Page 86 of All's Fair in Lion and War
She turned with that final statement and strutted back to her truck like she didn’t have a care in the world.
Col felt sorry for the poor bastard who’d spoken up, whichever one it’d been.
After her truck turned around in the drive and was gone, everyone turned toward the Tribe’s newly acquired lion males.
The one who’d spoken up first for his brothers was still watching the road where her truck had disappeared from view. A look of confusion and hurt blanketed his face. To his credit, he wasn’t chasing Connie.
Col wasn’t sure he would’ve had the same self-restraint.
“And you would be?” Naomi asked.
“Aarav.”
Several more vehicles parked in the drive and the rest of the Tribe who’d been in the bunkers climbed out.
“Good luck with her.” Naomi bid him, before running toward Katherine and Knox. She hugged Katherine and then they went into the cabin together with the infants.
All but Ava followed her into the cabin. Ava met Ryder halfway and gave him a long kiss before turning to Col.
“Vraka, is Connie unwell? I saw her leave just now.” Ava asked, giving the new lions a guarded glance.
“She is my mate.”
Ava looked over at Aarav. “I assume that means you told her. Just like that?”
He nodded.
“Well damn. Sucks for you. NobodytellsConnie anything, except maybe Col. She does still have a healthy respect for you.”
Colhumphedand crossed his arms over his chest. “I somehow doubt that.”
Ava glanced up at him with a sly grin. “Okay, maybe not. She knows none of us would ever hurt her. We all love her and consider her family.”
“But she doesn’t have a mate already?” Aarav asked, the tiniest bit of hope creeping into his voice.
“Nope. No mate. But she’s not going to be an easy one to win over,” Ava answered.
“As long as there’s no one with a claim on her, I can be patient.”
30
Lorelei
Four Days Later…
“They will be there? Males from Rivian’s tribe?” Prickles crawled along her skin like dozens ofspegrhi—tiny insects on Reylea with ten barbed legs.
Saul pulled a shirt on and turned to face her where she still sat on the bed.
“What about the dragons?”
“Kann said most of Novik’s men have already left. It’s only he and his mate with two other warriors. And the lions are staying in town. Katherine has them bunked down in the bunker for now. It was the only place with enough beds for them to all stay together.”
“What about the woman. Heather? The one you said had matched to one of the males.”
“She’s staying with the other women right now. They are all at the twin cabins down the road from here.” He walked back to the bed and sat down, put his arm around her and squeezed. “Do you remember any of them?”
“No, I don’t think so. I met three of the women in the bunker. And then Mira and Dyna healed us. But he kept us very separated. I don’t have memories of any of them. Or any of the men outside of the pod that kept me.”
