Page 79 of Shifter Situations

Every glance in our direction was laced with hostile thoughts, and I returned them all with a sneer of my own. Baylor positioned his body in front of me, blocking my view while Briggs watched his back.

I scowled at him, fully aware that he didn’t find my attitude frightening.

“This is bullshit,” I griped under my breath. “How did I go from terrifying and ignored to being treated like a fucking puppy? I can’t tell if they’re looking at me like I pissed on the floor or like I suddenly grew two extra heads.”

Briggs tightened his arms, pinning me more firmly against his chest. “Barbie—”

“Don’t Barbie me…” I sassed.

“Look, Barbs. You’re being prickly right now. Just relax a little bit. We’ll go run, kill some deer—”

I cut Baylor off. “Not interested. Don’t pet-name me.”

He chuckled, sounding too much like Briggs for comfort, and I shook my head. “Don’t do that. I don’t like that.”

Bay grinned. “You’re as grouchy as Big. I see how this relationship works now.”

“For the record, Bay, I’m not taking your side. I can only hold her back if she wants to be held.”

“If I lunge, let me go,” I whispered to Briggs while staring at his brother. “I won’t kill him, but I do need a few fingers for my bone throne.”

“Jack warned me about this,” Baylor confessed, leaning closer. “He said that if you sounded serious, then you were most likely joking. But if I thought that you were joking, then you probably weren’t.”

I felt Briggs’ chest vibrate against my back as he laughed silently. “And right now, do you think she’s being serious?”

“I can’t tell.”

“Word of advice; Jack was goading you. I don’t play when it comes to my collections. I really am missing a few finger bones. Yours are just the right size.”

Briggs chortled as Baylor wrapped his hands around his chest to tuck his fingers under his arms.

“I need these. I’ll be keeping them.”

I shrugged. “For now…”

He narrowed his eyes at me, and I kept my face carefully blank.

“I’m going to compel him,” I thought to Briggs, my mental voice full of amusement.

I blinked twice, relaxing my expression as I purred, “You don’t want them, Baylor. Give me your hands.”

He placed his hands in mine, and I pulled them close to my face to examine his fingers as I broke eye contact. He snatched them back quickly, and Briggs huffed at him.

“What the fuck was that?” Baylor asked.

“You should be careful who you tease.” I pursed my lips to fight a grin. “Some of us know the rules but still choose to not play fair.”

A scoff sounded from behind Baylor, and I knew who it was before I felt Briggs tense. I let the grin slip into place as she walked into view.

Baylor’s spine went rigid, and Briggs was a statue against my back, waiting for bloodshed or dreading her presence.

Probably both.

“One Elliott wasn’t enough for you?” Anna taunted. “How many men do you have in your bed now?”

“Six... No. Nine. Wait…” I squinted my eyes, rolling them in a circle as I counted. “Ten. Twelve? Are you asking about this month or last month?”

“What did your girlfriend do to Katie?” She sneered at me as she spoke to my mate.