Page 29 of Elusive Mate

“The two of you know I won’t be swayed by some fancy veterinary clinic set up, right? I’m making a list of what else would be needed to make this place state-of-the-art. Someone else…”

Zaiden put his hand on his sister’s forearm. “There will be no one else. This is your clinic.”

Zenya removed his hand. “I won’t be here.”

Angered, Zaiden grabbed her wrist. “You will. You need to accept that. Lucian has bent over backwards trying to make this as easy for you as he could, and all you do is snarl at him. I doubt there is a tigress at Ice Storm that would turn him away.”

“Then maybe you’d best tell him to look their way,” Zenya said, jerking her arm away. “I don’t want him.”

“Bullshit. You’re fated mates. Every time you say his name, your pupils dilate. You’re as wild for him as he is for you.”

“I am not,” she protested, perhaps a little too vehemently.

“Again, I say bullshit. And let’s not even talk about the fact that he hasn’t opted to punish you in any way for eluding me in San Francisco. I have to admit, I still don’t know how you did it.”

“Nor will you ever. Ask yourself this, Zaiden—if I’m his fated mate, why do I keep running away from him every chance I get? Why did I turn my back on my home and a brother I once loved to keep from being forced into his bed?”

“Because you’ve always gotten your way. After Lucian killed Zion, he wouldn’t let anyone rein you in. He let you grow up wild and strong and what does he get for that? Your disdain.” Zaiden stopped and stepped back. “Zenya, I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t want us to be at odds.”

“Then be my brother and not his beta. Get me a burner cell phone. Better yet, get me a burner cell phone, some camping equipment, and warm clothes. Take him to meet with the Resistance. By the time you get back, I’ll be long gone and neither of you will ever see me again.”

“I can’t do that.”

“No, you won’t do that,” she accused.

“That too. Ask yourself this. Do you really think that if I didn’t believe you were his fated mate that I would help him? That I wouldn’t do everything in my power to see that you got what you say you wanted?”

Zenya said nothing and turned her back on him. She had forgotten how close she and Zaiden had once been and how he’d always been able to read her better than anyone. Well, anyone other than Lucian.

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll make a deal with you.”

“What’s that?” she asked, not turning around.

“If you can convince me that you genuinely do not have feelings for Lucian and can manage to keep your hands off of him and stay out of his bed, I’ll leave it alone. I’ll even speak to Lucian on your behalf. If he doesn’t agree to let you go or let you live here in peace, I’ll get you what you need, but not so you can hike out of here. I’ll find a way to get you in touch with the Shadow Sisters and I’ll help them get you out.”

“He’ll kill you.”

“Maybe, but maybe I’m right, and you’ll see Lucian’s feelings for you are real and that you are truly his fated mate.”

“And if I can’t convince you or I end up in his bed?”

“Then you’ll quit with all this nonsense, admit he was right all along, and allow him to claim you so that you become what has always been your destiny—first lady of the Baihu clan.”

Zenya turned around and extended her hand. “Deal. But if you don’t hold up your end of the bargain, I will let your precious alpha know you were willing to betray him.”

Zaiden took her hand and shook it. “You have yourself a bargain, little sister. A bargain I hope you lose in spectacular fashion. If you don’t believe anything else, believe that I have always loved you.”

She released his hand. “I think you love me as much as you can. Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t enough not to deliver me into the hands of my enemy.”

Zaiden shook his head. “I would never betray either of you. The two of you belong together. I’ve known it almost as long as Lucian has.”

“Then you are both wrong.”

Zaiden glanced at his watch. “They should be getting ready to serve lunch. How about you put a lead on that thing, and we head back to the house. We can grab a big dog bed from the storehouse, and you can let him start exploring his new play space. They should have the chain-link fencing finished this afternoon. We can add the drain and have it ready to go tomorrow.”

Not trusting her voice, Zenya merely nodded. Probably best to make them both start thinking she was becoming the meek and submissive mate that Lucian wanted. She would bide her time letting her brother think that she believed him and was going along with his plan. She didn’t and she wouldn’t. She would be long gone before they realized the truth.

CHAPTER 12

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