Taking Nicole (Vegas Mates Series)(#4) by Krystal Shannan Page B

end of my parents’ wrath. They expect me to win or die. To them, there is no honor in between.”
    The others nodded their heads in agreement.
    “Besides, what could you possibly say that would give either your grandparents or the Council pause?” Renaldo asked.
    “I’m not sure, yet.” She stole a quick glance at Karl and Aaron. They were standing quietly a few feet away, but neither acknowledged her.
    He wasn’t going to help. He could say whatever he wanted, but in the end he would protect his sister. She couldn’t blame him. Every move he’d made thus far was calculated and meant to keep his sister safe. Nothing had changed yet. His sister was still in a cage, stuck in leopard form. The sacrifice was admirable and she would’ve done the same. She was … in a way.
    The other two suitors were strangely quiet. Nicole turned back to her left. They were standing behind Masterson, both scowling. Aaron and Karl were a few feet behind and to the right of them, muscles tensed ... waiting for something.
    Magick was tense in the air around them, and she could feel tendrils of it whipping around her, antagonizing her wolf and the other men’s wolves. Her skin prickled and she knew her eyes were flickering gold, as were Renaldo’s and Masterson’s.
    “Whatever you’re thinking about doing right now,” Nicole snapped, “you better not.”
    “You don’t scare me, little bit,” one of the other suitors drawled. “I think we should just have the fight right here and now and solve your issue of being publicly marked and taken.”
    “You mean raped. There’s no PC way of saying it. And if you haven’t noticed, I have two shifter bodyguards standing just behind you. I’d say both of them would help me tear you apart if you dared to put a paw on me without my permission.”
    The two quiet suitors glared at Aaron and Karl, grumbling under their breath about being pissed, but neither backed down. The growls that were rumbling in their chests quieted as Aaron and Karl stepped closer.
    Nicole turned back to Renaldo and Masterson. “I do not plan to go through with this ceremony without a fight. Even if it comes down to fighting one of you.”
    She caught Aaron’s and Karl’s surprised glances, but refocused quickly on the suitors.
    “I hope it does not come to that, Signorina Demakis, but we all must fight for our survival in this society. I can understand your rage.”
    “Perhaps.” She turned away from them all and hurried down the path to the beach, halting only when she reached the line in the sand where dry met wet.  
    The froth of the seawater washed up and slid back down the stretch of damp sand with each rolling wave. The gentle roar of the churning water was cathartic. The scent of salt hung pleasantly in the air. She had never lived near the ocean before. Maybe a visit to Uncle Phillip in Los Angeles was due. A change of scenery couldn’t hurt, if she got out of this mess in one piece.
    Sand crunched behind her. The men had followed, as if they really would’ve left her alone. They could spout all they wanted about understanding her choices or how this custom was barbaric and antiquated, but when it came down to it, they would all fight to the death to claim the empty seat on the lower Council. The seat her father’s death and the Demakis family rebellion had opened. And she would fight them. If that was her only option at the end of this fucking ceremony, she would die fighting the winner.
    Warm sunlight bathed her face. She lifted her head toward the light, closed her eyes, and inhaled the salty air. It filled her lungs and invigorated her.
    We can do this.
    “Not without Kate,” her wolf answered. “We’ll both die if you fight the winner. The Council will execute us on principle alone.”
    Kate will be here. I can feel it.
    “Glad you’re so sure. Can we discuss the horny, arrogant jerks standing behind us?”
    They won’t dare do anything with Aaron and Karl here.
    “Again. Yay for