“Really?” Lexie smiled, clearly happy about the news. “I hadn’t heard.”
Tara nodded. She was happy for her friend, but it left her in an awkward position. “I think they make an adorable couple, er, trio, but the men are moving back into the cabin soon, which leaves me out in the cold.”
“You’re only in the shelter until you find a coalition you’re willing to date,” Lexie countered.
“So, date someone,” Claire reinforced. “That’s what I intend to do. I will never be cold and hungry again. Not when the alternative is sointeresting.”
Tara and Lexie laughed at her melodramatic inflection, but Tara’s mind was drawn back to that morning. She’d been alone with Isaac and Jon for less than ten minutes before they had her naked and completely under their control. She shivered. The experience had been way beyond interesting, but she didn’t want to spend the rest of her life with anyone that… dominant was the only word that truly fit.
“I’m going to go mingle,” Claire said. “Let’s all get together for lunch or something. I’d love to hear more about mated life.”
“I’d like that,” Lexie told her.
“Me too,” Tara added.
Claire melted into the crowd and Lexie looked at Tara. “Is she really as well adjusted as she’s pretending? Her brother was torn apart right in front of her a few weeks ago, yet she is ready to party. It doesn’t make sense.”
The reminder filled Tara with guilt. She’d been so focused on Akari that she forgot that one of her friends had been traumatized too. “She’s hiding from the pain. I’ll talk to her, see if she’ll let me counsel her.”
“Good. I’m worried about her.”
Everyone around them started whispering and the crowd suddenly parted. Tara looked across the room to see what had caused the disruption. Diego was returning from the refreshment table where Lexie had sent him a short time before.
Diego’s dark gaze locked on his mate and Lexie smiled. “Took you long enough,” she chided playfully.
After handing Lexie the wineglass, Diego took her face between his hands and kissed her mouth. The exchange was a carnalmating of lips and tongues. “You like it when I make you wait,” he teased when he finally raised his head. “How much longer do we have to stay here?”
Lexie laughed. “Until we find Tara a coalition.”
As if hearing her stipulation, the massive doors to the lodge banged open and Isaac, Jon, and another male strode in. Tara had never seen the third male before, but it stood to reason that he was Kyle. Everyone scrambled out of their way, much as they had for Diego. Did Shadows practice intimidation, or did it come naturally?
“You don’t look happy,” Lexie noted as the Shadows reached her and Diego. “Were there complications?”
Ah, this wasn’t a social visit. Shadow Team One was reporting to their leader.
“The mission went smoothly,” Isaac told her. His vivid green eyes shifted toward Tara for a moment and a sudden rush of heat cascaded through her body. “Unfortunately, we were unable to determine anything useful.”
“We’re not scientists,” Kyle grumbled. “I have no idea why Zion thought we would be able to figure out what the hell they’re doing.” His shaggy brown hair just brushed his shoulders and he had pale blue eyes. He was lean and exuded a sense of leashed strength. Lexie was right. Kyle wasn’t quite as intense as the other two.
“Maybe if you explained what you saw, or better yet show the images to someone with a medical background, they could figure out what it all means,” Lexie suggested.
Show them images? Tara was pretty sure Lexie didn’t mean photographs. Shadows could extract images from a person’s memory without them knowing about it. Why was she surprised that they could pass them from mind to mind?
Diego nodded. “I’ll have Malik contact you in the morning.”
“It would be helpful if Kane were there too,” Isaac said, suddenly tenser than before.
“Kane?” Diego was clearly surprised by the request. “What does Kane have to do with this?”
Isaac looked at Tara before he responded. “Is it alright to discuss this now or should the details wait?”
Diego followed the direction of Isaac’s glance and chuckled. “Tara is my mate’s best friend. Whatever Lexie knows, Tara knows.” Then he realized what he’d just said and turned to Tara. “I’m being rude. This is Shadow Team One, as you’ve likely figured out. Isaac is team leader.” He motioned to each male in turn. “That’s Jon, and finally Kyle.”
“I met Isaac and Jon this morning,” she said softly. “But it’s nice to meet you, Kyle.”
“Likewise.” A smile slowly passed across his lips and his vivid blue gaze lingered on her face.
He held out his hand and she shook it. His fingers engulfed hers and tingling heat zinged up her arm. A warm flush crept up her neck and pinkened her cheeks. Was Kyle as sexually aggressive as the other two? How soon could she find out? Her mouth went dry, so she quickly raised her glass and took a sip of wine.
