“You said I could teach a class. If I got a sponsor to make sure I wasn’t brainwashing them into siding with we evil Slayers, you said I could do this. Are you going back on your word, Theronai?”

“I never agreed to this,” he said, waving his hand at the bloodstained dirt. “I can’t believe you found anyone who would think this is a good idea.”

Her pupils narrowed, giving her a decidedly feline appearance. “Are you calling me a liar?”

“Put away your claws, kitten. All I mean is that I’m wondering exactly what your syllabus looks like. Does your sponsor know what you teach?”

She took a step toward him before stopping herself. Her hands balled into fists, and her voice went lethally soft. “These kids have had their lives stolen from them. They feel weak and powerless. They’re trapped here, with no hope of ever leaving, and as nice as the accommodations may be at Dabyr, it’s still just a comfy prison. What I’m giving them is hope—hope that they might survive another run-in with the demons. Hope that maybe one day they can walk out of these walls and have some kind of a real life. If that bothers you or anyone else here, then that’s just too fucking bad. These kids need me, and I’m not giving up on them just because a couple of parents are too scared to see reality.”

“I’m not saying you can’t teach them. Just teach them not to break the skin. Stop leaving bruises and breaking bones.”

“That’s the way I was taught. Are you saying that our Slayer ways aren’t good enough for your precious humans?”

“These kids aren’t Slayers. They’re human. They don’t heal as fast as you do. They’re easier to break.”

“That’s why I’ve bargained with Logan to heal them.”

The idea of Lyka giving anything to a man that stunningly beautiful rubbed Joseph the wrong way. “What was the bargain?” he asked, his voice rougher than he’d intended.

“None of your business.”

“Everything you do here is my business. You’re my guest.”

“Guest? More like your prisoner.”

“You agreed to stay of your own free will.”

“That’s a bit of a stretch. My brother convinced me it was the only way our races would survive. We form an alliance. You keep me here as a prisoner to guarantee his good behavior, just like Carmen staying with him guarantees yours. If I’d been even a little stronger and able to best my brother in combat, he’d be the one here and I’d be out there, running our people, free and happy.”

The thought that she was unhappy here gave him pause and deflated the head of steam he’d built up. “You’re not happy?”

“Everything I do is suspect. I’m constantly being watched by your men. And when they’re not around, there are so many damn cameras in this place, I feel like I’m getting a colonoscopy just walking down the hallways.”

“After what happened with Connal—”

She held up her hand. “I know, I know. There was a traitor in your midst, and you don’t want a replay. I get it. Just don’t stand there looking like I kicked your puppy when I tell you that I don’t want to be here. It’s not my home. It never will be.”

“I’ve tried to make it feel like home for you.”

“You’ve given me a beautiful suite, comfortable surroundings, all the food I can eat and something to do with my time. I’m grateful for that. Really, I am. But those things mean nothing to a woman who has no choice but to stay behind these walls. Like it or not, I’m your prisoner.”

“I don’t want you to feel that way.”

“Then stop watching my every move. Back off and let me teach the kids my way. If you give me a chance, you might even like the results. The kids sure as hell do.”

He knew he was making a mistake the second he opened his mouth, but the desire to see her content was far stronger than he could fight. “I’m not making any promises, but I’ll talk to the children, the parents and your sponsor. I’ll let you know what I decide in a couple of days.”

“Until then I can teach?” she asked, sounding hopeful.

“Teach? Yes. Allow them to shed blood? No.”

“You’re just stringing me along, aren’t you? Pretending to consider it when you’ve already made up your mind.”

Joseph refused to budge. “Two days, Lyka. Come to my office and I’ll give you my decision.”

“And expect me to obey like a good little girl?”

He took a step forward, watching her nearly trip over her own feet to back away from him. “That’s exactly what I expect, kitten. You’re honor bound to follow my rules for as long as you’re inside my walls.”

Her eyes narrowed in fury. “You’re as bad as my brother.”

He grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Don’t,” she said. “I nearly killed him once, and I love him. You, Theronai, don’t stand a chance.”

Chapter 2

The second Joseph had left Lyka alone, she let out a long sigh of relief.

She’d survived another close encounter with the man and managed to keep her distance. He hadn’t touched her. He didn’t know what she really was.

She didn’t know how much longer she could keep her secret, but every day that went by without one of the Theronai learning it was another victory. She’d take every one she could get.

She watched him walk away, admiring the way his jeans hugged his muscular ass. She couldn’t see the magical sword strapped on his belt—it was invisible until drawn—but she could detect the slight dip in his waistband where its weight hung. The Theronai were deadly with their blades, and that was the kind of thing that made a girl like Lyka squirm with want.

It didn’t help that Joseph was nearly six and a half feet of hard, kick-ass warrior. Sure, he was their leader and spent most of his time behind a desk, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t deadly. She was certain that if the shit hit the fan, he’d use every bit of that muscular bulk he carried around to thwack some demon heads clean off.

It was enough to make Lyka wake in a sweat at night, wet and desperate for those rough hands of his to ease her need.

As if she’d ever let that happen.

The man got under her skin, making it itch and tingle. She kept having to remind herself that he was the enemy—or at least had been until very recently.