An Everlasting Bite by Stacey Kennedy Read Free Book Online Page B

the business that has brought us all here.”
    The crowd dissipated. Briggs looked at Rynn concern tightened his eyes. He sighed deep, but gave her a little grin. “Rough crowd.”
    Jokes weren’t appropriate now, she needed answers to her questions and the truth.
    “What was that about with Tiago?”
    Briggs’ opened his mouth, but Valor interrupted. “Briggs, I need a minute with you, alone.”
    Oh, all this wasn’t sitting well at all. Knowing there were secrets didn’t make her happy.
    “I will be only a moment,” Briggs, obviously sensing her distress, gave her a soft smile and kissed her cheek. “Wait here,” he told her. He approached Valor, who stood near the front porch.
    Once there, Valor placed a hand on Briggs’ shoulder, just as he had before, leaned in and whispered something in his ear. Immediately, Briggs’ shoulders sank and his gaze cut to Rynn’s. She shuddered at the concern in his eyes and the torment raging through him.
    Valor said something again that made Briggs glance at him and nod.
    While Valor made his way into the house, Briggs headed back toward her, gaze on the ground. When he stopped in front of her, he lifted his gaze, his eyes soft but conflicted.
    His expression told her something was terribly wrong. With the bond they shared, it was a dead giveaway.
    “You okay?” she asked, concern made her voice squeak.
    He nodded dully. “I’m all right, love.” He cupped her cheek. “You have questions and I will answer them, but first, let’s run you a bath. It’s been a bit of a rough day and it will be an even longer night with that bunch of wankers.”
     

 

     
     

Chapter Five
     

 

     
     

     
    The steaming hot water pounded against Rynn’s skin as the jets moved it around in the tub. She sighed, ran her hands through the water. The bathroom here was wide open.
    Wood layered the walls halfway, from there it was all glass until it met the wooden roof.
    Briggs had relaxation down pat. The room was filled with scented candles and rose petals floated along the water’s surface. Perfect and fluffy clouds peeked through the windows as each one drifted by.
    She could have stayed there for hours. Briggs’ objective of the bath worked, she felt calm and settled. Knowing the gathering would happen in less than a few hours, she reluctantly stepped out of the tub and drained the water.
    Briggs had left her an organic cotton bathrobe. She wrapped it around her body, reveling in its softness, which she could have stayed in for a lifetime. After she brushed out her wet hair, she opened the bathroom door.
    Valor stood, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. She jumped, startled.
    “Sorry, you scared me.”
    He pushed away from the wall and waved his hand to the right. “I just wanted to show you to your room. I apologize if I frightened you.”
    “No, no it’s okay,” she waved away his concern and forced her heart to settle. Valor had become a close friend these past weeks. Maybe even a father figure, which was odd since he looked around thirty, but didn’t act it. He seemed much older, especially in his eyes. Nothing about him scared her. He could be tough and powerful, but gentle.
    Three doors down, he stopped and turned toward her. She reached for the door handle, but Valor stopped her with a touch on her arm. She glanced at him. “Are you doing all right from the encounter today? Not too upset?”
    She shrugged a little, not really sure how she felt about it all. “I’m okay. Confused, but okay.”
    “Not to worry, sweetling,” Valor said with a soft smile in a low tender tone. “Briggs will explain the Alphas to you. I just wanted to make sure that the woman, Nera, didn’t worry you.”
    Rynn huffed. Oh yeah, Nera worried her all right. “She’s entitled to her opinions I suppose, but if she gives me a look like that again, I’ll smack it off her face.”
    Valor’s brows rose, amusement lit his dark eyes. “There might be a little wolf in you after