Chapter 184


    AARON


    I don’t like being personally summoned to the Council meeting


    at the best of times, let alone when I’m sure someone on the


    Council is trying to kill me.


    Not that these kinds of summons have happened frequently


    in the past. I’ve never done anything to cause trouble with the Council, attending previous meetings


    was usually just a formality.


    But this Council Meeting hasn’t fallen on a regr date, it’s a special session.


    The fact that I’ve been personally directed to attend can’t be


    a good sign.


    I sent a message to James-not trusting myself to talk with


    Leah directly-instructing him to make sure Leah attends, and


    to bring her at least a few hours early.


    We need to get to the bottom of this Al weapons thing, and even though I think we’re better off apart


    because that way,


    she’s safer, there’s no arguing that Leah and I work well as a


    team.


    If we can put this matter of the missing Al tech to rest, then


    after, we won’t have much reason to have direct contact.


    Safer for Leah, at least.


    The idea that someone might kill Leah in an attempt to hurt


    or even kill me through our mating bond is both terrifying and


    infuriating.


    Maybe one day in the future when I’ve neutralized the threat,


    the two of us will have healed enough to consider reconciling,


    but right now, this is the way it has to be.


    I will protect her, even if it means sacrificing my own sanity.


    As long as she’s alive and safe somewhere in the world, that’s the most important thing.


    My inner wolf is impatient to leave and see our mate as I


    shower and dress.


    Telling him to calm the hell down-that nothing is going to


    happen between us-does absolutely nothing to dampen his


    enthusiasm.


    Once I’m ready to leave, I go to tell Lillian goodbye, where she’s sitting in the quiet serenity of the


    bedroom, and I wish I could stay in that room so badly, it’s a physical ache in my


    chest.


    But I shake off the longing and head out, driving myself to the


    Council Meeting Hall with half a contingent of my guys, while


    the other half stay back to protect the cabin.


    arrive at the Council Meeting Hall and park out back in the


    Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    mostly empty lot, sending a message to James instructing him.


    to do the same.


    Then it’s a matter of waiting, and I’m a live wire of


    anticipation, frustration and impatience.


    Eventually, a small convoy of Rathborn SUVS roll into the lot, and I subtly tug my jacket straight, even


    though I know I look impable.


    I remain standing by the back of my SUV as James gets out, cutting me a barely civil look, before going


    around to open the door for Leah.


    And then she’s emerging and I’m frozen to the spot as I take


    her in.


    She’s wearing a long, slinky red dress, the material clinging and flowing over her curves like water,


    barely leaving anything to the imagination. She’s not wearing a bra, that’s obvious in the way her


    nipples are pebbled and peaking beneath the material, as if begging for attention from my


    mouth.


    I wonder if she’s wearing panties, and the heat that storms through me almost sends me to my knees


    right there for


    everyone to see.


    My mate is gorgeous, se xy, delectable beyond words.


    I love her more than I thought it possible to ever love


    someone.


    My pulse is pounding.


    My blood is rushing hard and hot through my body.


    My wolf is practically panting for his mate.


    I’m half-hard.


    I want to confess everything to her, if only she’ll tell me she


    loves me back.


    And I have no idea how I’m going to get through the next few hours and keep my sanity intact.