Savage Magic by Judy Teel

his arms, their bodies entwined, and of her laugh. And of the way she smelled like sunshine.  
    As if from far away he heard the click of the collar disengaging.  
    Rosalind tore the PRC from his throat and an explosion of power ripped through his body, chasing back the darkness and setting his teeth on edge as his bones, blood, muscles and organs seemed to ignite with it. The tidal wave of energy overwhelmed him as it crashed through every bruise, every cracked rib, and every dying cell and then flowed into his wounded shoulder with a blast of healing fire that took his breath away.
    And then, on its heels, the sweet, sweet warmth of Addison swept into his awareness. Cooper sucked in a breath as the knowing of her hit him. Feelings raced through his heart — worry, anger, love, and then sharp surprise as his Were DNA reasserted itself and the connection between them was reborn. He heard Rosalind gasp behind him, but he didn't care that she and his brother had felt it, that they could smell Addison on his skin. She was his again.
    His vision cleared and he looked down at his wrist. Pink lines of new skin formed the symbol that marked his new position in the Clan.  
    Ryker put the knife on the coffee table behind him and stared down at Cooper, surprise and worry in eyes. He hesitated, then dipped two of his fingers into the blood cupped in his hand. With a quick swipe, he spread the blood across his mouth. His expression grim, he dipped his fingers in again and drew two parallel lines down Cooper's forehead, the bridge of his nose and over his chin. With the last of the blood, he dragged his fingers in a horizontal line from Cooper's right ear to his left.  
    "Body, mind and soul, you belong to your people as have all that have gone before you. You are Aesei Siian. Protector of Bone Clan, guardian of my daughter and Alpha in all but lineage," Ryker said, his voice rough with emotion.  
    With his bloodied hand, he clasped Cooper's healed wrist in a grip that would have crushed the bones had Cooper still worn the collar. As he pulled Cooper to his feet. Their gazes locked and Cooper dove into his brother's soul as he released the iron hold he kept on himself. His will to dominate collided with Ryker's, pushing against it, hungry to win. The force of two Alphas battling for superiority, fighting to contain their instinct to kill, crackled between them.  
    He released Cooper's wrist and took a step back, giving Cooper a short bow of his head. Rosalind edged around the sofa and kneeled between them. "Rosalind Amelia Grey," Ryker said to her, "will you stand with the Aesei Siian ? Holding his life above yours? Balancing his will to lead with your strength? Accepting and protecting Maya as if she were your own daughter?"
    She bowed her head. "I will."
    Cooper wiped his blood from his brother's mouth with his thumb as Rosalind lifted her face, her worried gaze meeting his before dropping away. He pressed the pad of his thumb against her forehead, leaving a bloody smudge. "Rise, Lieutenant Grey. I accept your pledge."
    Turning to Ryker, he mirrored the short bow that acknowledged them as equals. "I will guide and protect your line with all that I am and all that I have, even to death, until such time as the true Alpha may take her rightful position in the Clan."
    "It is done," they all said in unison.

    *   *   *

    I pulled in a deep breath to calm the butterflies in my stomach. "Hey!" I called across the ring to Deg. "Are you ready to apologize for being a rude moron so that I can get to my dinner?"  
    Deg stared at me, appalled, and then his brow lowered. He stepped into the ring. "Are you anxious to die?"
    "I hope your fighting style is more interesting than your banter." I smiled and his scowled deepened.  
    Lifting his arms, Deg turned in a slow circle as if addressing the entire compound. Maybe he was. "A challenge is issued," he called out.  
    I kept my gaze on him. "A challenge is accepted," I yelled back, taking a