Gravity (26 page)

reason. It is a great honor to see you as the Lord of our Pride,” a man said, bowing meekly. Tarek

ate up the groveling, although he tried to look bored by it as he floated his attention elsewhere.

A beautiful woman in a long black gown approached. She wore no perfume, but her skin

shimmered with some kind of fairy dusting. As she walked by the men, their noses lifted in the air,

as if a heavenly scent trailed behind her. She had glossy hair that was almost white, and her

attention was all over Tarek.

“Good evening, Sire,” she purred. “It’s been a long time. I see you’ve been doing well?”

“Not as well as you, Jasmine. You look good enough to eat,” he growled. After a moment of

familiar silence between them, he absently jerked me to his side. “This is Silver; she is to be my

mate.”

Jasmine barely flicked an eye at me as she ran her long red nail across Tarek’s hand. Female

Chitahs always had their eye on the prize.

“So nice to see you again, Tarek. Do call.” I felt a tremor go through him as she turned away,

and his greedy eyes watched as her hand stroked down her shapely hip.

“That’s the kind of female you should be,” Tarek mumbled.

“Desperate?”

An hour into the party, a few business associates pulled Tarek away. I dragged Christian into

an empty hallway by his tie. “Where the hell is Justus?” I said through clenched teeth.

“Something came up. He won’t be making it. Nor Simon.”

Disappointment flared. Sunny couldn’t attend because they had taken a short trip out of town

for the night to close out some storage space Knox was renting. “So that’s how it is?”

“It’s an emergency; that’s all I know.”

“What happened?” I glanced over my shoulder to confirm we had privacy. “Please tell me no

one is hurt or in trouble.”

“Remember what I said about bottling up those emotions, lass? I don’t know a fecking thing. I

only got the text.”

“Why don’t you get your lucky charms and see if you can find out what happened?”

“You know, the Irish jokes are getting a wee bit old,” he grumbled. “That mouth of yours will

get you into more trouble than you know.”

I folded my arms. “I have a black belt in sarcasm, Christian. Deal.”

Not a moment too soon, Tarek briskly walked up on us. His Mohawk had been trimmed shorter

and the buzz on both sides of his head looked like his hair was finally meeting up at the same

length. He tightened his fingers around my upper arm and pulled me down the hall.

“We have an important guest, so try not to wander off.”

I nearly tumbled over my stupid heels as he hurried me into the next room.

Tarek’s arm slid down my back like cream, but that’s not what made me shake. Across the

room, my eyes fell upon a tall man with a penetrating gaze. His short blond hair had been shaped

into a choppy cut, but it was still longish on top. Logan looked devastatingly handsome. The short

hair brought out the strength of character in his face; the hard, cut jaw; and the deep-set eyes

that absorbed the light and glimmered. He usually kept his face shaved, but stubble had grown in.

He had managed to steal Tarek’s thunder by drawing the attention of every woman in the room.

Logan’s presence radiated power.

Without the distraction of his long hair, his shoulders were remarkably broad and assertive.

Logan didn’t go all out with his attire but dressed in a casual white button-up and grey slacks. I

glanced down and noticed his trademark black sneakers. A hint of anger sparked on Tarek’s face

when he caught sight of him. Maybe he was trying to process the new hairstyle and meaning

behind it, but he most certainly did not appreciate that Logan Cross was the center of attention at

Tarek’s own engagement party.

“Cross,” Tarek bellowed. “I see you made it, and not a moment too soon. The little woman was

getting tired so I had to give her a little waking up, if you know what I mean.” He winked and

kissed my shoulder.

Logan stared at him, a man bored by childish attempts to instigate a reaction. When his voice

melted out, it was so sincere that my chest burned. “Congratulations to the both of you.”

I looked up at Tarek, whose eyes were fixated on the woman clutching Logan’s arm. I tried not

to look at her, but I knew who she was.

Red Dress.

When I had gone to the Gathering where Chitahs went in search of their kindred spirit, I’d

found Logan encircled by a group of women. Red Dress was the blonde in the red gown who had

decided Logan was hers.

Now he was.

She delivered the most satisfactory smile when she recognized me standing beside Tarek. I

imagined a glint of light sparkling off her tooth to the sound of a bell.

“Sire, I would like you to meet Eva.”

Eva lowered her head respectfully at Tarek. “It’s such an honor to meet you,” she spoke softly.

“This is an exquisite home; you are a man of great taste.”

Tarek would have enjoyed the compliment had he not been so perplexed with what exactly was

going on.

Logan’s hand cupped just below her ribs and he leaned into her in a familiar way. “Eva and I

have known each other for many years and she has accepted my offer to be her mate, bypassing

the traditional courtship.”

Tarek froze, and his hand squeezed my waist painfully, but I was numb.

“Mate, you say? But how can that be when Silver here is your kindred spirit?”

Eva laughed with closed lips. “Surely you’re kidding? Didn’t you claim her at the Gathering?”

“I did,” Tarek boasted, pulling me against him, a trace of his scent leaking onto me. “Silver is

my mate, and I had every right to claim her. Not before Logan tried, but he was not man enough

for her. Silver made the wiser choice, as I’m sure you would have.”

Tarek’s words softened and I realized his backup plan was to woo Logan’s woman. If I had to

share a house with Eva as Tarek’s mate…

Logan shook his head lightly. “Silver could never be my kindred spirit—this I know now. She’s

not a Chitah, and I can’t be sure what influence her Mage energy had on me. Eva embodies a

selfless quality that I admire, and any man would be lucky to have a woman who is so attentive to

a male’s needs.”

I couldn’t help it, but I involuntarily snapped my gaze at Christian standing at the far end of

the room. His shoulders lifted in a guilty shrug until he saw how pissed off I was. Then I got his

nasty glare. Surely Logan didn’t come to his own conclusion that Eva was perfect in every way.

Christian had only planted the idea for him to find a mate—at least, that’s what he told me. If

Logan could fall this quickly for another, then I had doubts that his feelings for me ran as deep as

he once proclaimed.

Tarek scratched his chin and studied Logan in a serious manner. He looked up because he

didn’t match Logan in height. He was huskier in size and exuded strength in other ways.

“A fine woman Eva appears to be, but I’m surprised, Cross. Silver has only recently broken it off

with you. Mated?” Tarek snorted. “Surely not.”

“You’re not mistaken,” Logan replied, eyes piercing Tarek like arrows. “I’m pleased to see Silver

has found someone who fulfills her needs as I have. What’s between you and I will never be right,

but my interest in pursuing the Mage is over. You have my best wishes for a successful mating. If

you don’t mind, I promised to show Eva around.”

Logan bowed his head and stepped back, disappearing into the thick crowd with his new

woman. Before losing sight of them, I saw Logan lean in and nuzzle against her neck. I hadn’t

been as prepared for that moment as I thought.

Tarek looked like he had a timer in his eyes, seconds from detonation.

He yanked me into a private room and as he slammed the door, I released a sorrowful breath,

devastated by Logan’s resolve. Weak in the knees, I sat in a plush chair and stared at my shaking

hands.

“What is this game he plays?” Tarek ground through his teeth. “Why is he not strung out on

you?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered, looking at my hands, turning them to fists.

“Don’t you?” he roared.

“No, I don’t! Do you think I want to see him standing in the arms of some tramp? You think it’s

so easy for me to sit here and accept everything I’ve had to give up because of you? It doesn’t

look like it went your way, and now you’ve ruined my life and made an ass out of yourself,” I

shouted. “His feelings for her are not a lie; I could see it on his face and I’m certain you could

scent it.”

Tarek held on to the fireplace mantel as if he wanted to pry it from the wall.

“Maybe he’s the biggest liar of us all. I thought he would have loved me more,” I whispered. “I

honestly believed that he was willing to wait for me.”

“I apologize for the intrusion, Your Lordship. The guests are asking for you,” a man interrupted

from the door.

“Stall them,” Tarek replied, and the door closed. “What kind of worthless woman are you that a

Chitah who claimed you would not fight for you? Do you know the resolve of a Chitah for a claimed

female, even if she is not his soul mate? We do not back down that easily.”

“I’m not a Chitah.”

Despite the women who must have offered themselves to Tarek over the years since Katrina’s

death, he had never mated. The instinct among males was strong to have a family. Yet here he

was, settling for a Mage in a plot gone awry.

I cupped my arms tightly. “I can’t give Logan children or satisfy him the way he deserves. It

would have never worked out. I guess you were right all along—I was just a curiosity.”

“Fuck.”

“What’s the matter, honey? Cold feet?” I began laughing maniacally. “Your friends may shake

your hand for toting me around like a prize, but they laugh behind your back. You’re making

yourself out to be a joke. No dignified Chitah would settle for a Mage. Let’s get back to the party.

I’m beginning to like the idea of having caviar and champagne all the time.” I walked past him.

He snatched my arm bruisingly and flung me across the room. I stumbled, catching myself on a

marble table.

“Careful, Mage. Nero is also in the house. I’m sure he’d love nothing better than to juice you

up. I’m possessive over what’s mine, but I might be willing to make an exception if I’m pushed far

enough.”

Chapter 21

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Tarek announced from the main room. “ I want to express my deepest

gratitude in having you here this evening to recognize my chosen mate. However, it is with

regret…”

I pressed my ear against the door, anticipating words that I’d waited so long to hear—words

that would release me.

“I must tell you that the celebration will have to be cut short.” A few groans sounded amid the

crowd. “Please, yes, I know. There will be a more elaborate celebration at a later date. Silver is not

feeling well, and I must tend to my female. I’m sure you can understand my concern. Our valet

attendants have your cars ready. Please take a complimentary bottle of champagne as you leave,

and thank you for coming.”

The murmurs grew louder—talking… moving… leaving. When I attempted to leave the room,

Tarek pushed his way in.

“Where’s Christian?” I asked.

“Taking a walk,” he answered. “My Vampire employee cuffed him with that wonderful metal

that hangs from your neck so he won’t be a nuisance to us. A Vampire’s cockiness makes them so

easy to bait. He didn’t know the cuffs were… special.”

“Why didn’t you tell everyone that the engagement was off?”

“Because, Mage, I’m not a pussy. We’re going all the way.” He reached out and brushed his

knuckles down my chest. I hopped back a step and his eyes widened.

“Logan won,” I said.

“Sorry, sweetie, you’re talking in a language I don’t speak.” The doors opened and two of his

men stood at his side. “Take her upstairs,” he ordered. They gripped my elbows and Tarek

announced, “You’ll be spending the remainder of your engagement in my home. It’s time that we

took things to the next level. I’ll have your Ghuardian properly notified and one of my men will pick

up your things.”

“Why are you doing this?” I shouted, struggling against the guards hauling me away.

“Because I can. Because I will.”

“Let me go! Walk away with some dignity!”

His fingers snapped and the men stopped. Tarek walked up and narrowed his hateful bright

eyes on me. “Dignity is exactly why we’re going to follow this to the end.”

“I’m still in my Ghuardian’s care and you can’t take me without my consent. Without his

consent!” I said, still struggling.

“Of course I can,” he replied indifferently. “You are to be my mate and that makes us

practically married. Husband trumps Mage daddy.”

“Please, Tarek, just let it go. Let me go,” I begged.

His face filled with understanding. “I’m a man of my word, unlike Cross, who so readily dropped

you like a soiled handkerchief. I’ve already seen to your accommodations. Take her away,” he

ordered the guards.

The men shoved me into a room upstairs and locked the door.