Page 21 of Elusive Mate

“No, I wouldn’t. Whoever is coming from the Shadow Sisters will be able to figure that out, but I’d prefer not to give them any kind of heads up.”

Realization dawned. “It was you, wasn’t it?” she asked, looking at him.

He really was a gorgeous man. Tall and muscular with ice blue eyes and dark hair. For most women, he would be considered perfection. Zenya wasn’t most women.

“Yes. I wanted to flush you out.”

Zenya leaned against the window, closing her eyes. He’d outsmarted her. She sank into herself and retreated from the world. She refused to answer any of his questions or make small talk. She ought to be grateful he was at least trying to be cordial, but she wasn’t. The life she had planned for herself was over… at least for now.

CHAPTER 9

ZENYA

They arrived at the airport.

Zenya waited until the SUV came to a halt, exited and got Lucky and his crate and headed for the plane’s extended staircase. She would have liked to have shifted and run, but she couldn’t do that with Lucky in his crate, and he wasn’t ready yet to be released to fend for himself. She would have to wait for the right opportunity.

How had Lucian found her? How had he gotten the number to that phone? It shouldn’t surprise her. She had forgotten he was as smart as he was gorgeous.

“Zenya, I wish you would let me carry that for you,” said Lucian.

She walked toward the plane and without looking at him she said, “I would prefer you never touch me or anything that is mine ever again, but as we both know you aren’t willing to do that, I will bow to your wishes about everything except those in my care. I don’t think Lucky would do well on his own, so for now he remains in my care.”

Zenya waited for an argument. When she got none, she looked to see if he was close enough to hear her. He was. She regarded him with a disdainful expression, and when he said nothing, she continued on to the plane. His behavior, while still commanding, was definitely more respectful and thoughtful than she had anticipated. It was throwing her off. He was supposed to be a certain way and if he wasn’t going to behave in the way he always had, how was she supposed to know how to act?

“I think we can secure his crate next to the seat in the back. That way he’ll be right next to you. My guess is this will be his first plane ride.”

Arching her eyebrow, she asked, “Are you trying to be funny?”

“No. I was trying to be amusing, hoping I could put you at ease. Obviously, I have failed miserably. Can I ask you a stupid question?” She nodded. “Are you sure he isn’t a shifter?”

She stopped midway down the aisle when he stopped. “I could tell if he was a shifter.” She tried to keep the smile from forming and failed. “To be completely honest, I did ask.”

Lucian chuckled. If the last eight years had matured her, they had mellowed him. She shook her head.

“What just went through that beautiful head of yours?”

“I was thinking that you seemed different…”

“Better?”

“Yes, but then I reminded myself, you are kidnapping me and dragging me back to a place I don’t want to be.”

She could see the place Lucky’s crate would fit. When Zenya set it down, she struggled to get it situated correctly. Lucian was able to get the crate positioned next to a single seat and secured. The seat across from hers was opposite Lucky’s crate and the space across from her seat was a table.

The plane started to taxi down the runway, gaining speed and momentum as it lifted off into the night sky.

“Did there used to be a side table where Lucky’s crate is?”

“Yes. We had an altercation in the plane, and it was broken. It’s being repaired, but I thought his crate might go there.”

“Altercation? You mean you got pissed and broke it?”

There was that chuckle again. She didn’t remember ever hearing him laugh, much less chuckle.

“It was your brother when he was flying back from California. He likes to say he was angry and frustrated. I think he was more afraid than anything.”

“Afraid of what you might do to him?” she accused.

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