The Last Warrior (Shifters Unbound #13) - Jennifer Ashley Page 0,89

fit in, laughing with humans over their ale and weeping in desolation alone at night.

Later, he’d met Shifters, beings who also lived in hiding. Some trusted Ben, some didn’t, but things had grown easier after he’d come to know them. The Shifters had won their freedom from the Fae, but they’d been forced to retreat to the human world, and like Ben, learn to survive there.

Shifters weren’t as long-lived as Ben, and he’d mourned the passing of very good friends. He’d moved from country to country, town to town, never staying long enough for people to realize he didn’t age. He couldn’t afford to make ties or put down roots.

Throughout his life in the human world, Ben had never entered a long-term relationship with a woman. He’d had plenty of sex, yes. Coupling had been a way to forget his troubles for a time, but the ladies were never permanent partners. They shared his bed to escape their own loneliness, and then they moved on. Ben had fancied himself in love a time or two, but he’d always believed he’d never start a real family.

And then he’d met Rhianne.

Ben now watched Rhianne draw herself up, fear and determination warring in her eyes. Her stepfather had come for her, would kill to get to her. Rhianne couldn’t let that happen. She was telling herself that she needed to sacrifice herself so that the Shifters, and Ben, wouldn’t be hurt.

Ben couldn’t lose her. Not after the years and years of emptiness, of searching for something he could never have.

He did not want the Shifters, his friends, people who’d aided and supported him, to be casualties of this personal war. But nor would he sacrifice Rhianne to save them.

He had to save them all instead.

There was only one thing to do. One thing that Shifters would understand, and would instinctively champion.

“Rhianne.” Ben raised his voice to be heard over the maelstrom that was beginning. “Rhianne mac Aodha, before the Goddess and in front of witnesses, I claim you as mate!”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Rhianne jolted as Ben’s words fell around her. At the same time, she felt something inside her click, as though two parts of her that had always been asunder at last joined.

“I don’t …” Rhianne coughed, found her voice. Her heart skipped and thumped, her chest tight. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”

Ben said nothing, only held her with his gaze. His dark eyes, usually so unfathomable, now showed her triumph as well as hope and a little bit of trepidation.

Dylan, the phone to his ear, glanced over at her. “You don’t have to do anything.” He snarled into the phone, “Where is that damned polar bear?”

“That damned polar bear is right here,” boomed a large voice.

A huge man in a long duster strode toward them from Liam’s yard. Two thin braids of white hair strung with beads hung to his shoulders, the hair on his head cut short and white-blond. In contrast, his trim beard was black, and so were his eyes.

At his side was a young woman with very dark hair, intense gray eyes, and a Sword of the Guardian slung across her back.

The big man halted a few feet from Rhianne. Ben had fallen silent, waiting, body quiet.

“You can answer one of two ways,” the tall man said to Rhianne. “You can agree to accept the mate claim, or you can tell him to go to hell.” He swung to Ben. “How are you, old friend? I catch you at an awkward moment?”

“Zander,” Ben said tightly.

The young woman addressed Rhianne in a melodious voice. “You’re not obligated to accept the mate claim, and you don’t have to say anything yet. But the tentative claim keeps all other males from being able to take you for themselves. I think Ben just wants the ability to tell you what to do.” She smiled at Rhianne. “Ben’s not Shifter, but he’s picked up a lot of their habits.”

“This is my mate, Rae,” Zander said. “Like she lets me tell her what to do.” He peered at Rhianne. “Who are you, by the way?”

“Lady Aisling’s daughter,” Ben said, while Rhianne stood tongue-tied.

“Yeah?” Zander’s black eyes opened wide. Ancient wisdom lurked in that gaze, but Zander strove to hide it under his banter. “Cool. Hey, Dylan, why are you still on the phone?”

“Reinforcements.” Dylan had punched in another number. “Tiger’s missing. Sucked into something near the ley line.”

Zander’s eyes widened in true alarm. “Seriously? No shit. Then why are you standing around? Rae,