thing mattered. “By choosing this life, you’ll stay off my back and let me hunt the wolf that killed my family?”
Drake hesitated, then said with a bite in his voice, “Once you’re in the Council’s Guard, my say in the matter is gone.”
“’Nuff said,” she retorted. “I’m staying.”
Drake frowned, possibly at her quick response, then he turned to the Council. “I’m not an appropriate mentor for her. I cannot…” He glanced at her again, and his eyelids lowered. “I’m unable to fight against you in a way to train you properly.”
Before Nexi could ask what in the hell that meant, Kyden interjected, “I’ll train her.”
“Wait. What?” Nexi gaped at him, stunned he had offered. Somehow, the idea of spending time with him made her belly flutter, which was of course silly, since the only time she’d spent with the caveman so far had sucked.
One sleek eyebrow arched. “Will that be a problem for you?”
He brushed up against her arm and a discouragingly hot shiver bolted through her veins, which had been the exact reaction she had experienced for weeks now. Whenever he touched her or turned his entire focus onto her, her body took notice, even if her mind told her to run, run, run.
Controlling all the heat whipping around her body, she cleared her throat. “Nope. No problem here.”
Looking away from Kyden, Nexi noticed that Drake studied her intently. At whatever he saw in her expression—and she hoped it wasn’t that whole reaction to Kyden’s touch—his features tightened. “Kyden’s the elite guardian—there isn’t anyone better to train you. You’ll do fine.”
The tenderness he exuded pulled at her heartstrings. While the relationship was still a work in progress, she found herself becoming closer to him. “I know you’re worried about me. I appreciate that. But really, how can anything happen to me?” She gestured toward the guardian next to her, who’d been looking out for her since that very first night. “I apparently have this Neanderthal guarding me.”
Kyden leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Ah, but the time to guard you is over, isn’t it, Álainn?”
Before she had the chance to figure out why he continued to call her that odd name, Talon said, “Good, that’s settled.” To Kyden, he added, “There’s been a death in Salt Lake City. Go to 285 West Broadway.” Turning to Nexi, he said, “Consider this your first lesson.”
“Whoa. Hold up there.” Her heart skipped a beat. “You’re not seriously suggesting that I go see a dead body?” At Talon’s nod, she added, “Shouldn’t I—I don’t know—train first, and then see dead things?”
Holten, Master of Weres, said, “It’ll help you understand things that would be hard to explain with words.”
Was that supposed to soothe her?
It didn’t.
Zia nodded. “This is best.”
She jerked her head toward Drake in hopes he’d disapprove. While the training bit sounded great to give her the skills she needed to hunt that lone wolf responsible for her parents’ murder, the idea of seeing anything dead didn’t appeal to her in the least. “You can’t possibly think this is a smart idea…”
Drake hesitated, examined her for a long moment, then he shrugged. “It’s not an ideal situation for you. But I’m not sure even after training, the scene would be easy for you to accept.”
Nexi groaned, facing resolved expressions. No matter how insane it all sounded, complete and total nonsense, she did want her freedom. That meant her choices were limited. To the Council, she muttered, “Shoving me in head first?”
Zade, grinned, showing fangs. “No better way to do it.”
She didn’t agree, but at the sudden rush of warm happy tingles lacing her veins, which had nothing to do with her own feelings, she didn’t care to comment. Glancing over her shoulder, she found Haven standing at the entrance to the Council’s Hall.
The first time Nexi had sensed Haven’s emotions, she had screamed bloody murder. Maybe the soul-sister bond had been odd to come to terms with when Nexi couldn’t feel her strongest, most private emotions without Haven butting in. But in the mess of her life, the peculiar emotional bond had been a blessing.
In those first few weeks after her life-changing night, Haven was a piece of sunshine in Nexi’s dark world. Even if Nexi hadn’t gotten used to—or gotten to like—Haven sharing emotions that she’d rather keep private, she loved Haven.
She needed her.
Best part, Haven needed her back.
Haven skipped forward, smiling from ear to ear. “We’re going out together, then?”
Nexi gaped in horror. While she appreciated the bond at the