Psy & Changelings 01 - Slave to Sensation

that she had a few tricks he didn’t know about. “The safety of the entire family depends upon that hierarchy being followed.”
    His words made her think. “If she questions you and you let it go, then she might not do as you ask when it’s necessary.” Against her cheek his heart beat strong and powerful, another indication of his physical strength.
    Some of the anger in his voice lessened. “Yes. Today, she walked off her watch. That could’ve meant death for some of us if anyone unfriendly was out there.” He dropped his chin on her hair. “The newly mature males and females who are strong and independent enough to make good soldiers are also the hardest to control. If I let them have their way, they’d cause chaos.”
    â€œYou were so harsh.” She gave in to her own need and slipped her arms around the heat of his body. For the first time in her life, she didn’t have to worry about revealing herself. Lucas knew . The wonderful thing was, he didn’t think her flaw a flaw at all.
    â€œI’ve treated Rina gently in the past because I thought it would harm her to do otherwise. But she’s old enough to handle real discipline. If she can’t, then she’s not soldier material and we’ll have to drop her rank.”
    The simple practicality shook her. “I guess you’re not so different from the Psy—only the strong survive.”
    â€œNo, Sascha darling.” He ran his hand over her hair. “We’re very different.”
    The endearment felt like another caress. “How?”
    â€œWe don’t kick out our weak,” he said. “We don’t destroy those who are different. It’s true that soldiers have high rank, but Tammy’s rank is even higher, as high as a sentinel’s. In some circumstances, she has the power to give the orders.”
    Sascha hadn’t known that. “Sentinels?”
    â€œMy seconds in command.”
    â€œDorian, Nate . . . Clay?” she guessed. There was a sense of power around the three men that set them apart. Even Dorian’s pain didn’t dim his internal strength.
    â€œYes. You haven’t met Vaughn or Mercy yet.”
    â€œAre there other ranks?”
    â€œYes. For example, certain of the maternal females also hold extremely high rank, because without them, the soldiers would have no family to protect.”
    â€œI see.” If she’d been born part of this race, she might not have been driven to madness.
    â€œOur laws might seem harsh but we’re not inhuman. We treasure every unique individual. We make room for difference.”
    And that was the one thing the Psy would never do.

CHAPTER 15
    Lucas watched Sascha walk out to the yard. She was creating her mask of Psy uniformity even as she moved. And though it enraged his beast to see her shutting him out, he knew he had to let her protect herself her way. It rubbed him raw that he couldn’t keep her safe, yet he was also proud of the strength in the fragile body of his mate.
    â€œRina?” he asked Dorian, who was standing on the verandah.
    â€œShe’ll be fine.”
    â€œI was serious, Dorian. Don’t sleep with her.” Like many of the leopard females who’d recently achieved maturity, Rina was very sexual. Her scent was compelling to males and he couldn’t fault Barker for falling. “The second you do, she’ll try leading you around by the balls.”
    Dorian raised a brow. “And I meant what I said. She’s too young and too soft.”
    Lucas looked at his friend. “Sascha’s worried about you.” So was he. Dorian was growing harder and harder to reach, in spite of the way he’d recovered after they’d found out about Brenna’s abduction.
    â€œI can take care of myself.”
    â€œYou’re Pack—you don’t have to face the loss alone. Kylie was ours, too.” She’d been like Rina—a little wild, a little rebellious, and utterly loved. That was why Lucas had put Rina under the sentinel’s control. Dorian might be a hard taskmaster but he’d never do her any real harm.
    â€œI need to feel his blood run from my teeth.” Dorian looked out to where Sascha stood by the car. “She doesn’t understand our need for vengeance.”
    â€œI think she understands a lot more than we give her credit for.” He’d seen a depth of compassion in those night-sky eyes