27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

Settling Toni and the charming Raeth Remmus into their rooms, Cortana headed back toward the offices. Stunned by Riaz's untoward behavior, she'd been mortified when he had swiftly abandoned them to their own devices.

She needed answers, but what she found floored her.

Ava was curled into Riaz's body, clutching at his shirt, and visibly shaking. Each strangled cry wrung from the depths of the woman's soul. The way her alpha held her was akin to a parent comforting a child. The she-wolf had disappeared in his hold, her muffled sobs lancing Cortana's heart.

Without a doubt, she knew this was her fault. "I'm sorry."

Neither made any move to part company, but Riaz's eyes found her. "We're unaccustomed to Raeth travel. In the future, I would appreciate a warning before we have any unexpected visitors that travel by way of teleportation."

The chastisement was clear; Cortana's actions had been without thought. "Of course. Ava, please forgive me."

At the sound of her name, the other woman reared back slowly from Riaz, sniffling. In a tribute to her steeliness, she offered Cortana a dip of her chin. "Just surprised, that's all. I'm fine now."

It was clear she wasn't, and guilt settled a heavy burden over the vampire's shoulders. Instead of prying, Cortana moved on. "Toni is game to go create the fire line now if you are. As her husband is a vampire, she holds the same hours as us."

Riaz nodded. "And the Raeth?"

"He'll accompany Toni."

Cortana didn't miss the way Ava breathed a sigh of relief. Riaz's russet eyes regarded his second with a calculated gaze before focusing back on Cortana.

"I'll take them around the territory. Ava will remain behind to hold down the fort."

The pack, eager to see the Elemental's abilities, became her fluffy hiking companions when they set off an hour later. Remmus gamely donned Toni's backpack and engaged in animated conversation with Riaz and several interested she-wolves before they disappeared into the woods.

Beside her, Ava's posture became notably less tense. Before Cortana could ask her why, the other woman disappeared back into the den, leaving her alone amidst the stars.

With a startle, she became aware of the wolf trotting towards her. A smattering of grey on a mostly tan coat, the wolf bore the cat-green eyes that she instantly recognized as Renata.

Shifting seamlessly back to two legs, the she-wolf's lip curled in disgust. "Riaz is mine, vampire."

"Funny, I don't remember him agreeing to that."

Renata sneered. "That's because you've manipulated him with your mind tricks, you worthless Fang."

"I actually felt pity for you and your delusion until just now," Cortana mocking tone changed to a slight threat, idly plucking her dagger from her holster and tossing it back and forth between her hands. "If that's all the respect you have for Riaz and his strength of will, you aren't fit to be in this pack."

The deep throated snarl that roared from Renata's lips was the only precursor to the attack. Fingers curled into claws, the woman leapt at her. Renata was skilled and far nimbler than Cortana had given her credit for, but the vampire had centuries of grappling under her belt.

Renata's bared teeth snapped viciously—and harmlessly—in a predictable attack at Cortana's throat, which she easily sidestepped.

Renata stumbled past her, whirling with a noise of outrage before throwing a right hook. The only thing she hit was air. Unamused, Cortana swooped under the she-wolf's open defenses to grip a hand around her neck.

Taking advantage of the extra velocity, Cortana slammed the she-wolf to the ground, using her other hand to block a sloppy jab the defeated woman attempted to land.

"Don't think you can win against me, wolf."

The vampire's expression betrayed her dislike for the other woman and her misguided possessiveness over the man who'd already acknowledged he was Cortana's mate.

"Yield."

Bared teeth were Renata's only response, the werewolf writhing beneath Cortana's smaller body but gaining no leverage. From the sidelines, a whistle sounded. Ava entered the vampire's peripheral vision but made no move to separate them.

"Yield, Ren. She's beaten you."

A second later, the she-wolf stilled beneath Cortana, the look of defeat twisting her flawless features into something wicked. When the concession finally fell from Renata's lips, the chokehold was released, and the woman clutched at her neck.

In an effort to be sporting, Cortana offered the other woman a hand up.

Renata took one look at the offering and sneered, "I'd rather bite off my own tail than accept your hand in friendship, vampire."

Leaping to her feet, she brushed the dust from her clothes and straightened, heavy bitterness still on her features. Cortana maintained eye contact, establishing her dominance over the other woman, until Renata averted her gaze in submission. She slowly backed away, finally turning tail and all but stumbling into the den.

A clap drew her attention.

Riaz's smirking face appeared out of the darkness, hands still connecting in a show of appreciation. "Well done, Pet."

A swell of pride burst in her chest, her cheeks blushing as she regarded him. Seeing his approval made a difference to her, she was surprised to discover. As he drew near, she exhaled to cleanse the aggression that still simmered below the surface.

"I take no joy in kicking puppies," she drawled, "but for one as spiteful as her, I'll allow myself a bit of fun."

Riaz's grin was ravishing. "A celebration is in order. I'm taking you into town."

"Don't you have someplace to be?" Cortana waved a hand toward where the pack had vanished to create the fire line. "And when did you even return?"

"Renata choreographed her intentions by skulking at the back of the pack, and when she turned around, it was a no brainer."

Squinting at him through narrowed eyes, Cortana asked, "Why didn't you intervene?"

"I don't intervene in dominance battles unless they're my own." Everything about his tone was stoic. "Renata needed to be put in her place and not by me. Her position in the hierarchy beneath you has nothing to do with our relationship or lack thereof. Besides," there was that lopsided grin again, "I knew you had it well in hand."

"And I'm sure your abstinence had nothing to do with the fact that we were fighting over you?"

A masculine satisfaction gleamed in his eyes, the russet brown glinting with pride. Mockingly placing a hand over his heart, he asked, "Me? Nah, Pet, I'd never derive pleasure from such a violent expression of your admiration for me."

Mumbling about ridiculous wolves, Cortana simmered as Riaz glanced to Ava. "I'm taking the Bat Queen into Estes. We'll be back before the sun rises."

"Good," Ava retorted. "I'm not a fan of roast vamp."

***

By the time they'd gotten into Estes Park, the majority of shops had already closed. Streetlights were still lit, and bubbly chatter still wafted from bars, but most stores were quiet and dark, asleep for the night.

Riding on the back of Riaz's bike again had been a challenge. Not only did she now understand where the wolf's head was at, but Cortana's own desire had been slowly but surely taking the reins.

She'd spent the majority of the ride trying to stop her fingers from exploring the rigid planes of his chest and abs, marveling in his body and snuggling against his back.

As she was about to swing a leg over the bike and hop off, Riaz's hand captured hers, resting it on his heart, rough fingers delicately tracing her knuckles. For a moment, Cortana didn't move. A shiver feathered over her flesh, her body yearning for his on a primal level she barely understood.

Neither of them spoke; they didn't need to. And when Riaz released her, ending their tiny, stolen moment of peace, she felt instantly bereft.

Snapping back into motion, Cortana handed the wolf her helmet, waiting silently as he hooked both of them over the handlebars. His cheerful, engaging smile made her heart pitter patter in her chest.

"Ready?"

Cortana nodded. "Where are we going?"

Riaz laced his fingers through hers, catching her so off guard that she didn't have a chance to pull away before he'd secured them against her skin. "I'm taking you to a place where you can put those fingers to good use."

"I'm sorry?"

Oblivious, he continued, "You may need to do some stretches, limber up beforehand. Do a few jumping jacks and practice your spirit fingers. It's incredibly tedious work."

"Where are we going?" She almost didn't want to know.

"You ready for it, Bytes-A-Lot?"

He didn't immediately disclose the answer, ramping up her curiosity as he strutted happily beside her. When he turned on her with an infectious smile, she couldn't help but mirror it.

Then, he revealed their destination: "Pottery painting!"

Her anticipation crashed. "Pottery painting?"

"I even added it to your itinerary," he added proudly.

"No, you didn't."

"I did!" he snapped back. "It's in pencil on the printed-out version you taped to my door. It says: ‘Do something with Riaz.'"

"That's hardly adding it to my schedule." His incredulous look challenged her, and Cortana gave in. "Fine. It kind of counts."

"Well, you're kind of cute."

She rolled her eyes, delighting in the way happiness bubbled within her.

"We take the kids here all the time," he said, chuckling. "We also break half their shop when we come in, which means we're simultaneously their favorite customer and the one they loathe. Don't worry, we pay for everything we break."

"That sounds—"

"—Awesome? I know! Let's go, Danger Fangs!"

"Wait, are you serious?"

As her feet slowed, he stopped, finally turning and reading her hesitation. He leaned forward, his nose almost level with hers as his gorgeous brown eyes ensnared her. "While it may not be leaping over silver fences and outrunning bullets, I can promise you: it'll be fun."

Sucking in a breath at the promise, her skin pebbled with goosebumps. The deeply masculine scent of cedar brushed over her senses, bringing with it a new wave of desire.

She was his, as much as he was hers.

Trapped in his gaze, Cortana's fingers itched to reach up and trace the line of his jaw. The barest traces of a smile hovered over his ruggedly handsome features, the effect of it making her preen toward him like a flower toward the sun.

She cocked her head, suddenly suspicious. "What are you doing? Trying ‘The Smolder' on me?"

The somewhat guilty smile that bloomed on his face was ridiculously goofy, lightening his features. "Is it working?"

"I can assure you, it is not."

Oh, but it was.

Abruptly, he pulled away. "Come on, the shop is almost closed for the night."

A pang of hunger rumbled in her stomach as the wind caught his scent. Her fangs sharpened in her mouth. With a start, she realized that though she'd taken Riaz's blood only days ago, she hadn't had a substantial meal in some time.

Compounding how delectable his blood was and the way her body yearned for him, it'd be a miracle if she could stop herself from draining him dry. Cortana knew all too well the risks of taking blood from someone she loved—and what happened when her inhibitions were released.

She laid it out for him. "I need to feed."

One look at him confirmed he knew she wouldn't be taking his blood. Annoyance had shadowed his gaze. The pair of them continued to walk toward the pottery shop despite Riaz's near-silent growl of irritation.

"And you can't take what you need from me?"

"You're not my blood type, wolf."

She could almost hear the thoughts in his head: he'd made it clear he thought that it was his responsibility to keep her satisfied—fed—and she was refusing to accept what he proposed. The problem was that she couldn't—not without endangering him.

He swallowed audibly. "Do you need to go back to the den? To … feed?"

"No, I can wait."

She could almost feel the relief translate through their joined hands. Seconds later, Riaz stopped walking. "We're here."

Deep brown eyes regarded the pottery shop off the main drag.

"We've been taking the pups and new arrivals here on a regular basis every year since it was built and opened in the seventies," Riaz explained. "It's important to have time with them as their alpha, and it's become something of a time-honored tradition. Fortunately, it's changed owners several times, so we don't have anyone too suspicious."

Riaz's smile turned sad. "We brought Benny here about a year ago. He painted five of them. Five. That kid was always trying to prove himself, didn't matter what it was."

He hummed, the sound somber, and shook his head. "The pottery I've created here takes up a sizable shelf in my den. Ava keeps telling me to sort through it, that one day, it's going to give out and everything is going to break. She has no idea that I've reinforced it three times to make sure if doesn't collapse." He smiled, playfully tugging her toward the entrance. "Come on, Pet."

Stepping through the open doors, Cortana's attention snagged on the multitude of blank white pottery options lining the wall. There were the typical small pots, coasters, and plates, but what fascinated her were the artsy animals that sat just beneath them.

Immediately, she was drawn to the sculpture of a howling wolf.

"No kids today?"

Cortana looked up to see the brunette shopkeeper grinning, and Riaz returned the expression. "Nope, just one slightly troublesome date."

"Good," the shopkeeper pointed to one of the open tables. "You can sit there. I'll grab you some paints and you both can choose a ceramic."

"Thanks Emily. As always, you're amazing."

There was no contest: Cortana took the howling wolf ceramic. Riaz, on the other hand, leisurely perused the collection, mumbling to himself while she strode over to their table. The only other painters were a family of four with two kids under the age of ten, and it seemed they were almost finished.

When Riaz finally sat down beside her, he wore a mile-wide grin.

"Which one did you choose?"

He plunked it on the table. "The bat."

Snorting, she bit her lips. "I can't imagine why."

"I see you've selected the grandest of all beasts." Then, his expression darkened. "If you paint it any color other than brown, I'm going to be crushed."

"Guess I better put back the turquoise and lime green."

Ten minutes later, they were both deep into their craft. Cortana had grabbed a subtle brown color to paint her ceramic wolf, taking great pride in making sure the tips of his paws remained white.

Beside her, the massive werewolf alpha was sitting in a plastic chair that creaked whenever he moved, delicately painting brown eyes on a ceramic bat. His every attention was fixated on making it perfect, and occasionally, she saw orange flare behind his gaze. Something about the ancient immortal using children's paint brushes made her heart leap, and she giggled at the scene.

It instantly caught his attention, and he turned to face her. His eyes widened in surprise before pointing to her cheek and saying, "You've painted yourself, Cort."

"I have not."

His features pinched in pity, still smiling. "Let me take care of you."

The velvet purr of his voice had her blushing, and she leaned forward. Drabbing a wet cloth against her cheek, his gentleness surprised her anew. Cool fabric and warm fingers were conflicting sensations, but it made Cortana melt. For a man who was an apex predator, Riaz's compassion warmed her.

"There," he said after a few more dabs. "Lovely as always."