Chevalier, Sophie - [Alphas of Storm Isle 01-05] - Courting Rivals; Charmed by the Growls; Stranded with Shifters; Between a Boss and a Beast; Taming Two Bears by Sophie Chevalier

Author:Sophie Chevalier [Chevalier, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Enamored Ink
Published: 2015-05-04T04:00:00+00:00

***

But she couldn’t sleep. Rolled up in his bed in a blanket burrito, all she felt was tense and bleak and alone.

Nothing made sense—Was Dane actually jealous of what she’d done with Hunter? She struggled to comprehend—much less believe—that he might be. He didn’t care about her in that way. Right?

Nothing seemed hopeful. She was back on stupid Storm Isle and back in his cabin, trapped, awaiting sentencing for “trespass.”

And there was no way she was going to nod off. So she got up and padded into the living room, where, unshockingly—she’d smelled the smoked-cedar-and-sweet-moss scent of the fire going—Dane was still awake.

“Ginger.” He looked up from where he’d been sitting on the couch, staring into the grate across the cottonwood coffee table and the back of the matching, facing sofa. “You’re awake.”

She was wrapped in a quilt, sad-faced. “Can I stay up with you?”

“Come here.”

She padded over to the plush leather couch and sat next to him, tucking her legs up off the floor. The fire was dancing beautifully past its screen.

“You can’t sleep?” he asked, watching her.

“No.” She hooked some hair behind her ear. “Really hurt my own case, didn’t I? Trying to scarm?”

He hesitated. “Nothing is going to happen to you.”

“The judgment’s tomorrow, isn’t it?” She tightened the quilt around her shoulders.

“Tomorrow night.”

“What’s it going to be like?” She looked at him. “Tell me what’s going to happen.”

He ran a hand through his hair. She wished she could do that to him. “The elders will be there. Other important bears from the clans. Think of it like a law court.”

“‘Like’ a law court?”

“Well… think of it like a law court from the Neolithic.” He sighed. “It’ll be outside, at night. By bonfire. Gunnar and I will bring our charges against each other, and then each of us will speak in our own defense. The elders will listen and ask questions, then render their verdict.”

“What happens to me if they… if we lose?”

“Nothing. I said I wouldn’t let—”

“Dane.” She interrupted him soberly. “Answer me seriously.”

He gazed at her, the firelight reflected in the curve of his eyes. “Traditionally… human consorts and interlopers were… savaged.”

“Savaged.”

“Mauled.”

“By who?”

“It depends.” His mouth tightened. “They could sentence me to do it. Gunnar could agitate for the ‘right.’ One of the elders could enact the penalty. But like I said, I won’t let—”

“Well, given the fact that there are hundreds of fucking werebears on this hellish little island,” she whispered thinly, feeling faint, “I don’t think you have much of a choice.”

“Don’t assume you know my chances. They’re afraid of me,” he said lowly, and she heard a spark of violence in his voice. “Afraid, and with reason. I could keep them back, Ginger. Fight them off. Hold them long enough for us to make it to the yacht.”

She looked at him closely, trying to see if he meant it—really meant it. But as far as she could tell, he did: his expression was serious.

“Are you going to leave the cutter anchored off the island’s shoulder, then? So it’s easier to reach?” she asked quietly.

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