“Because I’m Mated,” Luke said as if I should have asked why. “Werewolves don’t stray. Ever.”
Luke smiled. I didn’t like his smile. And I didn’t like how he glanced at Carlos. I hated conversations with hidden meanings. It was like those stupid picture books where you had to find the guy with the red and white striped hat. I didn’t have time for games.
“Yeah...I don’t really care. I’ll talk to her. But after, you owe me twenty minutes in the exercise room. Deal?”
He appeared to like the idea.
“Deal.”
No doubt, he was remembering the beating I’d dished him at Ethan’s back door. Good. It would make the sparring more interesting.
Luke reached for the door and held it open for me. After we passed him, Carlos silently fell in behind us. I should have bought him a bigger shirt. There hadn’t been any bigger shirts.
Luke went straight to the exercise room, and I was surprised to see Bethi already there.
“You look like crap,” I said, taking in the shadows under her eyes and her pale complexion. Worry, fear, and desperation clouded the air.
“The dreams...you need to help me,” she said.
I knew what she meant. And I wanted to help her; I couldn’t imagine dreaming about dying over and over again. But I also knew what would happen when I did what she wanted.
“You’re going to turn into a crackhead.”
“I hear it’s a sexy look,” she said with a shrug.
I glanced at Luke. He watched Bethi with concern. When he felt my regard, he met my gaze and nodded. He’d seen Gabby. He knew what could happen. I sighed.
“Fine. You can sit on the sidelines. I’ll pull a little while I can drain it. But you have my back at the next stop.”
She eyed me for a minute then nodded. I liked her more for not asking what I wanted from her before agreeing to my terms.
“Ready to dance, Luke?” I asked with a grin. He moved to the center of the room.
I felt a wisp of vengeance and smirked at him. Yep, he was remembering the punch to the face. I rolled my shoulders and shook out my arms. I’d be using my fists this time.
“Luke.”
The way Carlos said his name had me turning. Carlos remained focused on Luke.
“Relax. She knows what she’s doing,” Luke said.
I wondered what Carlos would do if Luke managed to make contact.
Facing Luke once more, I waved him forward. He went right for my face as I’d expected. Pay back. I blocked it easily and let him stay on the offense. He grinned wickedly and started moving too quick for me to deflect. I winced at the openhanded whack to my side.
Carlos growled behind me. He actually growled? It almost distracted me. Annoyed, I pulled. Bethi’s desperation flooded me, as did Luke’s smugness. I grinned at him as he lost his momentum. Then, I jabbed at his face. He jerked his head back at the last second, so my knuckles only whispered along his jaw. Bethi giggled.
“Luv, who are you rooting for?”
“My sister,” she said with a grin. “She needs to win.”
Her giggle wasn’t real. I felt no humor coming from her. Just more worry and fear. I breathed again. Her fear filled me, and Luke’s annoyance burrowed under my skin. I scowled when he slowed further.
“Focus, Luke. You know what I do. I steal emotions. It weakens you. So stop feeling. If you’re not feeling, I’m not stealing.” I jabbed at his face again. This time I connected. It wasn’t hard, though. I didn’t want to hurt him.
I felt his burst of frustration.
“No frustration,” I said, dancing away from his slow counter-jab. “Get rid of it, or I’m taking it.”
I pulled again. He’d managed to get rid of his frustration because I didn’t get a thing from him. However, Bethi’s worry seeped into me. She heaved a relaxed sigh.
“Carlos, she needs to go,” I said without taking my eyes from Luke.
Luke grinned at me and swung again. I leaned to the side, ducking under his arm, and came back up with a fist to his jaw. I caught him in the same spot as before. He grunted.
“I’ll be right back,” Carlos said.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him walk Bethi from the room. I stopped pulling and laid into Luke.
I stared out the window, resisting the urge to ask if we were there yet.
“Are we there, yet?” Ethan asked in a whiny, high voice.
I grinned. God, we thought alike.
“No. And if you ask again, I’ll pull this car over,” Winifred said.
Winifred had learned to keep her emotions in check, so it made it hard to tell if she was teasing. I looked at the mirror and caught her smile. At least someone else in the car had a sense of humor besides Ethan and me.