“Jaeden laughed under her breath. "Caia, it's called a crush. Believe me, Ryder makes me feel the same horrible mixture of happiness and despair. Add a pinch of lykan volatility and you've got yourself the teenage hormonal party from Hades.”

“Caia sighed. If this guy knew that he was in a room of lykans, two of which who looked as if they could happily rip him apart, the cockiness would soon dissolve and the peeing of the pants would commence.”

“She tried to offer Ella help but was shooed back into her seat between Magnus and Irini. She watched incredulously at the amount of food these males piled onto their plates. She hadn’t touched her own plate yet, her eyes jumping from Lucien to Ryder, to Aidan, to Magnus, as they scoffed large amounts of beef down. Irini giggled beside her before elbowing her to get her to stop staring and start eating.Ella laughed, obviously having noticed and understood the reason behind Caia’s wide eyes. “Don’t mind them, honey. They’re just animals. You’ll get used to them.”Ryder choked in amusement as he took swig of water, and Aidan and Magnus joined his laughter.Lucien merely shrugged. “What?”This set them off again.“Dude, we’ve frightened Caia with our non-existent manners,” Aidan explained smiling at her.“No, no-” she tried to protest.Lucien frowned. “We’re just eating.”“Caia’s not used to eating at the watering hole.”

“Not able to stop it, I felt a small smile tilt up the corners of my mouth. "Noted. Althought I must protest that you keep forcing unwanted kisses on me.""It's the only way to get one. Unwanted indeed." He raised a knowing eyebrow at me. Arrogant Knave. I shook my head, feeling sad and happy all at the same time. "Why do you persist, Wolfe?" His grin was slow and wicked as he stood back from me, allowing my body and mind to breathe again. "Strategy.""Strategy?"He cocked his eyebrow. "At first I thought imposed isolation would make you miss me-""Why you arro-""-But then I realised that it's being near me you can't resist. And there are only so many kisses you'll take before you give in to me completely, Rogan.”

“Ouch. “Bite me.”Jai grinned slyly and looked up at her from under his lashes. “Just tell me how hard.”

“No. Caia’s heart thumped angrily. They were not going to treat Lucien like some C-list recruit, whilst they pandered to her, just because they wanted something from her. And she needed Lucien close by. This was all so weird, so fast; she needed his strength beside her.“Yeah, well, while you’re at it, ask Madam to arrange a guest suite for Lucien in close location to mine.”He frowned. “Together you mean?”Caia flushed. “No, not together. Next to one another.”Lucien was beginning to look seriously, uncomfortably, pissed off. “Caia you don’t-” “It’s not for you, it’s for me, so swallow it or choke on it.”

“You'll protect my Caia.”