Zane by Grace Brennan

Author:Grace Brennan [Brennan, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

As they approached the gate to Durga Valley, Zane thought this had maybe been the longest day of his life. It was just now nearing five o’clock, but it felt weeks long. The hand on his leg tightened, and he glanced over at Kelly as he covered it with his own.

The longest day ever, maybe, but also one of the best.

As he slowed to check in with the guard, he put his game face on. In this case, it meant pretending to be the arrogant Zane of old. He’d changed drastically in the last few months, especially since finding his mate. That was undeniable.

But he couldn’t let the War Cats know that. They would see it as a weakness, and he couldn’t afford that, now more than ever. He would show how he’d changed in the way he backed Kian without complaint. The way he encouraged and enforced the new changes.

The guard on duty, who he recognized as Shiloh, one of the younger warriors fresh out of training, stepped into the middle of the road. And now it was game on. He just hoped everything would go the way he needed it to. He needed Kelly and Kian safe.

“Listen,” he said to Kelly, slowing the truck to a crawl and keeping his gaze on Shiloh’s tense posture. “I have to be the Zane I was before I found the fighters. Before I found you. It will be seen as weakness if I’m not. I’ll be arrogant, rude, condescending. Not to you. Never to you, but to others. Prepare for that, kamsin, and remember, it is not who I am now.”

“I understand,” she said softly, giving his thigh one last squeeze that sent his blood pressure soaring before removing her hand.

A swift glance over at her showed her sitting up straight, posture perfect, hands loosely clasped in her lap, with an aloof, almost arrogant expression on her face. That’s my girl. My mate.

Shiloh moved to the side, and Zane deliberately rolled past him before stopping, making Shiloh come to him. It was a power move, showing him subtly who the superior shifter was, and the first in the chess game he began playing now.

“Zane,” Shiloh said with a slight bow, as was custom for higher ranking members. “It’s good to see you. I know we’re all glad you’re home, for good we hope.”

Lie. The young tiger was anything but glad, and the same went for most of his tribe. “As you should be. I wish it were under different circumstance, but I’m happy to be home, and here to stay.”

Shiloh nodded, looking past him to Kelly, equal parts curiosity and appreciation on his face. “And who is this you’ve brought with you?”

Pinning him with a cold glare, Zane bit out, “You dare to question who I bring home?”

Visibly flinching, he stumbled back a few steps. “N-no, Zane. Of course not. It is merely protocol, is all. It’s my job to ask after any unknown who comes to the gate.”

“It is not your job to question who I bring home, Shiloh.

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