Katie's Hellion

She glanced around, abruptly aware of the number of looks she received. Some were politely curious, others pitying, still others resembling that of the maître d'. More than one went beyond polite disdain and glared to the point of hostility.

Declining seconds, she finished her meal and rose, suddenly wishing she hadn't been seated in the far corner. Those at the tables she passed quieted and watched. Ignoring the looks on their faces, she marched to the door. Once she was out of sight, she ran. She didn't know where exactly she went aside from down from the top floor. She followed what she thought was the path Ully had brought her on and found her way to the women's barracks.

There was life here, and friendly looks as she passed. She made her way through the common areas to the dorms and cautiously opened the door to the room that had been hers. It was blessedly empty.

She flung herself onto the bed, tears in her eyes. It still smelled of him, and she couldn't help wishing he was there, even if all he did was piss her off.

"Katie."

She wiped her eyes and twisted, surprised to see Kris in her doorway. He gazed at her for a long moment, an odd gleam in his eye. She sat uneasily. He entered and closed the door.

"What do you want, Kris?"

"Why aren't you in your bedchamber?"

"I like it here better."

His gaze slid to the floor, and he shook his head ever so slightly, as if trying to shake free an unpleasant thought.

"Did Rhyn make you cry?"

"No," she said, crossing her arms at the odd question. "Rhyn's been the only man to take care of me in this godforsaken world."

His eyes flared amber. Before she could blink, he snatched her and shoved her against the wall, pinning her to it with his body.

"By all rights, you should've been mine!" he snarled in a low growl.

"Kris --"

"Shut up! He stole her from me just like he did you."

She said nothing, afraid to move, afraid to speak. She rested her cheek against the cool stone wall.

"The only human who can help us defeat evil, and you chose him."

"Kris, you're not yourself," she whispered.

"You think I give a damn about one stupid, feeble, weak human, especially one mated to Rhyn? You think I'd let you stand between me and my fate?"