Black Rook by Kelly Meade Page A

they marry.”
    “Rook.” Knight’s warning tone shaved the edge off Rook’s frustration. Insulting Brynn’s people wouldn’t help them figure this out—or help them decide what or how to tell Brynn about her reaction to the poison.
    “I’m sorry.” Rook stopped pacing and leaned against the wall near Brynn’s head. She looked so peaceful asleep, so fragile, and his protective instincts increased. Instincts fed directly by his beast, which confused him even more. His mind screamed that she was the enemy, an unknown, and her dual nature made her dangerous. Maybe more than any of them knew, because no one like her had ever existed before.
    And even if she proved herself an ally, rather than an enemy, as a half-breed she would still be at risk in Cornerstone.
    Because of the fact that human-loup half-breeds were not fertile, the pairing was generally prohibited. In very rare instances, run Alphas could give permission for a human to be brought into a run and for a marriage to occur, but they were extremely rare and children were forbidden. Loup garou, as a species, were less than ten thousand in number across the entire country. Survival depended on procreation. In fifteen years, Father had given five of their Gray Wolves permission to marry humans, but for a Black or White Wolf, it was simply not allowed by run law.
    Rogue half-breeds were an entirely different problem. Their parents were often loup who left their runs and the protection of their Alpha, and they lived outside the laws of the loup garou. Half-breeds were difficult to control, and they excelled at causing trouble with humans. They also seemed to enjoy antagonizing their full-blood kin, often to the point of violence.
    The real problem with Brynn Atwood was that no one had ever encountered a loup-Magus half-breed. Her scent alone would turn heads in town. Rook understood his father’s reasons for keeping Brynn close for now, but she would never be completely safe in Cornerstone. After this, she may no longer be safe with the Magi, either, but that wasn’t his problem to worry over.
    Easier said than done. She was under his skin already, and he wanted her back out.
    “You might want to get a handle on your feelings, little brother,” Knight said. “Your emotions are rolling off you like a smoke signal.”
    Damn Knight anyway for being a White Wolf and able to sense his emotional chaos. Rook had absolutely no reason to like Brynn—none that made logical sense—but he did. He was confused and protective and angry, and he didn’t handle those emotions well. He’d scare her off before they became friends, and maybe that was a good thing.
    “If my emotions are bothering you, you don’t have to stay up here and babysit me. I’m sure your adoring fans miss you downstairs.”
    “Bite me.”
    “Hey, who stuck a needle in whose ass?”
    “Not something I’ll ever brag about, trust me.”
    “Well, thank you anyway.”
    Knight blinked. “For what?”
    “For listening to her and not just reacting.” Rook caught his brother’s eye and held his gaze. Knight spent so much time seeing after the emotional state of others that Rook doubted the man paid much attention to himself—and when Knight had walked into the office earlier, he’d been as close to losing control as Rook had ever seen. “I’m not sure if you realize just how pissed you were, but I know you. So thanks for keeping it together and helping us.”
    “I was helping you .”
    “Either way, thanks.”
    “Anytime. Just try not to poison yourself anymore, okay?”
    Rook grinned. “Deal.”

Chapter Six
    Waking up on the floor wasn’t the least dignified thing Brynn had ever done, but it certainly made her top ten list. Her back ached from the hard wood, made no softer by the large beach towels spread out beneath her and, for a split second, she forgot where she was and why she’d passed out in the first place.
    Everything rushed back when a familiar face came into her line of sight,