“That makes sense.”

She followed him inside the elevator and smiled as the doors closed. Her demeanor changed once they reached the main floor though. Males in the large community room stopped watching the big-screen television to fix their attention on her instead of the game.

“It’s fine,” he rasped, gripped her around the waist and used his body to shield her from many of the stares. He glared around the room as he tugged her toward the main doors.

One of the males stood. “True? A moment?”

The primate had a history of disliking humans. True stopped, steering Jeanie behind him to keep her far from the male. “What do you want?”

The male growled. “I don’t like her here. It offends me that she’s under the same roof. Are you returning her to the humans? That’s where she belongs instead of down the hall from where I sleep.”

“Back off,” he warned. “She’s with me and that’s where she will remain. Sit down, 861.”

The male puffed out his chest and clenched his fists. “She’s our enemy.”

“Not mine.”

“She’s dangerous and a threat.”

True snorted. “You should go speak to one of those head-shrink doctors they made us see after we were freed if you’re afraid of a female. That or you should ask Fury for more training since you think you are incapable of defending yourself from someone so small.”

861 hissed. “I see the appeal in mounting her but send her back to her cell afterward. You should always put your toys away when you’re done playing with them.”

True pushed Jeanie farther behind him and released her to free his hands. The male appeared ready to attack and he hoped he would, wanting to make him bleed for the insulting words. He glanced around to see if there were any other threats. A few of the males who’d been released from a Colorado facility had stood as well but they stayed back. They were known to really dislike all humans, the treatment they’d suffered while in captivity making them bitter. Book got to his feet and reached down, lifting one of the lamps from the table. One good jerk and he pulled the cord from the wall.

“I’m ordering you males to go to your rooms,” Book demanded with a soft growl. “The female is here with Darkness’ permission. You don’t want to piss him off.” He paused. “True and I would be the least of your worries.”

True was glad the male wasn’t ready to attack. It still worried him that the others might decide to fight. One of them could possibly get around him and Book to go after Jeanie.

861 refused to back down. “I don’t want her here.”

“Perhaps you should go do better things with your time than harass a helpless human.” Book moved closer to True, putting his body between the males and Jeanie too. “Do that now. You don’t want to go after another human the way you once did. Breeze and our females haven’t exactly let you forget that, have they? It’s no surprise you’d attempt to insult him for actually having a female in his bed.”

“Human lover,” 861 snarled.

“I love all females,” Book snarled back. “Jealous you can’t mount one? It shows.” He smirked, almost daring them to advance.

“There’s going to be a fight if my keen hearing isn’t just picking up a television show.” A new male entered the community room from the hallway. “And it’s about a female. It’s rude to insult one.”

True glanced at Query, identifying the male as one from Drackwood. The male rounded the couches and glanced behind True, obviously spotting Jeanie. He appeared stunned before his lips twisted into a grimace as he studied 861 and his two companions.

“He brought a human under our roof,” one of them spat. “She’s our enemy. The only thing they are good for is mounting and tossing into a cage afterward.”

Query lengthened his stride, got behind the three males and grabbed the one who’d just spoken by the back of his neck. He leaned in close, putting his lips next to his ear.

“I’ll rip off your dick,” he threatened. “Then I’ll feed it to you and watch you choke to death if you even think again of touching that female. Do you understand me?”

His words shocked them all. He gave the male a rough shake and released him, baring his teeth.

“You better run. You know I have a temper.”

The three males glanced at each other, obviously frightened, and scrambled toward the stairs, taking them two at a time. True relaxed and glanced back at Jeanie. She’d paled but didn’t seem too afraid. He sniffed, finding her scent not overly sweet. He held Query’s stare, then glanced at Book.

“Thank you.”

Query shrugged. “Those three are nuisances. Our females snubbing them tends to only make them more cranky.”

True wasn’t sure what that meant and it must have shown in his expression.

Book grinned, setting the lamp on a table. “861 once tried to attack Valiant’s mate. Breeze didn’t take that too kindly since she likes her and the females avoid sharing sex with those three. They are filled with hatred.” He sobered. “They’ve refused to take names and my guess is it helps them keep hold of their bitterness.” He jerked his head toward Jeanie. “And you’ve brought her home. Watch them. Understand? I wouldn’t put it past them to do something foolish. They are okay to hang with but would I want them anywhere near a human I cared about? Hell no.”