Only a couple more things left to do tonight. Eric turned from the revelry and approached Peigi, drawing the Collar out of his pocket.
Reid saw him coming and stood up. “No.”
“Sorry,” Eric said. “It’s got to be done. Peigi, if the others see you do it first, and that you aren’t afraid, they’ll follow you. They need someone to follow.”
Peigi nodded. She had guts, Eric gave her that.
Reid got in his face. “You leave her alone. I’m taking her away from here.”
“You can’t run,” Eric said. “You’d be running forever, and the humans will discover her sooner or later. You know that.” He looked into Reid’s dark Fae eyes. “Someday it won’t be like this. We’ll win in the end. Understand?”
Reid scowled. “But what about now? What about Peigi?”
“The good news is, this won’t hurt a bit. I found a loophole. Peigi? You ready?”
Peigi nodded and stood up. “Stuart. It’s all right.”
Reid still looked furious, but Peigi gently pushed him aside and faced Eric, head up. “They’re watching. Do it now.”
Eric sensed the tense gazes of the other Shifter women on them, smelled their fear. He stepped to Peigi, slid the Collar around her neck, and locked it in place.
Peigi tensed, eyes going Shifter white, then she blinked. She touched the Collar, at first hesitantly, then more boldly, and looked at Eric in confusion.
“Looks real, doesn’t it?” Eric asked. “I got a nice supply, courtesy of my friends in Austin. Jace brought them back.” His smile died. “But you have to help me. The other females have to behave as though the Collar is real, and you’ll have to help them adjust here so they can heal from what Miguel did to them. You’ll have to keep an eye on them, to make sure they recover and don’t go feral. Can you do that?”
Peigi stared at him wordlessly, then she nodded.
Eric embraced her and touched his cheek to hers. “Peigi, I release you from the mate-claim.” He let her go and gave Reid a grin. “Now, go party.”
He walked away, leaving the two of them staring at each other in shock.
Iona sat on her back porch, enjoying full moonlight on her face, her wildcat itching to come out.
No. The neighbors might see. Hear me. Call the zoo.
She’d just have to content herself with sitting out here to enjoy the feel of the moon. It made her happy somehow.
He came to her in silence, moving through shadows until suddenly he was in front of her, silhouetted against the silver light.
“Damn it, Eric,” Iona said after her heart came down from her throat. “Will you stop doing that?”
Eric didn’t bother to apologize. “You all right?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”
“Good.” Eric sat down on the edge of her porch, swaying a little.
“Are you drunk?” she asked.
“My sister is fully mated tonight. Sun and moon. It’s a good party. You should come.”
“Not hardly.”
Eric laughed. A full-throated, deep laugh, one that made Iona’s stomach do flips and her blood burn.
Eric got to his feet with liquid grace, pulled Iona up with him, held her face between his hands, and kissed her. His mouth was hot, spicy, lips warm.
He eased back from the kiss, and Iona stopped herself from leaning to him, from silently begging for more.
“I’ll bring you in, Iona,” Eric said. “And when I do, that will be a good day. A very good day. I’m looking forward to it.”
He kissed her again, hands and mouth mastering.
Then Eric flowed away from her, melting into the shadows. The good scent of him lingered an instant before that too vanished, leaving Iona alone in the moonlight, and breathless.