"Mercury, could you step into the office please?" Jonas's voice was like a whip slicing through the tension. "Dane, Ms. Rodriquez might be more comfortable in the receiving room across the hall."
She stared back at Jonas. His silver eyes seemed alive, an entity separate from the rest of him, swirling and clashing with tempestuous anger as he watched her.
Of course, he would be angry. He would believe this could affect her job. That it would affect Sanctuary's relationship with the Vanderales.
She shook her head. She was the poor little orphan to the family, not really family at all. She had always known that.
She backed away, feeling Dane's hand on her arm like a live current, painful, unwanted.
"The hell she will."
Before the words were out of Mercury's lips he had hold of her, jerking her to his side, his arm curved around her back, pulling her to him.
"Don't do this to me." The sound of her voice shocked her. It was barely passable, so thick and rough it was hardly understandable. "Don't make me see this."
His eyes were almost pure blue; now the gold flickered in tiny pinpoints rather than the opposite.
"This isn't what you think." He glared into the room before pulling her outside it, out of sight of the others, pressing her against the wall as he stared down at her, his eyes raging.
And the pain was raging inside her. She had to get away from him. Before she begged him. Before she pleaded with him, Please don't leave me alone.
She pressed her hands against his chest. "Take care of this. I'll wait with Dane." She shook her head, knowing he wouldn't be returning to her.
Mating heat was like a drug, an addiction. He wouldn't be able to leave his mate's side until it eased. And Ria would be long gone by then. Long gone and far away.
"Like bloody f**king hell." He snarled the words into her face. "Not happening."
"Mercury, listen to her," Dane urged quietly from behind him. "Do you want to hurt her like this, man? I could smell the mating heat on you the moment Alaiya flung herself into your arms. Denying it isn't going to keep Ria from hurting."
Her knees turned to rubber.
Oh God. She couldn't fall. She stared up at Mercury in horror.
"It's not like that. Ria, listen to me." His hands gripped her face, his expression twisted in agony. "Baby, you have to listen to me. It's not like that."
His head lowered, and she knew what was coming. He was going to kiss her. Let her taste what she couldn't have. Let her know what belonged to another woman. And he would destroy her with it.
"No!" Her hand jerked up, covered his mouth. "Let me go, Mercury. Let me go."
"You're my mate." He shook her hand away. "Damn you, you will listen to me."
"Let her f**king go."
Dane spun him around, away from her, but none of them could have expected what happened next.
A roar tore from Mercury's chest and Dane went flying. He slid across the waxed floor, ending up in a pile against the wall before he shook his head and came to his feet with a snarl of rage.
"Touch my mate and you die." Mercury placed himself between her and Dane. "Do you hear me Vanderale? I'll gut you like I did that f**king bastard in the labs and I'll shove it down your throat."
His voice wasn't his voice.
Ria backed away from him, shaking her head as Callan, Kane and Jonas rushed from the office, putting themselves between Mercury and Dane as Jonas held his brother back, snarling in anger as Dane fought him.
"Mercury?" Alaiya stepped from the office. Sensuous silk hissed as she moved, like a serpent's whisper. Her voice was almost childishly soft, confused, but her eyes Ria stared into Alaiya's eyes, and she saw the smug satisfaction there. "Mr. Vanderale hasn't touched me."
She touched his arm as Mercury's gaze swung to Ria.
"Don't you walk away from me." He shoved a finger in Ria's direction, fighting for control, obviously fighting against the rage tearing through him with mating heat.