“No.” His smile turned rueful. “I’m going deep underground where the moon can’t touch me.”
Disbelief had her shoving against his chest. “You’re fucking crazy.” She started to struggle, to get up, and his hands clamped on her hips. “Your head will blow off.” Unfortunately, she wasn’t being dramatic. They’d tried to help infected humans centuries ago by hiding them from the moon. The moon still called—loud and strong enough that the infected’s brain blew to pieces if they didn’t obey her call. “If nothing else, turn into a werewolf.”
He jerked his head back. “No.”
“Yes.” She grabbed both of his shoulders and shook. “Look how Brent has evolved. If you let the moon take you, at least you’ll still be alive. We’ll have time to fix this.” If he fought the moon by hiding, he’d die.
“I’m not turning into a werewolf. No way will I be like Brent.” Anger scented the air.
Enough with the secrets. The lion either trusted her or not. “What happened? I mean, with Brent? Years ago?”
Jordan stiffened. Fire flashed in his incredible eyes. “Nothing.”
Hurt spiraled down through her chest. “You don’t trust me.”
“I do.” He shut his eyes and exhaled. “You don’t need to know that side of me.”
She speared both hands in his hair, cupping his head. “I want to know all sides of you. No matter how much time we may or may not have together.” Scrambling to make him understand, she tightened her hold. “A public challenge was made, and David made accusations. I need the truth to counter them, Jordan.”
“He gave the truth.” The lion’s jaw hardened. “I killed his brother. At least, I thought I had killed Brent.”
She huffed out an irritated laugh. “I know you. And I know Conn. There’s no way you two sprang a trap on your cousin and then stabbed him in the back.”
“Very distant cousin.” Jordan jerked his head in almost a nod. “But you’re right. The truth should be known. Brent’s father was a good guy ... strong supporter of the Realm, which is one of the reasons the Kurjans took him out.”
“Brent didn’t support the Realm?”
“No. Brent advocated withdrawal, which would’ve weakened the feline nation as well as the Realm.” Agony cut hard lines into Jordan’s sharp face. “Conn was my best friend. Sure, we knew someday we’d be called on to fight, but we never thought it would happen so quickly. So, when war was absolutely declared, at the time, our only solution was ...”
Katie frowned. Anybody could challenge a feline leader as Alpha. “But you didn’t challenge Brent.”
“No. Not publicly.” Regret twisted Jordan’s lip. “I challenged him privately. In the woods that were clean and new, where cubs still play. He wasn’t getting out alive.”
A shiver wound down Katie’s spine. In that moment, she saw the assassin he’d once been. “I’m sure the fight was fair.”
Jordan’s short laugh lacked humor. “Well, we faced each other and went at it. The fight was bloody ... and I had to work for it.”
“So it was a fair challenge.”
“No.” Inevitability turned Jordan’s face to stone. “Brent was going to die that day—even if I did.”
Katie caught her breath. “Conn.”
“Yeah, Conn. He waited, just in case, sniper position, ready to take out Brent. If Brent and I both died, then Conn was going to approach Noah to step up.”
Katie shook her head. “Does Noah know?”
Jordan shrugged. “We’ve never talked about it, but Noah doesn’t miss much.”
“You did what you had to do.”
“Yeah, but I changed Conn forever.” Regret twisted Jordan’s lips.
“Conn would be mad you took responsibility for his decision.” Katie sighed. “Enough of that nonsense.”
Jordan gave a short nod and kissed the tip of her nose, leaning in to nuzzle her neck. “I love the way you smell.” His talented lips wandered up her skin.
Then his entire body went rigid. He leaned back as if she’d kicked him.
His hands wrapped around her biceps. Fire and an odd panic filled his eyes. He sniffed again. “Oh God.” Leaping to his feet with her still in his arms, he ran out of the gym.
Katie yelped, trying to get her balance as he hurried through the underground hallway. Paintings and light sconces blurred together. “What are you doing?” He jostled her again, and nausea rose in her throat. “Stop running, damn it.”
They swept into the main lab and he dropped her on the examination table.
Emma flipped around, surprise forming her mouth in an O. “What’s wrong?”
“Do a pregnancy test,” Jordan growled.
Max sauntered into the room, his hand on his gun. “What’s going on? Saw you running on the monitor.”
Jordan pointed at Katie. “She’s pregnant. I can smell the baby.”
Max lifted both eyebrows and then closed his eyes, sniffing the air. “Yep. New baby. Just like a brand-new snowfall.”
Panic danced large dots in front of Katie’s eyes. Pregnant? She couldn’t be pregnant. Then joy swamped her so fiercely she swayed. Pregnant. Jordan’s baby.
Emma cleared her throat. “Ah, there’s no test for a pregnancy this early, Jordan.”
Max shrugged massive shoulders. “Don’t need a test. Can smell a new baby. She’s pregnant.” A wide smile split his face. “I have to go tell my mate. Sarah loves babies.” Quick strides had him out the door.
Jordan’s face lost all color. He swayed, blindly reaching for the counter to balance himself.
Katie frowned. “Jordan, it’s okay.”
He rounded on her so quickly she shrank back. Anger filled his face, but something else filled his eyes. Seconds passed until she recognized the look. Pure, raw terror. “You don’t understand.” His voice dropped to a hoarseness that hurt her ears. “It was one thing to have Baye hide you since we mated. But with a baby, my baby ...”
Oh God. Katie slapped a hand over her mouth. Her entire body trembled. Anyone wanting to challenge for leadership of the pride would have to take out the baby. Jordan’s heir. She could try to hide, but shifters were hunters at heart. She’d be found.
Jordan yanked the band out of his hair and started pacing. “Okay. I can fix this. We can keep the pregnancy quiet, so nobody knows. But I’m afraid they’ll still come looking for you.”
Emma stepped out of his way. “We’ll keep them here, Jordan. Keep them safe.”
His low laugh lacked humanity. “At Realm Headquarters? No. Too public, too known. A challenge will be made, and she’ll have no choice but to accept. Or they’ll come for her.” He ran a rough hand through his thick hair. “You’d end up at war with my people.”
He stopped pacing, his gaze on her. A deep sigh escaped him. “Emma, do we have a Realm prophet someplace close?”
Emma scratched her chin. “I think so. I think Lily is in Seattle—we could have her here in a couple of hours.” She yanked open a file cabinet and pulled out a thick stack of files. “I have her direct number in here somewhere.”
Katie scooted off the table, panic making her hands tremble. “Why do we need a prophet?”
Jordan’s expression smoothed out. “So you can marry Noah. He’s strong enough to lead and protect you.” He nodded at Emma. “Call Lily.” Quick strides had him at the door. “I’ll find Noah. Right now, I need some air.” He disappeared.
Katie put her hands on her hips. Sure, she could marry someone else besides Jordan, could even sleep with someone else, unlike the vampires, who once mated, caused a horrible allergy in anyone else trying to get intimate with them. But she’d only have one mate. “I’m not marrying Noah.”
Emma shoved the file back in the drawer. “You had better go talk to Jordan—if that’s the only way to keep you and the baby safe, he’s not going to back down.” She smoothed hair off her face. “I’d hate to have to hide you myself, but I will.”