Shifters of Grrr 1 (62 page)

The Matchmaker glared at him as she sashayed out of the room. Before she closed the door, he called out, “Oh, and I prefer my meat rare.
Bloody.
” He purred the last word, the undertone of a threat in his voice.

The door slammed in answer.

***

His bravado departed with the Matchmaker, yet Sheng attempted to feign calm because, judging by the pallor of her skin, Lucy was near to panicking. Which, really, she had every right to do.

He’d never heard of anything like what had happened when they’d attempted the joining. It took every ounce of calm Tiger possessed to prevent Sheng from leaping off the ledge of hysteria with her.

Wouldn’t do anyone any good. When he’d approached Turtle, he’d hoped the Elder would have answers for him. He’d been wrong. Turtle was as ignorant as Sheng. The gleam in his beady eyes when Sheng had mentioned witnessing another energy in Lucy… He suppressed a shudder at the memory. That was the thing with power. Those who had it always lusted after more.

Not me.
He’d be content to parade about on the lower levels. Hell, he’d have even given up his title of leader to Dragon’s new host.

But that motherfucker had never shown.

Sheng slipped his hand through Lucy’s, giving it a tight squeeze. She required protection and he’d always had a soft spot for the vulnerable, though Rabbit might not prove as frail as they’d deemed it. He couldn’t pinpoint what he’d witnessed, but it had been strong. Powerful. Dangerous.

Everything Rabbit wasn’t supposed to be.

Lucy hadn’t taken her eyes off him since he’d walked into this room. Those wide, trusting, golden eyes. His perusal dipped lower to the swipe of her tongue across the small cut on her pretty pink lip.

He ran his thumb across her bottom lip and hissed. “Does it hurt?”

“
Uhn uhn.
” She flicked her tongue across her lip again.

Hell yeah, he hungered for a taste too. “Can I kiss it better?” Leaning forward, he didn’t wait for her answer as he claimed her lips gently, his hand gliding through her downy hair to grip the back of her head.

She moaned against his mouth, her velvety tongue tangling with his. This kiss was much bolder than their previous ones, revealing the passion he’d detected simmering beneath her surface.

Passion he’d claim, first and last.

Screw the Matchmaker. What did she know? This bond he had with Lucy wasn’t trivial. Or superficial. By the nature of their spirits, she was his family. Hell, even Tiger and Rabbit were compatible.

He’d told himself to take things slow…but this was slow, right?

Shifting backward, she drew him on top of her and he skimmed his free hand along her side. His cock stretched against the front of his pants, resulting in the unbearable urge to be naked with her, right here, right now.

He slid his hand under her and gripped her ass, lifting her leg to cradle himself between her legs. Her heartbeat raced in his ears. Her body melted to his as if willing to go anywhere he led them.

Anywhere.

He rocked his hips against hers and a delicate, throaty moan escaped her lips—all the encouragement he required.

The door banged open.

He wrenched his mouth off hers and stared into Lucy’s flushed face before dragging his attention to the intruder.

What the fuck?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Lucy groaned at the removal of Sheng’s firm lips as his heavy weight eased off her body, leaving her echoing with the pulses of desire.

A female snort sounded from the doorway. “
So
-rry. Am I interrupting?”

Mei?

She swung her gaze in the direction of the bubbly laughter. Yep, Mei rolled her eyes at both of them but, instead of leaving, she strolled inside the room and plopped onto the chair in the corner.

Lucy’s already heated cheeks flared. She looked to Sheng for direction, but he focused on Mei.

Crossing his arms, he lifted one brow. “Why are you here, Monkey?”

“Well, if you’re going to take that tone with me, Tiger, I’ll come back later. Of course, by then, it will be too late.”

Lucy shot upright at the news. “What will be too late?”

“Oh hi, Lucy. Didn’t see ya there beneath all that necking.” Mei’s grin spread wide.

Sheng unwound her legs from around his hips and shifted to the edge of the chaise.

Attempting to make herself presentable, Lucy sat and combed her hair behind her ears…as if doing so would erase what the girl had already witnessed.

“Go on, Mei.” Sheng’s tone became etched with a serious quality again, making her recall they were under house arrest. She rubbed at the pounding in her temples. Because…

Rabbit hadn’t been able to join with Tiger. The animal had freaked out the second Tiger had tried to peer into Rabbit’s soul. Maybe Rabbit really
was
hiding something. But what?

The smile faded from Mei’s face. “Snake is here.” Her chocolate eyes shifted to Lucy. “He’s demanding your presence.”

The memory of their encounter flared in her mind, and she shuddered. Whatever he sought from her, it wasn’t good.

“Hell no. Go back out and tell him to fuck off.” Sheng wrapped an arm around Lucy’s shoulders and drew her to his chest.

“I’m not saying that to Snake’s face. No way. You want him gone, you’ll have to do it yourself.”

“She’s right,” Lucy interjected. “If he’s asking to speak with me, I’ll go. I’m not afraid of him.”

Sheng’s expression darkened. “You should be.”

His words sent a shiver down her spine, but her mind was made up. These people already believed her to be the weakest animal in their Zodiac. She refused to prove them right by acting that way.

She slipped from his grasp and made for the door. As she gripped the knob to twist it, he placed one hand on the door, blocking her. “Remember what I told you.”

Tell no one about their failed joining.
Check.
She nodded before treading into the corridor and following the two monks who waited to escort her downstairs. Sheng and Mei flanked either side of her, easing her flaring trepidation.

What could Snake have to say to her when she’d just met him an hour ago? Did it have anything to do with the failed joining?

She swallowed her apprehension as they strode down the stairs and into the main chamber where Snake awaited with a group of rough-looking men. The three of them bore angry black tattoos slashed across the right sides of their faces, the Chinese characters slithering from forehead to neck. They were the men from the Gardens.

Off to the side, another man stood.
Him.
The one from the limo, Tián Delun. He was even more imposing up close. More magnetic. The tallest man in the group, he wielded the same lethal aura as Sheng. From across the room, he regarded her with such intense scrutiny, she worried her insides might incinerate.

She shuddered and, instead, focused on the smirk on their leader’s face.

“Lucy.” Snake extended his hand in greeting, and she stuck hers out.

His grip tightened on her wrist, jerking her toward him. Snake cloaked his face and body. If it had been a simple handshake, she’d have been fine. But the second Rabbit caught sight of Snake’s needlelike fangs and pronged, flicking tongue, it bolted, digging into its burrow inside her. Distantly, Lucy registered a low, warning growl. Tiger.

Snake huffed, releasing her.

She rubbed at her red-marked wrist, backing away from him into the wall that was Sheng.

“What’s the problem, Li?” His gleaming gaze lifted off her to glower at Sheng behind her. “If you won’t do what’s necessary and claim Rabbit, I will.”

The threat hung in the air, thick, constricting. She fought against choking while Sheng stepped forward and nudged her behind him. Away from Snake’s vicious gaze, she processed his words.
Claim Rabbit?
She snorted. No way in hell would she give Rabbit to Snake.

“Turtle send for you?” Sheng’s tone was dry. Nonchalant. The opposite of what his tensed muscles proclaimed.

Snake smirked. “He hasn’t made up his mind between us and you’re looking less and less likely, Li.” He curled his lip at her.

A dark and violent energy rose within her. She hated the way they treated Sheng because of her inadequacy. Her hands clenched at her sides, nails piercing her palms. The wave of hostility swelled, threatening to engulf her.

“Especially if you can’t secure a—” The taunt froze on his tongue. His cavalier expression morphed into something awed…and covetous.

***

The hairs on the back of Sheng’s neck lifted. He spun toward Lucy and tilted her chin to peer into her eyes, to spot whatever Snake had seen.

Just Lucy shone back from within those golden depths.

Too late.

He faced Snake again, but the bastard had already collected himself, yet nothing concealed the flash of greed in his sinister grin. The asshole had noted the same energy in her that Sheng had and now he craved it for himself.

Did Snake recognize what he’d glimpsed or was he as ignorant?

Snake focused back on Lucy. “I bet these plebeians haven’t told you a damn thing yet. Probably not even about the deal your uncle made for you. Whoring you out to the Hai San.”

“What about my uncle?”

Sheng tensed as Lucy spoke, her heart bleeding through every word.

“Now, Lucy. It doesn’t work like that. I’ll tell you everything, but you have to come with me first.” Snake extended his hand and, damn, but she stared at it a moment too long.

Enough to tell him she contemplated leaving. “What is he talking about, Sheng?”

Her pained question struck him, making him wince. “I didn’t keep your uncle’s involvement from you, but it’s never been the right time to get into the details.” He grated his explanation, grimacing beneath its feeble strength.

“The
right
time? Oh, and when will that be?”

He fisted his hands tighter at her sharp inhalation. Ignoring Snake, he cupped Lucy’s chin. Fear and hurt condensed with moisture in her eyes. Dammit. He’d never meant to hurt her.

“Anytime.” He let his sincerity shine through. “I’m an open book. Ask me anything.”

“What about Chicken?”

Sheng flinched, half in surprise, half in pain at the inquiry. He hadn’t anticipated this from her.

“Yes, Li, what about Chicken?” Snake’s tone, half-mocking, half-dripping with animosity, broke Lucy and Sheng apart. “Should I tell her? Should I tell her, Li, how you killed Chicken? How it’s her blood on
your
hands?”

The blinding hatred in Snake’s accusation was nothing compared to the loathing Sheng had for himself. Lucy glanced at him, her eyes begging him to deny it, but he had no choice except to admit defeat. “It’s true.”

Her lips parted as she regarded him first with horror then trepidation. He didn’t blame her. He’d failed with Chicken and he was failing with her, too.

If Snake wasn’t such an evil bastard, Sheng would hand her over, but he couldn’t do that. Because it really would be like shoving her into the snake pit. A gentle creature like Rabbit wouldn’t last even one meal with the Ghee Hin.

He spoke to Snake instead. “I’ve already claimed responsibility for Chicken just as I am for Lucy. She’s not going anywhere with you, so leave.” He folded his arms and stared the bastard down.

Despite his wealth and status, the asshole didn’t possess an ounce more arrogance than his survival instincts dictated. In a physical match, Tiger bested Snake any day of the week. In the battle of rights, Snake knew the Council was divided between him and Sheng. If he aspired to usurp complete control, he’d have to do it in a manner none of the Elders could find fault with.

Snake had to beat Sheng the legit way.

Why he didn’t report Sheng’s intrusion onto Ghee Hin territory to the Elders agitated Sheng more than pacified him. Either the bastard didn’t have any proof or he reserved calling Sheng out for a more auspicious occasion.

Sheng would bet his ass on the latter.

“So be it. Lucy, find me when Li reveals his true colors.” Snake backed down, casting one last haughty smirk at her.

Tiger leapt forward at the taunt, but Sheng reared the spirit in. He’d bought a measure of precious time and he’d not waste a second sparring with the Ghee Hin Master.

***

Snake and his gang strolled away. Should she have joined them? Lucy’s ears twitched, and Rabbit paced with an uncharacteristic impatience.

Those men brimmed with evil intent, but at least their cards were clear. Sheng, on the other hand? Was he just as dangerous as he appeared? Did nothing sincere or genuine exist beneath the badass sarcasm?

No. She refused to believe he’d killed Chicken’s host regardless of him taking responsibility. She wouldn’t jump to conclusions, not before giving him a chance to explain what had happened.

He didn’t even give her that. Sheng marched straight across the chamber to the Matchmaker and spoke a few harsh words with her before crooking his fingers at the Chosen.

Mei, Kassian, and Fang bounded to his side like hounds given a command by their master. When she didn’t join them, his deep voice vibrated off the chamber walls. “Lucy, we’re leaving.”