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My lion rumbled in my chest, not in a good way. I’m not the least bit interested, even though I know I could be. I should.

I slammed the bottle down on a table, pissed off that I don’t know what to do with the pent-up energy inside me.

I’m so caught up in my racing thoughts that I don’t even hear Zavier walk up behind me. I stiffen for a second when he pulls up a chair and plops down next to me.

I grunt as he pulls the bottle of Jack from my hands and takes a swig.

“You know, one day you’re really going to hurt that girl’s feelings.”

With a scoff, I pull the bottle back. “And? Sibley likes to make it known she’s made of nails. I’m pretty sure nothing I say or do is going to matter much to her.”

“You ever stop to think that what you say means more to her than what she’s letting on? That she’s only throwing barbs back at you to protect herself from getting hurt?”

“No, why would I? She’s made it clear I’m not her favorite person. I’m not going to hold my tongue just because she’s a woman. She gives as good as she gets.”

Zavier tilts his head and grabs the bottle back for another swig. “That’s true. I don’t think I’ve ever seen two people at each other’s throats as much as you two are.”

“Exactly, she’s just a nuisance. One that will eventually go away.” At least I fucking hope so.

“A nuisance you feel compelled to go check on.”

I go still. Of course, it’s back to this. “As I said earlier, I was only doing that to make sure she was still alive. Do you know how pissed the women around here would be if something happened to her and none of us went to check that she was okay? Hell, what would happen if Orpheus and Aziz found out something was up with her and no one took care of her? I highly doubt she shared her vision with them.”

“True enough. Only Sibley told us she was fine. At some point, we have to trust her unless, of course, you have reason to believe we shouldn’t?” Zavier turns his full gaze on me, a question in his eyes.

There is more to the story.

I didn’t tell anyone what Sibley told me when I walked her home that night. I didn’t tell anyone that she thought she might be losing her grip on her ability or about how petrified she looked. It didn’t seem like something I should be sharing with anyone else.

For now, I would keep her secret.

“No, I can’t think of anything.”

Zavier shrugs and slides the bottle back toward me. “If there’s nothing more going on, maybe you need to figure out why you’re so fixated on saving her from something that isn’t going to happen. This isn’t like you, Primal. You absolutely look out for your own. A brother through and through, but you also know when to back off. If Sibley is asking for space, we need to give it to her. Is there a reason you can’t do that?”

I shift my gaze away from his, unable to look him in the eye. I can feel his insinuation, and though it grates on my nerves, I bark out a laugh.

He was trying to find out whether there was more than animosity between Sibley and me. Just because a few members had found their ol’ ladies, their mates, didn’t mean everyone would.

I’m more than happy on my own. In fact, I prefer it. Women bring problems more often than not.

I don’t want anyone locking me down. I wasn’t down for having to check in with anyone when I went on runs. I sure as hell don’t want that kind of responsibility hanging around my neck.

“You’re out of your mind. You know that?" I chuckle, sobering as I lift the bottle to my lips. "The answer to your insinuation is that there is no reason for it.” I take another long gulp from the bottle, not understanding why it feels like I’ve just lied to one of my brothers.

Zavier pats his hand on the tabletop. “Then you should be able to stay away from her without a problem.” He gets up from his seat, leaving me on my own.

“I’m going to stay so far away that she’s going to think I’ve vanished,” I mutter under my breath. I’m sure Zavier can still hear me, but I’m saying it more for myself than for him.

I don’t need anyone around here thinking there’s more going on between Sibley and me than there really is.

As of right now, Sibley would just be some random vampire guest who comes to visit. She’s nothing to me.

I drain the rest of the bottle as I let the words continue to bounce around in my mind.

Even as they start to fade in my drunken haze, I know what I’m trying to convince myself of is a lie.

Sibley is so much more than some random vampire guest.