The Last Warrior (Shifters Unbound #13) - Jennifer Ashley Page 0,76

tried to call through the crystal before. She must have been battling him or trying to keep him from me ...”

“Fuck.”

“Indeed,” Rhianne said breathlessly. “I must aid her.”

Ben gently took the glass from her, set it down, and held her hands in a warm clasp. “It’s a bad idea for you to rush home and defend her. Your mother is pretty tough.”

“So is Ivor.” Rhianne spat the name. “I don’t know which is stronger, my anger at my mother for not telling me the truth about who my father really is, or relief that Ivor de Erkkonen isn’t him.” She swallowed. “But if anyone can best my mother, it’s Ivor. I can’t not help her.”

“Me, I’d be throwing a party to celebrate not having that bastard for a dad. But I wasn’t thinking about leaving Lady Aisling to his mercy. I was thinking I’d gather some Shifters, like Tiger and Dylan, maybe add a few bears for a really big throw-down, and go help her out.”

“You mean without me.” Rhianne glared at him. “Remember that Lily in New Orleans said the danger was greatest to you. That you need to be kept alive at all costs.”

“I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m pretty kick-ass,” Ben stated. “Your ex-father needs to be stopped. The hoch alfar are bad enough, but if he’s helping them—for his own benefit of course—things will be a whole lot worse. Let me go in there with Tiger and other badasses and take care of him. I’ll ask Zander to come with us. He’s a healer as well as a giant polar bear, so he can fix us if we get hurt.”

“Ben, you can’t.”

Ben’s determination became tinged with bafflement. “Why the hell not? We get rid of this asshole, and that’s a lot of problems solved. You hang out here with Liam and company, and once Ivor is out of the picture, you can go home and interrogate your mum about your real dad, have some terrible pie, and relax.”

“If you go to Faerie, I have to as well.”

“Because a psychic and Tiger told you I had to stay alive? Tiger will be with me. He’ll make certain of it.”

“No.” Rhianne closed her eyes and decided to toss the dice. “Because I’m forming the mate bond for you.”

Silence coated the room. It blanketed Rhianne, stretching between her and Ben, distancing them, though he hadn’t moved.

After a long moment, Rhianne cracked open her eyes to see Ben studying her with an unreadable expression. “How can you be?” His question was tense and quiet.

“I don’t know.” Rhianne clung to his hands so tightly she had to be crushing them, but he never flinched. “I didn’t even know I was Shifter. But I feel it when I look at you. It’s there. I’m not dreaming it.”

Ben’s swallow traced down his throat. “Baby, I’m not Shifter.”

“I know that.” Rhianne’s voice rose in agitation. “I had no idea I truly was, until I was locked in the room at the Shifter Bureau place. All I wanted to do was break out and find you. I needed you. I just knew, in that moment, that you were my mate. I didn’t even have to think about it. That’s what convinced me, in spite of everything I argued to myself, that I was Shifter in truth.”

Ben continued to watch her, his face a careful blank.

Was he pleased? Dismayed? Hopeful? Disgusted? Rhianne’s Shifter senses weren’t yet honed enough for her to read his body language. Tiger had been easy. Ben was an enigma.

Perhaps that was a trait of goblins, to be able to hide their emotions away. Or perhaps a trait of Ben personally, learned after so many years of being by himself.

“You don’t have to be alone anymore, Ben,” Rhianne said softly. “I’m your mate.”

He shook his head slowly. “It’s not the same for my people.”

“I told you—remember? All creatures of Faerie form the mate bond, except the Tuil Erdannan. That’s what made me realize.”

“Rhianne.” Ben tugged her closer. His eyes remained still, unfathomable. “Remember what I told you. The hoch alfar want me dead. They killed everyone I ever loved, everyone I knew, and thousands who were strangers to me. What would they do if they realized you think you feel the mate bond for me?”

Rhianne jerked her hands from his. “What do you mean I think I feel it?”

“Seriously not my point.”

“Do you think I’m delusional?” Rhianne stared at him in disbelief. “That I don’t know what is going on inside