Bodyguard (Shifters Unbound #2.5)(16)
Author: Jennifer Ashley

She swallowed and made herself not look at Ronan as Kim snuggled Katriona under her chin.

"I can’t wait to see what her wildcat looks like," Kim said. "We won’t know for a few years. Shifter-human cubs are born human and then shift when they’re about three. Pure Shifter cubs do it the opposite."

Kim bounced Katriona as she talked, Katriona looking at everyone with round blue eyes, while trying to stuff her entire fist into her mouth. Kim moved across the room to the swordsman, who relaxed his grim stance to touch the baby’s nose.

Ronan was the only one not at ease. "What do you want, Liam? Elizabeth’s had a long day. I brought her here because I thought she could relax a little and then go home."

"She will." Liam retained his nonchalant pose, feet on the desk, hands now laced behind his head. He was watchful, alert while pretending not to be.

Ronan took a step closer to Elizabeth, and she felt the tight muscles of his arm brush her shoulder. "What do you want, Liam?" he repeated, an edge to his voice.

"Just a chat. First, to tell Elizabeth that we’re grateful to her testimony that kept you out of jail." Liam gave her a nod. "It was brave of you to stand up for him."

"It was brave of Ronan to rush a guy with a pistol," Elizabeth said. "I couldn’t let him take the fall for that."

"But so many humans would." Liam’s gaze held no hostility, but at the same time, his blue eyes fixed on her, catching her like a fly in a web so finely spun it was undetectable until too late.

"You’re unique, Ms. Chapman," Liam said. "So unique that I can’t find out anything about you. Not one single scrap of information. Correction–Sean can’t find out anything about you, and Sean is a master at it." He glanced at the swordsman across the room who said nothing.

Elizabeth’s mouth went dry, and she felt control of her life washing away like a branch caught in a flash flood. She’d thought herself safe–she was supposed to be safe. No one will ever be able to crack this, her friend had told her, and she’d paid good money for him to make sure it never happened.

"But you know all about me," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. "I own SoCo Novelties, I’m Mabel’s sister, and I don’t mind Shifters coming into my store. That’s all there is to know."

Liam’s voice remained soft, but he had no need to shout to let her know he held the authority in this room. "You see, Elizabeth, it’s my job as Shiftertown leader to protect my Shifters. You were great to help Ronan, and I’m happy that you were. But Ronan’s putting himself on the line to take care of you, and that’s a big risk to him. A risk to him is a risk to me and to all the Shifters living in his house. Maybe your secrets are innocent ones; maybe they represent no danger." Liam’s feet came down, and he rose, tall and intimidating, his charm gone. "But maybe they do. So I need you to tell me the truth, Elizabeth Chapman, before I let you out of here. Who exactly are you?"

Chapter Eight

Ronan scented the sharp spice of Elizabeth’s fear. He also scented her defiance, even before she spoke.

"That’s really none of your business, Liam," she said clearly.

Liam’s eyes widened, and despite Ronan’s disquiet, he wanted to laugh. The arrogant Feline had grown used to people obeying him without question. People meaning everyone but his wife, his brother, father, and nephew. All other Shifters pretty much fell in line.

"When you’re in Shiftertown, you’re under my jurisdiction," Liam said. "It is my business."

"We’re not in Shiftertown right now." Elizabeth took a step forward. She was afraid to, Ronan knew, but she did it anyway. "My past has nothing to do with Shifters, and it’s nothing that can hurt Shifters."

"Will you let me be the judge of that?" Liam asked.

"No. I said it’s none of your business."

"Lass." Liam’s voice gentled, which meant he was falling back on the coaxing approach. "I have one of my very best fighters guarding you. I want to know who he’s guarding. I can’t chance endangering him. Neither can his family."

"I never said he had to guard me," Elizabeth said. "If you don’t want me endangering Shifters, then Mabel and I are happy to leave Shiftertown."

She started to turn away. Ronan stopped her by simply not moving. "You’re not going anywhere until the threat to you has been eliminated."

Elizabeth’s eyes flickered at the word eliminated. "If Liam won’t be happy until he hears all my secrets, then I can’t stay," she said. "He’ll have to be disappointed."

"Lass," Liam began, again in the coaxing tone.

"Leave her alone, Liam," Ronan said. He looked at Elizabeth and her blue eyes, not at Liam’s. "She doesn’t want to tell you."

"Ronan, she’s using a false name. Until six years ago, she didn’t exist."

"She exists now."

"Ronan . . ."

"I said, leave her alone, Liam."

The room went quiet. Ronan expected Sean to come charging across it to stand by his brother, his sword a silent threat. He’d seen them do that, and Shifters wilt under the double-alpha stare.

Sean didn’t move or speak. Neither did Kim, who usually was ready with some opinion. Even baby Katriona made no noise.

"Do you want to make that official?" Liam said in a quiet voice. "Be responsible for her?"

"Vouch for her, you mean?" Ronan let Liam hold his gaze. He’d already vouched for Scott, Cherie, and Olaf–clan-less, family-less Shifters with bad pasts. No one knew what the cubs would do or what kind of adults they’d become. Ronan had vowed with his life that they’d not be threats. Liam was asking him to do the same for Elizabeth.

"No," Ronan said.

Liam’s eyes went wider, and Kim stirred. "Liam, stop it. You too, Ronan. This is Elizabeth’s choice. She’s not a cub. She’s not even Shifter. The same rules don’t apply."

"Much as I hate disagreeing with you, love, they do," Liam said. "Will you let him vouch for you, Elizabeth? That means that, if you are lying to us, or you put a foot wrong, it’s on his head."

"No!" Elizabeth said fiercely. "What is wrong with you all? I didn’t ask you to bring us to Shiftertown. I’m grateful for your help, but I don’t have to stay with you. So thank you, but I’m leaving."

Again Ronan stopped her by being too big for her to walk around. "I said I wouldn’t vouch for you," he said. "But that’s because I’m going to go one better, and mate-claim you."

"Ronan," Liam said, warning in his voice.

"Mate-claim?" Elizabeth said. She took a step back, which put her against Liam’s desk. "What does that mean?"