Davina (Davy Harwood #3)

Christian Christane stepped forward with blond locks that the wind whipped back and forth. He had blue eyes, as clear as the aqua colored Mediterranean, and he strode forward with confidence and authority that emanated from him. Large muscular shoulders and a trimmed waist, not many men could measure against the Alpha Christane, but many would try. An air of sharp intelligence gave others an impression that Christian didn’t care what others thought of him; the only item of importance was what he thought about others. What he deemed is what was.

Pippa approached behind her brother by a step. Her reddish hair was no longer worn in two braids, but flowed freely around her face. It tossed around her shoulders, the same as her brother’s, but both ignored it. As they continued to approach Davy’s boyfriend, her fingers twitched. She lifted her hand to adjust her coveralls strap, but they stopped short on her shoulders. She no longer wore those coveralls anymore. When she had returned home, their older sister burned every piece of clothing Pippa owned. Her closet now housed clothing that she had only ever seen on models, such as now as she wore a white cashmere sweater that showcased her slender body over custom tailored jeans.

Pippa no longer looked like the awkward freshman she had been. Lola Christane wanted her little sister to be the beautiful woman that she knew was in there. Unfortunately, at tense moments like these, Pippa longed for her coveralls and braids. She would’ve felt more comfortable.

“Pip?” Christian stopped and glanced over his shoulder. He could feel his sister’s nerves.

She forced herself to relax. “I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”

He patted her on the arm. “We’ll find your friend. Roane is the best hunter I know.”

She nodded. “I know.”

Then they turned together, Pippa beside him, and stared across a space of fifteen feet.

Roane, Bastion, and Saren stared back.

Christian’s eyes swept over the blue-leathered girl and frowned. He couldn’t remember this vampire, and from the condescension on her face, he knew he would’ve.

He nodded to her and asked, “Have you sired a new warrior?”

Roane narrowed his eyes and stepped forward. He blocked the Alpha’s view of her. “Thank you for coming, Christian.”

His blue eyes snapped to Roane’s. “As if I had a choice. I could not ignore my sister’s friendship with this new thread-holder.”

Roane’s lips curved upward, but the half grin was gone in a second. His face was emotionless again. “Of course.”

“Of course.”

“It is nice to see you again, Pippa.” Roane’s voice was guarded, his body tense and on alert.

She gave him a tentative smile and said faintly, “I’m sorry about Davy.”

A dark emotion flashed in Roane’s eyes, but it was gone again instantly. As Christian watched, if he hadn’t been told by Pippa how much the Hunter cared for his lover he wouldn’t have been able to judge it for himself. Lucas Roane had never given him any window to his emotions. At one point the two might’ve called themselves friends, but it’d been shattered. While he respected Lucas Roane, he would never trust him enough to let down his own guard.

Christian spoke curtly, “Should we be going then?”

“How many wolves have you brought?”

His eyes narrowed further. “Around forty.”

The blue-leathered girl sneered at him. “He has seventy-five men. Only thirty have come forward to intimidate us, but he has more behind them. He wasn’t going to let you know about the last forty-five.”

“How do you know that?”

Her eyes narrowed, and a flame leapt in them. “I counted, dog.”

Bastion glanced at Roane, both hid their amusement as Christian threw his head back in a snarl. His body flipped in the air, and a werewolf with sleek white fur landed in front of them. He pounced on Saren, ready to hold her captive with his large paws. She reacted before he could grab her and leapt higher in the air. Her knees bent forward and her arms stretched out as she lifted higher and higher in the air.

Christian roughly landed on the ground, but his head reared back, and he was after her in the next second.

“Christian!” Pippa yipped at him.

He looked back, and his werewolf transformed back to his human form. Two of his men ran forward, and he emerged from behind them with clothes on instantly. When he stood in his place beside his sister again, Saren returned to her place.

Roane looked at her. “You are not helping here. Leave.”

She growled.

“Now!”

Pippa shifted on her feet and clasped her hands as the two were locked in a staring battle. After a moment, the girl warned, “I will be back, vampire. You will need my assistance.”

“I’m sure we will. Come back. Later.”

Saren took one step backwards and vanished from their sight.

Pippa’s eyes went wide, and she gasped.

Christian’s eyes narrowed even further. “Who was that?”

Roane sounded weary. “She is an ally. She cares for Davy, as we all do.”

“She knows Davy?” Pippa’s voice squeaked.

“I will not travel with an ally I do not trust.”

Roane studied him a moment. “You don’t trust me, but you will fight for my cause.”

Christian fell silent, studying him in return.

Bastion moved forward a step, closer to his leader.