I didn't have to get inside his mind to know what he was thinking. I'd told him to kill Zoey, and he'd tried. If she hadn't shifted to wolf form, he would have succeeded. She was the one that got away, and he hated that.
“Not every problem can be solved by killing someone, Arys, though I can't say that it's a bad outlook for the most part.” Another swig of wine. I was tempted to start drinking straight out of the bottle.
“You know what your problem is? Both of you?” Arys looked pointedly at Shaz and then me. “This little thing called humanity. Too much talk and fuss, not enough getting the job done and moving on.”
Shaz nodded thoughtfully, drawing my eyes to him. He'd been quiet since we sat down and told Arys about our little outing. I didn't really have a clue how he felt. He slouched in the corner of the couch, sipping a cold drink. His energy was calm, and he watched us attentively.
“You may be right about this guy,” he said to Arys. “There is nothing good about him being here.” To me he added, “We're going to have to sit down with Kylarai and Julian to discuss this, as much as I hate to even entertain that thought.”
I sat up straighter in my chair, my eyes wide. “Really? Maybe just Ky. I can't watch you and Julian kill each other.”
He rolled his eyes at me and raised his glass to his lips. “Oh come on, Lex. I think you're more likely to snap and kill him than I am. Besides, they need to know what's up.
Especially Kylarai.”
“What about everyone else?” I frowned, worried about the half dozen or so other wolves in town. Was it worth mentioning at this point?
“Don't worry about them. If they need to know, we'll tell them. For now, I doubt they're in any kind of danger.” Shaz spoke casually but with authority. The Alpha wolf was strong in him, natural, and my wolf reacted strongly to his, pressing the surface of my being as if attempting to escape the confines of my human body.
My head was starting to pound. My mind had been reeling since our encounter. “I don't want to think about it anymore. I'm starting to get a tension headache.” I drained my glass of wine and decided that maybe I'd grab the bottle after all.
Just as I pushed myself up out of the chair to head to the kitchen, Arys reached out a hand to me. Crooking his finger, he beckoned me over, patting the empty cushion between him and Shaz. That one gesture spoke louder than any words he could have said.
Abandoning my empty wine glass on the coffee table, I crossed the room and sat between them. It felt so naturally perfect, like I was whole with them on either side of me. When Arys took my hand in his, I surrendered it to him.
His skin felt cool on mine. When the telltale tingle started in the palm of my hand, I knew he was purposely calling the power. I started to pull away, but his grip tightened.
Bringing my hand to his lips, he placed small kisses on my fingertips. Then, I felt it, the surge of healing energy that he pushed into me.
It felt warm and exotic, sweeping through me like a euphoric wave. Just like that, the oncoming headache was gone.
“How do you do that?” My words came out on a lazy whisper. I was suddenly too calm to force them out any louder.
Arys smiled, a gentle tug of his lips that tickled me in private places. Our eyes met, and it was like falling under a spell. The power that he'd tapped continued to grow, and this time, I didn't fight it. It felt so much better to give in to the massive pull.
“It's just a matter of directing the energy, controlling the flow and giving it a purpose,” Arys replied. “It comes easier with time.”
His lips on my wrist created a spark that quickly began to burn. The tip of his tongue traced a moist path over my veins, and the blood rushed faster through them. With my free hand, I reached for Shaz. I turned to him, encouraged by the fire smoldering in his gaze. I ran a hand along his strong jaw, tracing his lower lip lightly with my thumb. Shaz bit it, and I smiled.
Arys' tongue delved into the soft hollow of my inner elbow, and I gasped. The heat of the sensual energy surrounding us enhanced the thrill. Touching both of them as I was, I felt like I was the link in the chain that held us all together in the heady glow of power.
Shaz kissed me hungrily, and my body temperature went through the roof.
This wasn't brand new for the three of us though it wasn't a regular occurrence either.
There have been times when I shared my attention with both men, though it has always had boundaries and limitations. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love being nestled between the two men that I adore more than anything in the world. If anything, it was the only time we all got along.
“I don't know about the two of you,” Arys murmured softly, his lips moving against my skin, “but I'm feeling especially drawn to the hot Were energy you're both giving off.
I need to feel it, to taste it.”