Grace’s shoulders straightened. “You and Jacqueline make a good match. You even fought well together.”

“You fought like a champion—all heart,” he said, his voice softening. “When that Kurjan lifted you off the ground, you thought very quickly and shot him right in the groin. That was brilliant.” It was difficult to yell at a person while also trying to reassure and compliment her, damn it.

She blushed. “Let’s not forget we were all there, in danger, because of me.”

He straightened. “Excellent segue for our next discussion.”

She sighed. “Wonderful. How about I just do it?” She cleared her throat and lowered her soft voice as much as possible to a growl. “Grace? You’re still mainly human, and when there’s a fight with immortal soldiers who’ve trained for centuries, and I tell you to get your ass on my ex-girlfriend’s back and climb a mountain, you do it, damn it.” Then she fluttered her eyes. “But Adare—” her voice rose to a falsetto, “I can take care of myself and don’t need you telling me what to do. Butthead.” Then she growled like an animal and pawed the bedspread. “Woman, obey,” she snapped, her voice still a terrible imitation of his. “No,” she said in her own voice. “In fact, bite me.”

Amusement poked through his irritation like light through blind slats. “You really don’t understand the freedom I’ve allowed you, do you?”

Her sigh was exaggerated. “Let’s make a deal. You never use the words ‘allow’ or ‘obey’ again, and I’ll do my best to stay out of immortal battles to the death?”

“No deal,” he said. How, after all this time, did she not fear him at least a little?

She sighed. “Figured.” Then she looked around, her gaze landing on her photograph of the deer. “How about this? Since you won’t discuss your feelings about my taking the virus, or your feelings about your ex-girlfriend, the flirty cougar, how about you tell me what your plan is for this big attack?” She swung her gaze to him. “As your mate, don’t I have a right to know?”

Well, she did have a point. He held out a hand and accepted her olive branch, not wanting to fight during this last time together. Her quickness and bravery in fighting earlier had pushed him off balance, and he wasn’t sure what to do with that. For now, they could just get along. “I guess you do. Maybe it’s time you saw why Benny calls this place the lair.”

* * * *

Grace enjoyed the feeling of her hand in Adare’s way too much. His easy grip was warm, firm, and protective. She’d hidden a lot about her health from him the last couple of years, but since he wasn’t really involved in her life, she shouldn’t feel guilty.