Binding Ties Read Online Free Page B

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

Chapter 2
    T he 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 hitthe 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.
    Sure, it was a bad idea to be fighting a war on two fronts. And yes, things were easier now that the two races had teamed up, but that didn’t mean she had to like it. Everyone else got to enjoy the benefits of the shiny new treaty while she was stuck here, unable to fight alongside her people.
    Not fair. Not even close.
    But that was life for you. Nothing was fair, which was exactly why she was pouring her heart and soul into teaching those kids how to survive. Fighting wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t civilized. What use was it trying to make the kids pretend that it was?
    Then again, there was some value in pretending. She’d been doing so for weeks and it had served her well.
    She finished picking up the gear and headed inside.
    The unbelievably beautiful Logan and his even more stunning wife, Hope, were waiting inside the doors. The kids had all been tended to and had gone on their way, which meant that two Sanguinar were waiting for her.
    Not a good sign.
    â€œWhat’s up?” she asked.
    Logan threaded his fingers through Hope’s in a move so casual, Lyka didn’t think he was even aware of the act. “Joseph wasn’t pleased that we were healing thechildren. Or, more accurately, he wasn’t pleased that they needed healing.”
    â€œI know. His royal highness already expressed his displeasure with me.”
    â€œWe can’t afford to upset anyone right now,” said Hope, sliding her honey-blond hair behind her ear. “Everyone is too uneasy about what Connal did.”
    Logan’s expression darkened with anger. “Even we Sanguinar still can’t believe what he did. Stealing a child? It’s unconscionable. But she’s right. We have to ease the fears that run rampant here. Nothing we do can upset anyone.”
    â€œSo you’re just going to bend over and do what Joseph says?” asked Lyka.
    â€œAren’t you?” said Hope.
    â€œI want to make nice, but it’s hard to do when he’s so very wrong.”
    â€œHe told us he would let us know his decision in a couple of days,” said Logan.
    â€œAnd he expects us all to sit on our hands until then? I don’t think