The Last Warrior (Shifters Unbound #13) - Jennifer Ashley Page 0,48

heard Jaycee depart and close the door. He snatched up his jeans and shirt, stuffing himself into them as the shower went on down the hall. Jaycee’s and Rhianne’s laughter floated to him.

He stood still a moment, letting Rhianne’s golden mirth surround him.

He jammed his feet into his motorcycle boots. What the hell was he thinking, falling for a woman like Rhianne? This could not end well.

He stomped down the hall to the kitchen. It was Ben’s thing to make breakfast for guests, and he needed to get started. Dimitri was nowhere in sight—either he was sleeping in after their long night or he’d gone out for a run.

As Ben cracked eggs and shoved toast into the toaster, he pondered Rhianne’s sudden shifting ability and her fear of it. Would scare the crap out of anyone, he reasoned. Walking around in human shape and suddenly becoming a critter with claws, a tail, or feathers and wings.

Rhianne worried she wouldn’t be able to control the change. Shifter cubs seemed to control it instinctively, even the first time it happened, but Rhianne, as she’d said, was an adult, and adults were bad at trusting their instincts. Maybe she could be trained.

Great idea, but who to train her? Jaycee and Dimitri might be too enthusiastic for her—they’d lived by their wits a long time. Plus, the two wanted to get home to their cub, needed to be with Lucas.

Ben did not want Dylan to know Rhianne could shape shift, not yet. Dylan was a good guy at heart, but he was also ruthless. He’d already not been happy that Rhianne refused to spy for him. If he knew she could shift, what would he do to coerce her to use that ability for Shifter benefit?

So that let Liam and Sean out. The brothers didn’t like to keep things from their dad.

Tiger … he might be best. Poor guy had grown up in a cage, and he’d understand how weird it was to be a shape shifter who hadn’t been raised around other shape shifters.

The problem was how to pry Tiger from Dylan’s side without Dylan knowing about it. Plus, Tiger had his own mate and cubs he didn’t like to be far from.

Anyone from the Austin Shiftertown answered to Liam, and therefore Dylan, so they were out too.

Of course, there were other Shiftertowns, Ben mused as he cooked. Towns full of Shifters who didn’t give a rat’s ass about Dylan or his dominance. Something to think about.

By the time Ben had made a ton of scrambled eggs, a mess of bacon, a pile of toast, and a large pot of coffee, Dimitri wandered in, Jaycee following closely behind him.

“Rhianne’s finishing dressing,” Jaycee said to Ben. She grabbed a cup, poured coffee into it, and sat down at the table. “Ben slept with Rhianne last night,” she informed Dimitri.

Dimitri, who’d started pouring his own coffee, flicked his wolf’s gaze to Ben. The coffee kept streaming into his cup and then flowed over.

Dimitri jumped and slammed the pot back to the coffeemaker. “Yeah?” He shook out his hand then licked it.

“I didn’t sleep with her,” Ben snapped. “Okay, yeah, I did, but the operative word is sleep. She was having nightmares. Scared shitless. I didn’t want to leave her alone.”

“I notice you didn’t wake me up.” Jaycee sent him a severe glance. “I could have spent the night in her room to make sure she was okay.”

Ben’s face went hot. “You were with Dimitri. I didn’t want to disturb you. She was shaking, Jaycee. I couldn’t not help her.”

Dimitri sauntered to the table, continuing to lick spilled coffee from the back of his hand. “Right, Ben. We understand.”

“I don’t think you do.” Ben broke off as Rhianne herself glided into the room. She’d donned jeans and the New Orleans T-shirt he’d bought her yesterday, along with the new shoes.

Rhianne moved directly to the stove, inhaling the fragrance of breakfast. “That smells good. I am very hungry this morning.”

Dimitri chuckled, but Jaycee kept her mouth straight. Ben loaded a plate for Rhianne, and she carried it to the table. Ben glared at the two Shifters, warning them to be cautious.

“An eagle,” Dimitri said after Rhianne had seated herself. “That’s cool. What’s it like to fly?”

So much for caution. Fear flared in Rhianne’s eyes, and Ben watched her force it away. “It was interesting.” A wistful smile crossed her lips. “Glorious, actually. I was terrified, and at the same time, it was … I can’t explain. I