Dark Wolf (Spirit Wild) - By Kate Douglas Page 0,68

is here?”

“He is, and if you meet him, you will play nice.”

Alex growled. Lily merely leaned over and kissed his nose. Then she turned away, shifted, and took off at a steady lope.

She wondered how her father and Sebastian were getting along. Wondered if the poor guy would be in one piece by the time she arrived. She certainly hoped so. She had to hand it to him, though. It took a brave man to meet Anton Cheval on his own turf, especially a man who was sleeping with his daughter.

Excitement simmered in her veins. This could be interesting.

It could also be an absolute fiasco.

Stretching out, Lily put on an added burst of speed as she raced down the mountain toward home.

Home and Sebastian Xenakis.

Now why did those two things sound just perfect together?

11

Questions. So many questions. Why had he left her bed during the night? What was he doing on the astral? Where had that horrible taint of evil come from?

Why is he here? What does he want? What will I say to him?

Does he truly care about me?

She thought of stopping at her cottage to clean up, to rinse away the earthy scent of the forest and sex and everything that made her exactly who she was, but that wasn’t her way.

No. She was Lily Cheval, and she would play no games. Not for any man. Especially not for Sebastian Xenakis, though she did stop her headlong rush as she neared her father and mother’s home. If, by chance, Sebastian was watching for her, she’d rather he first saw her trotting casually across the meadow rather than running like a lovesick fool.

She was really glad she’d slowed down as she crossed the meadow. The back lights went on, which meant her father was watching for her. He’d not communicated a word since his first call for her to return. She wondered what had happened, what he thought of Sebastian. She tried to imagine what the two men had talked about. On second thought, no. She’d rather not go there.

The brilliant deck lights illuminated the entire back of the house and much of the meadow. Nothing like a spotlight when a girl had to shift. She leapt easily to the deck, clearing the railing with room to spare. Pausing to sniff the air, she picked up the scents of both her father and Sebastian, so close they must be out here on the deck.

She swung her head to the left and spotted the two men almost lost in shadow, sitting next to each other on top of the picnic table, feet resting on the bench seat below. Each of them held a glass of what she was certain had to be her father’s favorite Hennessy cognac. Another good sign. He didn’t share that with just anyone. Both men looked relaxed, shirt sleeves rolled back. No blood, no bruises.

Still looking good. Her dad’s shirt was unbuttoned and untucked, and he was barefoot, but he rarely wore shoes at home. She’d always thought her father was a beautiful man, but sitting beside him, Sebastian looked even better, so darkly handsome he took her breath. Her wolf definitely approved. She padded across the deck and rested her chin on her father’s knee.

I’m glad to see you haven’t tried to kill each other.

Anton glanced at Sebastian, who was obviously fighting a grin. “I have strict orders from your mother to behave.”

Good. I’ll have to thank her. Hello, Sebastian. I’m surprised to see you.

He hadn’t taken his eyes off her. “I’m glad to see you. I’ve missed you. I never should have left.”

No, you shouldn’t have.

She shifted, standing tall and proudly naked. Her father handed a brilliant red sarong to her. She quickly wrapped the silky fabric around herself and expertly knotted the ends so they lay in the valley between her breasts.

She knew her hair was probably a tangled, windblown mess and that the scent of wolf would be strong, but from the look in Sebastian’s eyes, none of that was an issue.

“I’m going inside, gentlemen. It’s chilly out here without my fur. Care to join me?” She walked inside without looking back, went straight to the bar, and poured herself a healthy shot of the same cognac the men were drinking.

Taking a seat on one of the bar stools, she waited. Her dad took his usual spot behind the bar, but Sebastian sat on the stool beside hers.

And still he watched her.

But it was her father who spoke. “Your mother’s waiting for