The Swan Who Flew After a Wolf (22 page)

here without prior approval from their elder. As you know, I have

made arrangements with Elder Wade for your stay here, but that is not

the case for our new guests.” Kaname narrowed his eyes at Paris and

Jace. “This is not a game. Your father is right. While it is laudable

that you aim to help, you can get seriously hurt. And I don’t

appreciate having visitors showing up unannounced. It’s not the way

things are done here.”

So, yeah, vampires were big on tradition, and Paris had

accidentally offended them. The younger werewolf paled, and Jace

frowned, looking like he wanted to jump in Paris’s defense.

“I offer my most sincere apologies in my son’s name,” Anson

said, rushing to stop Jace. “He’s new at this and doesn’t understand

everything about other species.”

140

Scarlet Hyacinth

“They didn’t mean any offense,” Reed offered. “It’s just the

situation that’s somewhat difficult to handle.”

Kaname got up and rubbed his eyes. “I realize that. For this

reason, I won’t hold it against you. Wright-san, I will leave it up to

you to decide whether these young men stay or go.”

Anson had not expected that offer. “Are you certain?”

“I never say things I don’t mean.” Kaname smiled slightly. “But

do take into account that if they stay, I won’t have any disobedience.

We need to be organized if we want to find and defeat Tyrell.”

Anson turned toward Paris and Jace. “You heard that, boys? Do

you think you can handle it?”

“We’re not children, Sonny,” Jace replied. “We know how to take

care of ourselves.”

“Oh, I have no doubt.” Anson actually suspected it hadn’t been

Jace’s idea to come here in the first place. Probably, Paris had insisted

until Jace had relented. If the two had a bond, it made sense. “You’re

both very capable young men.”

Unfortunately, while Anson trusted both Paris and Jace, he had no

idea whether he should allow them to stay or not.
“What do you think,

baby?”
he asked Reed through their bond.

“Well, if you refuse Paris, he’ll just wallow in his own guilt and

maybe end up doing something even stupider. I haven’t known him

long, but he’s not the type to be reckless. If he came here like this, it

means he really needs to face this. Just like I do.”

Anson understood guilt, and he saw it within his son, the self-

loathing, the shame, the desire to sweep away the past. Would

revenge do that? Would it help Paris get over his mother’s betrayal?

Anson had no reply for that. However, Reed had a point. At least

if Paris was here, he would channel those emotions into something

constructive, and Anson could keep an eye on him.

“All right,” he said. “If Yamamoto-sama agrees, you can stay. On

one condition. Jace, I’m entrusting you with Paris. If I’m not around,

you have to be with him. I don’t want anything to happen to him.”

The Swan Who Flew After a Wolf

141

Jace met his gaze and nodded seriously. “Don’t worry, Sonny. I

won’t let anyone hurt him.”

Kaname seemed strangely pleased. “Well then, since we’re

settled, we should probably proceed to making some arrangements.

The others will be coming in soon for a debriefing, and we need to be

ready.”

Looking over the gathered men, Anson wondered what in the

world would come next. Unlikely alliances had been forged, both on

the side of the good guys and that of their enemies. This game of cat

and mouse was unsettling to say the least, especially since lately, it

was hard to figure out who was the predator and who the prey.

Reed took his hand, squeezing it comfortingly.
“You know what,

Sonny? I’m not afraid. We’ve been through worse.”

Even if they weren’t alone, Anson pulled Reed close
. “And we’ll

never be in that position again.”

No matter what it took, Anson would protect his mate and his

family. Reed and now Paris were everything to Anson. Tyrell would

regret the day he had messed with the dearest thing a werewolf had.

Anson would make sure of it.

THE END

WWW.SCARLETHYACINTH.WEBS.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native Romanian, Scarlet was born in 1986 and grew up an avid

fan of Karl May and Jules Verne, reading fantasy stories and

adventure. Later, when she was out of fantasy stories to read, she

delved into her mother’s collection of books and, of course, stumbled

onto romance.

As a writer though, Scarlet Hyacinth was born one sunny summer

day, when a dear friend of hers—the same friend who introduced her

to GLBT fiction—proposed they start writing a story of their own. As

it turns out, the two friends never did finish that particular story, but

Scarlet discovered she had a knack for writing and ended up starting

to write individually. And so, between working on her dissertation,

studying for exams, and reading yaoi manga, she started writing the

Kaldor Saga. Along the way, Scarlet met a lot of wonderful people

who supported her, and in the end, she found her story a home and, in

the process, fulfilled a beautiful dream.

Also by Scarlet Hyacinth

Siren Classic ManLove: Mate or Meal 7:

The Demon Who Fed on a Shark

Siren Classic ManLove: Mate or Meal 8:

The Seahorse Who Loved the Wrong Lynx

Siren Classic ManLove: Mate or Meal 9:

The Lynx Who Purred for a Sidhe Prince

Siren Classic ManLove: Mate or Meal 10:

The Half-Breed Who Found His Other Half

For all other titles, please visit

http://www.bookstrand.com/scarlet-hyacinth

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com