Four-Letter Words Evans, Gabrielle (best detective novels of all time .TXT) 📖

he really wasn’t Zasha’s type. It didn’t matter, though. Something had grabbed ahold of him and wouldn’t let go, insistently tugging him toward the stranger.

Mine.

His fangs elongated with such violence that it pulled a gasp from him, and his fingers curled into fists as he watched another stranger in the group place a possessive hand on his mate’s back. Instincts ruled him, propelling him across the room where he pulled his mate into his arms and embedded his fangs in the fragrant skin of his throat.

* * * *

“Please state your name for The Council.”

Approaching the dais where the elders sat above him, Zasha clasped his hands together in front of him and squared his shoulders. The Council would see he was right. He just had to remain calm and trust that the law was on his side. “Zasha Aleric Gershwin, member of the Snake River Coven,” he stated clearly so that everyone in attendance could hear him.

“Mr. Gershwin, can you please inform the members of this gathering why you are here?” He’d never had the pleasure of meeting Elder Cortez, the vampire representative, but Leader Tuesday spoke very highly of him. That was enough for Zasha.

“The werewolf Enforcer, Kieran Delaney, has claimed what is rightfully mine. Lynk Braddock is my true mate, and as such, I wish to file a formal complaint against Mr. Delaney for being in violation of one of our most sacred laws.” He’d also like to rip the bastard’s throat out, but he felt it best to keep that bit to himself. “If he refuses to relinquish his claim to Lynk, I ask permission from The Council to challenge him—as is my right.”

Kieran Delaney was twice his size and would likely beat him to a pulp, but Zasha had to try. He’d been utterly miserable since Lynk had denied him and run off with the werewolf. It was as though he could still feel the witch, like the very air he breathed was charged with Lynk’s essence.

“Why a challenge?” Cortez asked. “Have you tried proving your right to Mr. Braddock?”

“No, sir. I was not given the chance.” If he’d been allowed to prove his bond with Lynk, he wouldn’t have to put up with the hassle of this hearing.

“Well, you have it now.” Elder Cortez nodded and lifted a hand, beckoning Lynk to the front of the room. “Mr. Braddock, come forward if you will.”

Zasha’s heart picked up in rhythm as he watched his mate glide along the aisle toward him. Though not technically Zasha’s type, the man was beautiful, and there was a grace about him that most could only envy but never imitate.

Another of the elders asked him to state his name, and Zasha found himself entranced when Lynk spoke, drawn in by the musical cadence of his tone. “Okay, Mr. Gershwin, you may proceed,” Elder Cortez said once they’d announced the rules for the test.

After a few starts and stops and the interference of that damn werewolf, Zasha was feeling confident that things were finally turning in his favor. As his mate, Lynk would be immune to his compulsion, and soon, everyone would see they were meant to be together.

If Lynk was being brainwashed by Kieran, however, there was a good chance he’d try to sabotage the test. Therefore, Zasha had to issue an instruction that Lynk would never perform unless he was truly compelled. “Undress,” he ordered, staring unblinkingly into his mate’s eyes and drawing Lynk’s mind into his own.

At once, Lynk reached for the buttons on his shirt, fumbling with them as he popped them open one at a time. His lips were slightly parted, and he stared straight ahead with a vacant, robotic glaze to his eyes.

Half the buttons had been undone, revealing the smooth, flawless skin of his chest when Kieran stood to his feet and shouted from the back of the room. “Lynk, stop. Come here now.”

Zasha frowned when Lynk stopped undressing and turned to float back down the aisle to the werewolf. For a moment, he’d been convinced that Lynk was truly under his spell, but if that was true, he shouldn’t have responded to Kieran’s call.

There was an exchange of words that Zasha couldn’t hear, but his irritation grew when Lynk shuddered and blinked, shaking his head as though to dispel unwanted thoughts. “How did I get back here? Did it work?”

“He’s faking of course!” Zasha shouted, jabbing a single finger at his mate. “They planned the entire thing!” Lynk was a damn good actor, and it hurt that he would go to such lengths to refuse him, but Zasha knew he could make Lynk happy if the guy would just give him a chance. “I demand a challenge.”

“Enough!” Leader Tuesday rose to his feet, giving Zasha a hard, icy glare, clearly expecting him to shut his trap. “I apologize. I only supported Zasha because I believed his claim to be true. It is what a good leader does, and as someone who has lost his own mate, I did not want to see a member of my coven endure that. I can see now that Zasha is mistaken, and so was I.”

“What?” Zasha gasped. It hurt almost as much to know that his mentor and leader didn’t support him in his quest for justice. “No! I can feel him. I can feel his soul tugging at mine.” It was a low, constant ache that never gave him any peace. Instead of waning when he slept, the invisible connection grew stronger, invading his dreams until he was nearly mad with wanting his mate.

As he fumed inside his own head, the elders conversed with Leader Tuesday, though it was clear that they all considered the matter closed. Well, Zasha wasn’t going down without a fight, even if he had to go into battle alone.

“Where is Thane Braddock?” Kieran demanded, pushing Lynk ahead of him as they approached the dais again.

“Excuse me?” October appeared just as perplexed as Zasha felt. “Thane Braddock?”

Lynk took a deep