Wolf Rain (Psy-Changeling Trinity #3) - Nalini Singh Page 0,49

twin sister’s home in DarkRiver territory. Ashaya Aleine had balls of fucking iron as far as Alexei was concerned—he might be a big tough wolf, but no way would he choose to be alone with Amara under any circumstances. He’d never know when she’d decide he’d look better as a corpse she could cut up and study.

Turned out Ashaya’s mate didn’t trust Amara, either. “I have multiple packmates prowling around within hearing range of our home,” Dorian told him when Alexei touched base with the leopard sentinel. “I’ve got Keenan with me, too—Ashaya feels better when she knows our son is safely away from Amara.” A frustrated sound. “I’d rather she keep her distance from Amara, but that bond of twins . . . Ashaya is incapable of giving up on her.”

“That’s because your mate has a heart.” Quite unlike her twin. “Look, we need a place for a psychic experiment.”

After Alexei ran through the details of the proposed experiment, Dorian suggested a small, unused cabin in DarkRiver territory. “It’s structurally sound but old, and set to come down in the next couple of months. Anyone who uses it as a teleportation lock in the interim will end up in the middle of leopard land. Not healthy for them.”

Alexei was dead certain none of this was healthy for Memory, but it was in play now. She was determined to do this. So he would stand watch and make sure she didn’t hurt herself in the process. Because despite his decision to be clear-eyed and pragmatic about Memory, his gut kept telling him she was the one who needed protection. His damn lioness had no shell, no shield, nothing between her and the ruthless world.

Alexei’s claws sliced out.

Chapter 19

My sister is like these trees. Perfect to look at, brilliant in her design—her brain is flawless, her intellect staggering—but all it takes to crumble that perfection is a single match.

—Ashaya Aleine on her twin, Amara

MEMORY SAT SILENTLY in the front passenger seat as Alexei drove them to the meeting location. Sascha had taken the backseat. None of them spoke much on the drive, and Memory had a feeling it was because of her—she was nervy, jumpy, all her energy on the surface of her skin. Erratic and bouncing.

Alexei had told her that the twins would both be present at the meeting.

“Ashaya can control Amara to a certain extent,” Sascha had added. “It’s good she’s coming.”

Now the cardinal said, “Remember, Memory, Amara doesn’t see empaths as sentient beings. She doesn’t really see anyone but her twin as a person.”

Memory put a fisted hand against her stomach. “I understand. I’ll take care.”

Alexei didn’t speak, but she could sense his disagreement with this entire operation in the aggressive tension humming through his body. When she looked at the hands he had on the steering wheel, she half expected to see claws, but his hands were human—albeit wrapped so tight around the wheel that the skin was white over bone.

Memory parted her lips. “It has to be done.” She didn’t know why she had to poke this particular wolf, but she couldn’t help it. Alexei hadn’t said a word since they’d begun the drive, and she hated the implied distance.

When he didn’t respond to her comment, she literally poked him in the arm.

His growl filled the air, the look he shot her hot amber. “Keep that up and I will bite you.” The threat was very calm, very serious, and it caused a strange flutter in the pit of her stomach.

A discreet cough from the backseat reminded Memory they had an audience. Amusement rippled outward from Sascha. Settling back in her seat on the unspoken promise that she’d aggravate Alexei again if that was what it took to breach the wall he seemed to pull around himself at times, Memory stared at the green all around her and imagined leopards prowling within.

“What was that?” She jerked, pressing her nose to the window. “I’m sure I saw a flash of gold and black.”

“It’ll be pack,” Sascha said, as if it was perfectly normal to actually see leopards prowling around.

Before Memory could question Sascha further, Alexei brought the vehicle to a stop in front of a small cabin surrounded by fallen pine needles. Another rugged vehicle already sat on the far side of the cabin. Heart thundering and mouth suddenly a desert, she opened her door and stepped out.

She’d just shut the door when a glorious creature of black and gold prowled out of the trees. The leopard