of fiery red hair. He carried it now more out of habit than sentimentality. He hadn’t grieved for her for a long time—one of the few blessings of his soulless state.
    Iain handed the locket to Jackie. She opened it and pulled in a shocked