Page 96 of The Seducer
“What went through your mind when they told you she was your sister?”
Even from this distance I could tell his cheeks blushed a little. Hunter looked down and kicked at some gravel. “I probably shouldn’t say that in front of Solo.”
Solo whipped his head in Hunter’s direction. “Why not?”
Hunter lifted his gaze and looked straight at Solo. “Because you wouldn’t like it.”
Solo crossed his arms and furrowed his eyebrows. “Did you have a crush on Willow or something?”
“Of course he did,” Storm said and snickered. “We all did. But now we’re happy she chose you, because none of us wants that awful haircut of yours.”
Solo’s hands flew up to his hair, which was cut close to his scalp. He wasn’t as muscled or broad-shouldered as Finn or the other fully grown Nmen that I had seen, but he was getting there.
“Magni found Solo and Willow kissing a few weeks ago and he went ballistic,” Finn explained to me.
“That’s an understatement,” Hunter said. “The man shat a sheep, and we all thought he was going to kill Solo for real.”
“That’s horrible,” I exclaimed, hoping that the boys were exaggerating.
“Magni had every right to be angry,” Finn defended his friend. “Men in this country have been killed for less, and for good reason. With ten thousand men to one female, rigid laws are the only way we can protect our women, and just for the record…” Finn said and lowered his voice into a threatening growl, “Athena ismine.”
I gaped at him. “Was that necessary? They are merely boys.”
Finn lifted an eyebrow. “I don’t care. You might see them as boys, but each one of them has the strength to force himself on you. You’re a beautiful woman, and I know how horny boys can get.”
Tristan looked dumbfounded. I just shook my head and apologized to the boys on Finn’s behalf.
“No, it’s all right,” Solo assured me. “We would expect nothing less from a husband.”
“Finn isn’t my husband,” I hurried to say.
“I’m as good as her husband,” Finn claimed. “The rest is technicalities.” Tightening his grip around my waist, he looked down at me and smiled. “Come on, beautiful, there’s food to eat, and more people to meet.”
CHAPTER 30
War
Finn
Everyone wanted to meet Athena, and hear about her role as a priestess. Some of the youngest children asked if they could touch her tattoos. It was easy to see that Athena was comfortable with children and used to being around them.
Kya was excited to have the company, and kept bringing her more food and drinks.
“Christina was here earlier, hoping to meet you,” she said. “But you were sleeping for so long. Now that she’s pregnant she gets so tired at night. She’ll be back tomorrow though.”
“Finn.” Kya pinned me with a worried glance. “How long can you stay? We only have a minimum of damage, but the roof is leaking and I was hoping that you, Archer, and Marco could repair it tomorrow morning.” She looked up at the ceiling. “I would’ve asked Alexander, but Khan called him and Magni to the Gray Mansion.”
“I know, he called for me too.”
Athena’s glass of water stalled midair when she froze, and asked me, “You’re not leaving us here, are you?”
I looked in the direction of Tristan, who was glowing with excitement and speaking with new friends.
“Not tonight,” I said. “But tomorrow, I have to go and help Khan.”
“With what?” Athena asked.
“I’m one of his advisers and there’s a war brewing.”
