Strong hands shackled my wrists, chained me, gagged me, spun me until my chest hit the tunnel wall and the air burst from my lungs. Panting, I twisted so I could name my attacker. I saw no aura, and that absence was telling. I bit into the meat of his palm. When a ripe male curse was hurled at me, I spat blood at him. “Release me, Vaughn, or your brother will hear of this.”
“Half-brother.” He pinned me to the wall as he examined his hand. “And I don’t think so.”
“Rhys will—”
“—no doubt be as curious as to why you’re skulking in tunnels as I am.” He caught my arm and bent to my ear. “Come on, little mouse. I’ll be kind and save you the retelling of your story.”
Without knocking, he barged into the lavish council chambers, shoving me before him.
Conversation died as all heads turned towards us. Scowls etched each of the elders’ faces.
“Let me go,” I demanded.
His chuckle was low and dark. “Now where would be the fun in that?”
“Mana, are you well?” Rhys left his wife’s side and pried my arm from his brother’s grasp.
Rhys’s vibrant eyes shone with concern. Seeing him eased a knot in my chest. His and my coloration were so similar, it was as if I had looked into a mirror. Our eyes were emerald bright, our hair black and sleek, and our skin sun-kissed. All hallmarks of our shared Salticidae heritage.
“I found her in the tunnel.” Vaughn traced the shell of my ear. “Listening at the door.”
Rhys transferred his frown onto me. “Is that true?”
“I—”
“Hush now.” Lourdes slipped between the males and dabbed her handkerchief to my mouth. “Your lip is bleeding.” She spun on Vaughn. “Why is her lip bleeding? What did you do to her?”
“It was dark.” His voice went gruff. “I saw a threat—I didn’t think. I reacted.”
Her eyebrows winged into her hairline. “You honestly expect me to believe that you, whose reputation as a tracker is unrivaled, noticed a possible threat and failed to put your nose to use?”
He glared. “Aren’t you the one who told me that sniffing people is rude?”
Her sparkling blue eyes rounded in mock surprise. “You mean you were actually listening?”
“Enough,” Rhys said. “My nose is a sight worse than his, but even I can scent the blood isn’t Mana’s.” He smirked at his brother. “It’s yours. Should I be asking…what did Mana do to you?”
His jaw set. “She bit me.”
“I defended myself.” I wiped my mouth and met his stare. “It’s not as if I’m venomous.”
“You bit me. No female has ever bitten me.” His eyes narrowed. “And lived.”