What had Kalen been about to say about why she should trust him, give him another chance? Two things she was almost certain of—Malik had stopped him. And if he had, the Unseelie must’ve had a good reason. That meant there was something specific the creep didn’t want her to know.

Why not simply stop Kalen from being with her at all? Now that he had Kalen, perhaps Malik didn’t consider her to be a big enough threat to warrant denying his new apprentice a bit of pleasure.

“That’s just sick,” she muttered, tracing the beads of moisture on her water glass.

Recalling the night she’d spent with Kalen a few weeks ago, when the horrible Unseelie had come to her in a nightmare and attempted to sway her to his side, haunted her a lot these days. Because now she understood that it had been a ruse to get the Sorcerer to part with his amulet, to give it to Mac for her protection.

Leaving him vulnerable to Malik’s twisted desires.

Why Kalen? He couldn’t be the only powerful magic user in the universe. Why did he, in particular, matter so much to the Unseelie? Mac didn’t believe Malik’s choice was random.

She shouldn’t care about Kalen’s problems after the way he’d dropped her and walked away. But his problems were the whole team’s, and now hers as well.

Okay, if she was honest with herself, concern for the rest of the Pack wasn’t the only reason she cared. If she was a lesser person—or maybe a smarter person—she might walk away from him. Leave him to his fate.

But he was the father of their child. The more she got to know him, the more clearly she could see the kind of man he could be—would be—when he finally found his center. His inner peace. The wonderful lover and friend he could be as well.

She remembered how passionately he’d made love to her. There had been no deception in his touch, only pure need. That night, the man who’d held her close had been a man born to love. A man who’d had so little of it given to him in his life.

Glancing up, she spotted him returning, his gait slow and easy, like his half smile when he saw her watching. A wave of fierce protectiveness took her breath away and she knew one thing—

She was going to be the woman to give this man the love he deserved.

And she’d pray like hell the Sorcerer didn’t crush her trust in his fist.

Kalen hurried to the men’s room and ducked inside, trying to stem the flow of blood running from his nose. His head hurt so goddamned bad, it was like an ice pick being stabbed right through his temple and into his brain.

Leaning over the sink, he turned on the water. His stomach lurched as he watched the blood swirl down the drain. Ironic that he could kill a dozen Sluagh and not bat an eyelash over the slimy gore, but a nosebleed made him queasy. Not that the stabbing in his head helped.

“Son of a bitch,” he rasped. Cupping the running water, he splashed his face, rinsing until the liquid became clear. Gradually the spike driving through his skull withdrew, leaving him shaken. Tired. Bracing his palms on the counter, he sucked in deep breaths.

You will not tell your woman, my boy. Not until our plan is well in motion. She is too soft to understand what must be done and why.

“You and your damned world domination,” he hissed, anger at himself boiling his blood. He should’ve been stronger. Put up more resistance against Malik’s evil. “What have I sold my soul for, you bastard? Just so you can rule the world, murdering anyone who resists you?”

He received no answer. But he did hear a shuffle to his right, and when he glanced around, he almost groaned to see a man standing uncertainly in the doorway, eyeing him as though he’d lost his mind. Fuck.

“Sorry,” Kalen muttered, heading for the exit. “Not feeling so good, ya know?”

The guy gave him a wan smile. “Hey, it happens.”

Brushing past him, Kalen pushed out into the restaurant again, cursing the man’s rotten timing. He probably thought Kalen was on drugs, or worse.

What do you care for the opinion of some weak human? Today he might sneer, but he is a lesser being. After we’ve taken control of the earth, he’ll get on his knees and vow his allegiance to us both, or he’ll die.

“Shut up,” he said under his breath.

Don’t forget how much you’ll savor bringing low all of those who’ve done you grievous wrong in the past. Remember how your heart gladdened to see Billy suffer for his terrible transgressions, and know that the pleasure will be tenfold when justice is delivered by your own hand.

The hypnotic voice lulled him, the lust for power snaking through his groin. An image was thrust into his head of the redneck tormenting his family. Then getting his just desserts. Yeah, he’d make sure assholes like that never hurt anyone else. God, it would feel so good to wrap his hands around that fat neck and—

“Kalen!”

Someone gave him a gentle shake, and he realized that fingers were lightly gripping his arm. Blinking, he found himself staring into Mac’s worried face. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Where did you go this time? I called your name twice.”

Suddenly he saw that he was standing in the middle of the restaurant like a statue, a few feet from their table. Jesus, he must look like a crazy person to everyone there. He noted a handful of curious stares. Raising his voice a little, he gave a short laugh and said for the benefit of those nearby, “Did you? Must’ve zoned out. I was trying to remember if I left my cell phone in the bathroom.” He made a show of patting his pockets. “I can’t find—oh, wait. Here it is. Stupid, huh?”

Her expression told him she knew what he was doing, but she didn’t pursue it with others in earshot. Taking his hand, she led him back to their table. “Do you want dessert?”

“Not unless you do. Whatever you want, honey.”

“Nah, I’m good.”

He needed out of there. The atmosphere was abruptly claustrophobic and he had to vamoose, now. Not away from Mackenzie, but out of the building. Waving over their waitress, he mustered polite calm and requested the bill. They waited in silence, eyeing each other until it came and he paid, temporarily avoiding the elephant in the room.

Outside, Mackenzie took his hand as they walked to the car. “Okay, tell me what happened in there. Why did you rush to the restroom?”

“Nosebleed.”

“Malik?” Kalen nodded, and her blue eyes went steely. “He did that to shut you up, to stop you from telling me you went to see him last night, didn’t he? That bastard! We’re going to find a way to beat him, sweetie. You just hang on. Do you hear me?”

“Yeah.” Christ, he hoped she was right.

And that was when he realized that the Unseelie wasn’t in his head. That the awful dark thirst for blood and vengeance seemed to have lifted for the time being. “He’s gone. I don’t feel him anymore.”

“For good?” At his look, her spark of enthusiasm vanished. “Of course not. That would be too easy.”

“It’s a ray of hope, anyway.” However thin.

He was sure the reprieve now, and earlier in the car, had to do with the doc. He just had to figure out how, specifically. He mulled it over as his date pulled from the parking lot and onto the road, and for several minutes afterward. Until her sweet scent caught his attention as it had on the way to the restaurant.

Vanilla and roses. That was the tantalizing aroma making his senses tingle and his cock fill. In addition, the scent seemed deeper than before, richer somehow. His panther awakened, stretching, purring in joy at the familiar scent. The beast welcomed it and yearned to get close to the amazing presence of its mate once again.

Mate?

Quickly he envisioned a wall of solid steel around him, desperately trying to seal his thoughts from Malik.

No. She couldn’t be his mate. Could she? Why had that word popped into his head? How could he know for sure? He’d seen what had happened to Jax and Aric when they’d met their mates—they’d gotten sicker until it was either claim their mates or die. But that hadn’t happened to Kalen. He felt completely fine—well, other than Malik’s horrible influence.