She exchanged nervous looks with Selena.
His dark, deadly gaze was focused on the bowls she had fashioned after a Greek design she'd seen in a museum catalog. With a gentleness she wouldn't have thought him capable of, he ran his hand over a red-figured bowl.
A flash of longing darkened his eyes, as if the design brought back some bittersweet memory for him. "You make these?"
She actually flinched as his intense black gaze met hers. He had a deep, provocative voice that was so heavily accented, it took her a minute to understand his question. "I do."
"Nice work."
She couldn't have been more stunned had he taken a gun out and shot her. "Thanks."
When he reached into his pocket, she braced herself to scream for Vane until she realized he was just pulling out his wallet. "How much?"
"What are you doing here?"
She looked past the man to see Talon approaching. His long, angry predatorial strides brought him to her side. Fast.
"None of your friggin' business, Celt," the stranger growled.
"Get away from Sunshine, Zarek, or I swear I'll put you down."
Zarek tucked his wallet back in his pocket and turned to face Talon. "Try it, Celt, and I'll have your heart in my fist."
Talon lunged and shoved him back.
Zarek swung at him, but Talon ducked and shoved him again.
Vane came out of nowhere to break them apart. "Hey, hey, hey!" he snarled at Talon, forcing him away from Zarek. "What is this about?"
"I better not ever catch you around her, Zarek. I mean it."
Zarek flipped him off with his claw, then turned around and stalked angrily toward the Presbytere building.
Sunshine was terrified as she saw the wild look on Talon's face. He really looked like he could kill someone.
"Talon?"
"Stay back," Vane warned. "You okay, Celt?"
Talon couldn't respond. All he could feel was the rising fury inside him. The demanding, hot need he had to rip Zarek to pieces.
The moment he had seen Zarek, his mind had flashed back to Zarek in the alley with his victim.
God help the man if he ever attacked Sunshine that way.
He'd kill him regardless of the consequences.
Without comment, Talon pulled Sunshine against him and held her there. He fisted his hand in her hair, inhaled her warm patchouli scent, and just reveled in the peace he felt while holding her.
"You were supposed to be watching her, Vane," he snarled at the Were-Hunter.
"It was just Zarek, Celt. Calm down. He wasn't doing anything but looking at her dishes."
"He could have hurt her."
"But he didn't."
"Yeah, and you're damn lucky for that."