him into one of the empty rooms for a round of hot and heavy sex.
Except...completely unaware, Willow watched with wide eyes. She looked from Chad to Tatiana, her expression troubled. Concern was written all over her rather drab features and even her dusky skin had gone pale.
“Where’s your human friend?” Tatiana drawled, hoping her sister would get the hint and leave her and Chad alone.
“He’s resting before the evening meal,” Willow answered. Apparently she had no intention of going anywhere. Too bad.
Smiling, Tatiana snuggled closer, privately thrilled when Chad’s already aroused body grew even larger. If she hadn’t needed to play this complicated game, she’d drag him into the first available room and let him use that magnificent tool.
All she needed to do was get rid of Willow.
Chapter 12
For his part, Chad hadn’t decided whether or not to let Tatiana seduce him. Right now, though she’d done an excellent job arousing him, he wasn’t all that interested. For one thing, she was not even remotely a challenge and, for another, having sex with her could really mess things up if Willow found out. And Willow was definitely a challenge.
So, even though his libido was ready, willing and eager, he tamped down hard on his arousal. Ever conscious of Willow’s watchful gaze, he knew exactly how to play it. Cool, calm and collected.
First, he shifted her weight so Tatiana rested on his hip rather than his front. Secondly, he staggered slightly, as though he no longer had the strength to support her weight.
“Willow,” he entreated, managing to look both repulsed and in desperate need of assistance. “Will you please help me with your sister? I’m afraid I might drop her.”
After a moment of stunned shock, Willow sprang to action. She reached out and pried one of Tatiana’s arms from her death grip around his neck. “Here, Tati, lean on me.”
“Lean on you?” Tatiana sputtered. She pushed away and sprang up perfectly straight on her own two feet, her violet gaze shooting sparks at both of them.
From the look on Willow’s face, her sister’s dramatic recovery hadn’t been entirely unexpected. In fact, Tatiana was rather predictable. Chad yawned discreetly, making sure Tatiana saw.
Willow, meanwhile, was still focused on her older sister. “You’re better now?” she asked, her voice an intriguing combination of concern and disgust.
“Leave me alone,” Tatiana snarled, whirling away from her. “I’m fine. Thanks for your concern.”
Amused, Chad stepped back. Already his very visible arousal had begun to go down.
Tatiana’s smirk made him realize she had definitely noticed. Her magical power rolled off her in waves, carefully banked, but enough to let him know it was there. If the two of them were to join, they’d be unstoppable. Not only could they rule the Brights, but the entire realm.
He nodded at Tatiana in acknowledgment.
“Are you sure you’re all right?” Willow pressed, treating her older sister as though she expected her to keel over at any moment. Either that, or haul off and slap her. Though he had to say, Willow looked as though she could defend herself just fine.
“Yes.” Tatiana waved her away. “I’m great. Fabulous. Fantastic.”
If she noticed her self-descriptive adjective came off as conceited, she didn’t show it.
“Good,” Chad said. “I’m glad to hear it. Now if you’ll excuse us...” He held out his arm to Willow, who immediately took it. “We’re on our way to have lunch.”
“Oh, I’ll go with you,” Tatiana immediately trilled.
“I don’t think so.” Looking down his nose at her, Chad frowned. “Your sister and I would like some time alone together. We need to get to know each other so we can decide whether or not to follow you and Eric’s example and become engaged.”
He didn’t miss Willow’s relieved smile or Tatiana’s heightened color.
“But—” Tatiana began, narrow eyed with anger.
“No buts,” he said, rather cheerfully. “Why don’t you go find your own fiancé and spend some time with him? I’m sure Eric would love to get to know you.”
Delivering that final dig almost set her off. He saw it from the tightening of her lush mouth and the flash of rage that crossed her face. She even took a step toward them, fists clenched. To do...what? But at the last moment, she reined herself in and managed to smile back, the calculating look on her face promising retribution.
Good. He looked forward to that.
“Tatiana?” Willow began, sounding uncertain. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Even more interesting, Chad thought, watching her. He’d bet three bricks of gold that Willow knew exactly what was going on with