Drantos chuckled.

“It’s not funny. Bat is too good at her job. Once trials have ended, some of her own clients have made death threats. That’s not a surprise, though. They’re assholes and thugs with the mentality that nobody should stand up to them, especially a woman. But you’ve met her. I think the shock of the crash has actually mellowed her out a bit. Imagine how angry my sister can make people when she’s normal.”

A smile played at his lips. “Kraven probably can.”

She didn’t smile back. “Please tell me he’s got the patience of a saint.”

“He won’t hurt her, Dusti. I give you my word.”

What is his word really worth? She could only hope Bat was safe.

Drantos watched Dusti eat. She looked miserable and worried. “Your sister is safe,” he swore. “Kraven will protect her and make sure she’s cared for. He won’t let anything happen to her.”

She still didn’t look convinced. He ate quickly, studying the area. There had been no sign of trouble so far. That didn’t mean things couldn’t change. Decker’s men might have already located the crash site and begun to hunt for their trail. They would be able to move faster without two women slowing them down but he hoped they still had hours before they could catch up. It would help when they crossed the large body of water.

He needed to get Dusti across the river without getting her drenched. She would become cold once night fell. He scanned the sky. They had some daylight left but only a few hours. He needed to put out the fire and build some kind of raft. She could hold his clothes while he paddled her across to the other side. A few logs tied together should work.

He glanced at Dusti, wondering how she’d react when he got her home and proved that everything he’d told her was true. He’d need to shift forms and hope she didn’t see him as a monster. It might kill every ounce of attraction she felt for him if all he inspired was terror.

He stifled a groan. He wanted to get her naked in the worst way. Memories of the evening before flashed through his mind. Her responses to his touch had driven him out of his mind. Pure lust and animal instincts had taken control. His dick hardened just thinking about how she’d felt under him and how hot she’d gotten when he’d been touching her.

He couldn’t wait to get her home so he could stop fighting his desire to make love to her. He’d have plenty of time to seduce Dusti then and teach her exactly what was between them. She’d learn they were meant to be together and exactly how different from human men he really was. He wouldn’t have to hold back anything.

He just hated that he’d frightened her the night before. She had no idea how much passion their Lycan blood could inspire.

Why in the hell didn’t her mother tell her the truth? It still pissed him off. Everything would have been so much easier if Dusti had known about VampLycans and the kind of real danger Decker posed. He wouldn’t be taking verbal abuse about his state of sanity or worried that she’d refuse to give a relationship between them a chance once she saw him shift forms.

She would fight him every step of the way until she realized everything he’d told her was the truth. Maybe shifting for her wasn’t such a bad idea. He debated it but quickly came to the conclusion he was right before; it would terrify her even more. Long term, it wasn’t worth it. She’d already endured enough trauma. It was best to allow her to think he was a little crazy, rather than her seeing him as some kind of horrific monster. She’d resist harder against her attraction to him. That was the last thing he wanted.

Time spent together would help. She’d get to know him better and he’d be able to earn her trust. He just needed to be more patient and not lose his temper when he became frustrated. He regretted swatting her ass, never meaning to cause her pain. It was a reminder that he needed to be gentler when he touched her. He never imagined his mate would be half human. It didn’t bother him but it did change things. Her skin was more delicate and sensitive than the women he had become accustomed to.

I’ll get her home and we’ll work this out. She’ll have to accept me.

He studied the moving river. That was the obstacle he needed to face next. He’d just take one problem at a time.

“Stay here and finish eating that fish, Dusti. I need to find a few fallen logs.”

“For what?”

He jerked his thumb toward the water. “To cross that.”

“You’re determined to get me killed, aren’t you?”

He closed the distance between them and crouched. She flinched when he reached out and brushed his fingers down her cheek but didn’t totally pull away. She grimly held his gaze.

“I’m determined to keep you safe. We will lose anyone who finds our trail by crossing it. It’s just a little water.”

“It’s a freakin’ river, and I’ve been watching branches floating by near the center. That current is really moving. I’m not totally dumb. That water’s probably coming from the mountaintops that are melting from the winter ending. It means that ice chunks are also mixed in there and I know how cold it got last night. The day is almost over, which means we’re going to get hypothermia tonight, if we don’t drown first.”

He decided to try a new tactic. “I plan to get you naked in my bed, Dusti. That wouldn’t happen if I got you killed. I’m very motivated. Think about that. I am.”

He stood and walked toward the woods. Her shocked expression had him grinning. He’d rather face a flustered or angry woman than a terrified one.

It didn’t take long to find a few dead trees. Some of them hadn’t survived the winter, and the wind and snow felled many. He allowed his claws to slide out, hacking at the excess branches to remove them from the small tree trunks. He’d use his belt to bundle some of them together and it would hopefully keep Dusti dry and out of the water.

I’ll get her wet later. He grinned, imagining stripping her out of her clothes and spreading her out naked on his bed. Images filled his head of making love to her but he pushed them back. Daydreaming about claiming her would have to wait.

One thing at a time. Raft first. Sex later.

He dragged the trunks one by one into the camp he’d made. Dusti watched but didn’t question him as he made a few trips back and forth, and then began to build his makeshift raft.