Oh God. This was going to be a disaster. I suddenly felt cold. I wiped my sweaty palms on my robe. “I can’t bite you.” I’d known it was part of the ceremony, but hearing it and actually having to tear into Dastien’s arm were totally different. “That’s just…nope…not gonna happen.”
His eyes flashed to bright yellow. “You don’t want this?”
Was he messing with me? Of course I didn’t want to bite him. That didn’t mean I didn’t want to be with him. “No. I mean. Yes. I mean.” God. I was sounding like a real moron tonight and so many people were here listening. I let out a shaky breath. “I don’t want to hurt you. Because it totally hurt when you bit me. More than a little bit. It was not cool. At all.”
A few chuckles rang out through the crowd and I stared down at the ground.
“I thought we were different than vampires…” I muttered softly, but everyone heard me. Full on laughing came from the crowd.
Who knew I was such a freaking comedian?
Shit. I had to do it. And not make an idiot of myself in front of everyone. I wiped my hands on my robe again. “Fine. But don’t get all pissy when it hurts. I don’t want any whining.”
Dastien gave me a small smile. “I’m not going to whine.”
“Sure you won’t.”
He held out his arm for me again and I grasped it with both hands. I met his gaze and sucked in breath.
I so didn’t want to do this. Not even a little bit. My stomach churned at the thought.
I started to bite down, and then stopped, whining a little. I hopped from foot to foot. “This is so messed up.”
“Just do it.”
I started to put my mouth on him and then pulled back. “I can’t. Shouldn’t we just skip to the spell?”
You can do it. I’ll be okay, he said through the bond. One little bite and it’s done.
My stomach churned as I tried again. “Fine. Count to three. I’ll go on three.”
I rested my teeth gently against his skin.
“One.”
I squeezed my eyes tight.
“Two.”
Just do it, I told myself. Don’t be an idiot in front of all these people.
“Thr—”
An explosion cut off Dastien’s word.
Dastien jumped to action, shielding me as I covered my ears. My hands shook as I lowered them, looking to see what had happened.
“She’s not yours to claim.” A familiar voice called out.
Dastien growled. His spreading fur rippled under my hands. His anger was making my blood burn. I was angry, but he…he was pissed the fuck off. His emotions were so strong that the nearby Weres started wolfing out.
That couldn’t happen. Whatever was going on, I needed him in human form so we could deal with it. “Dastien. You have to calm down. Please.”
The crowd parted and suddenly our roles reversed. Dastien grabbed my arms as I lunged forward.
Luciana wore all white. A dress, flowing with many layers. The spell that lit her hands made her look like an avenging angel, but I knew she was the opposite of anything angelic. Behind her were at least ten other people dressed in white.
How in the hell had she managed to sneak up on all these wolves? Especially with the extra guards Dastien and Donovan had posted.
I felt it then. It wasn’t just the moon that was making me itch. Magic hung thick in the air. “I don’t know what you’re doing here, but you weren’t invited. Leave now.” Wary of the brujos, the wolves who’d already shifted flattened their ears and a few still in human form slid away, leaving space between themselves and whatever magic Luciana was working.
“No.” Luciana looked past me, dismissing me. “We had a deal, Michael.”
“I’m not aware of any deal that would affect anything we’re doing tonight.”
“You gave your oath that the coven would be allowed to speak at the Tribunal. Now you’re breaking your word?”
Mr. Dawson pressed his lips together in a firm line. “Both this ceremony and the Tribunal are Were-only events. Outsiders can’t participate without a pack sponsor assigned on a case-by-case basis. You might have a sponsor for the Tribunal, but not for tonight. You don’t have the right to be here.”
I nearly gave a fist pump. Thank God for rules I was totally clueless about.
“I’ll sponsor her.” A voice rang out from the crowd.
The pack separated to show a woman in a black robe. Her brown hair fell in waves around her face. “I’m her sponsor for the Tribunal. I’ll sponsor her tonight as well.”