Iron Master – Jennifer Ashley Page 0,32

quivered, and then it disappeared entirely. The wind died, and all was silence.

Michael’s weight left Peigi as he gained his feet. “What the total fuck?”

Stuart climbed to his feet more slowly and reached down to help Peigi stand.

“You all right?” he asked her.

“Sure.” She was bruised and shaken, but whole, as far as she could tell. She moved her arms and fingers, bent over and touched her legs, wriggled her toes in her sensible sneakers. “Nothing broken.”

Michael looked around wildly then fixed his glare on Stuart. “What happened? Where are we? What is this place—” He broke off, dragging in scent. “Holy shit. This is Faerie. Isn’t it? You’ve brought us to Faerie, you slime-eating, fucking bastard.”

He came at Stuart, fingers sprouting claws, going for his throat.

Peigi stepped between them. It was a very frightening place to be, in front of Michael, who was crazy, but smart enough to hone his craziness to his advantage. And strong, powerful, and very dominant.

“Stop it!” she yelled at Michael. “Don’t be stupid. He’s the only one who can get us out of here.”

“Why the hell am I here in the first place?”

“Because you wouldn’t let me go.” Peigi got in his face, something she’d never, ever dreamed of doing when she was his prisoner. But that was then, this was now, and she was furious. “You grabbed us. I bet the house knew you were effing dangerous, because it slid us right through. You were following us in New Orleans, weren’t you? If so, it’s your own fault you’re here, so back off.”

Michael stared at her in amazement, then to her surprise took a step away, claws receding.

“No, I couldn’t let you go. You’re my mate, Peigi. I came to find you.”

“Not anymore,” Peigi said heatedly. “I rejected that mate claim a long time ago.”

“Did you? Huh. I don’t remember hearing it.”

“Then hear it now.” Peigi drew herself up. “Michael-Miguel of the changing name, in front of witnesses, I reject your mate claim!”

Her words rang through the trees, and the wind-touched leaves shimmered in response.

“He’s not a witness.” Michael pointed at Stuart in derision. “He’s Fae. And one of the dickwads who blew up my place. Yeah, I remember you.”

Stuart, who had been scanning the area during this exchange as though Michael didn’t exist, abruptly focused on him with the intensity only Stuart could.

“Your broken-down warehouse where you kept women and cubs imprisoned, you mean,” he said. “Plus captured and hurt my friends. I’d blow it up again if I could. I’m only sorry you weren’t caught in the blast.”

Peigi was pleased to see Michael regard Stuart with some wariness. She’d missed much of the fight above ground when Diego and Shane had stormed the compound, but she’d heard the story over and over. Xavier, Diego’s brother, especially loved to tell it. Stuart had saved Xavier’s life and had achieved the status of legend.

“Them’s the breaks.” Michael growled and fixed Stuart with a hard glare, as though trying to intimidate him. Then he broke off, eyes going wide. “Holy fucking crap—you scent-marked him.”

Stuart blinked, puzzled, but Peigi lifted her chin. “I did. Which means he’s under my protection.”

To her consternation, Michael only grinned. “That was a mistake, sweetheart. Because you know I can Challenge.”

“Not if he didn’t make a mate claim,” Peigi said quickly. “And he didn’t. I marked him to protect him from the Shifters in New Orleans.”

“And to stake your own claim,” Michael said, gaze knowing. “Shit, Peigi. I never knew you were into Fae.” He turned back to Stuart. “Okay, Fae dickhead, let us out of here.”

“I didn’t bring us in here.” Stuart studied their surroundings calmly. He could be cool in the face of screaming danger, assessing what needed to be done before he acted. That action was usually decisive and precise, taking out the danger in one swoop.

“But you’re Fae. So open the door or whatever. This place is a shithole.”

He was afraid, was Michael. He didn’t want to admit it, but Peigi could scent his growing anxiousness.

“I agree,” Stuart said. “But I didn’t make the door, so I don’t know where it is. Or where we are.” He scanned the trees surrounding them, straight and tall in the mist, lines of dark boles without much break.

“Jaycee said something about a sundial,” Peigi remembered. Conflicting feelings of rage and fear about Michael were coming at her in waves, but she had to put them aside to concentrate on getting herself and Stuart to safety.

“Sundial?” Michael gazed swiftly around.