Griff threw her a teasing glance. “I thought you rather liked my eagle.”
“What I like in the bedroom and what I like in the kitchen are two entirely separate things,” Hayley informed him grandly.
As one, they looked at the kitchen table, then at each other. They both burst out laughing.
The doorbell chimed. “That’ll be Reiner and Danny,” Hayley said, trying to bring her giggles under control. She really, really didn’t want either of them asking what the joke was. “Right on time, too. You were right, we could trust Reiner. Maybe we can make sleepovers at Daddy’s a regular event.”
Griff caught her for a kiss as she went past. “I certainly hope so.”
Still glowing from the brief embrace, Hayley beamed as she opened the front door. “Hi-”
“Where is he?” The door slammed back as Reiner thrust his way inside. Hayley gasped as he barged past, knocking her into a wall.
“What on earth-?” Griff appeared in the door of the kitchen, still holding a butter knife. His eyes abruptly blazed gold, and his voice cracked like a whip. “Reiner! Stop!”
Reiner shrugged off Griff’s alpha command, never pausing. He had a wild, triumphant expression, his teeth bared. Towing a struggling Danny by one wrist in his wake, he strode right up to the firefighter.
“You have no power over me,” he snarled, right into Griff’s face. “Griffin MacCormick, I challenge you!”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Griff,” Danny babbled. His face was stricken with guilt. “I didn’t mean to tell. I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
“It’s not your fault, lad.” Griff kept his eyes locked with Reiner’s. He hadn’t backed down so much as an inch. “Reiner, let the cub go. Now.”
“You have no power over me,” Reiner repeated, but he opened his hand. Danny flew straight into Hayley’s arms.
“It’s all right, baby, it’s all right,” Hayley whispered futilely to him. His entire body shook as though he had his fingers in an electrical socket.
“Hayley, take Danny upstairs.” Griff’s voice was very calm, betraying none of the tension in his body. “This isn’t something he should watch.”
“Go up to your room, baby.” She pushed Danny in the direction of the stairs, but didn’t follow him herself. “The grown-ups need to talk for a minute. It’ll be ok.”
When Danny had disappeared into his bedroom, Hayley swung round to confront Reiner. “You. Get out of my house.”
Reiner laughed scornfully, glancing at her with a sneer. “You have even less power over me than he-”
Without a hint of warning, Griff punched him straight in the face. Reiner staggered, and before he could recover Griff had him up against the wall, one forearm shoved across the lion shifter’s throat.
“You will respect my mate’s territory,” he said, still with that deadly calm. “You can challenge me, but you have no right to intrude here.”
“Then let’s take this outside,” Reiner spat. His eyes glittered feverishly. “I challenge you for your pride, alpha. Shift and face me like a lion.”
“He can’t, Reiner, you know he can’t!” Hayley tried to pull Griff away, but she might as well have tried to move a mountain. “Griff, just toss him out. He can’t make you fight him.”
“Oh yes, I can,” Reiner said. “And I am. Fight me, alpha. Defend your pride, or lose it.”
Very slowly, Griff released
Reiner. “There’s a dueling arena at the courthouse. We will do this properly, with witnesses.”
“Griff, he’ll kill you!” Hayley whirled on Reiner. “Reiner, I beg you. Just let him go. Please. For Danny’s sake, don’t hurt him.”
Reiner straightened a little, his chest swelling as if he was enjoying her pleading. “I suppose I could accept a formal surrender.”
“He surrenders, of course he’ll surrender,” Hayley babbled, before Griff could say anything. She grabbed Griff’s arm, his muscles as hard as iron under her fingers. “Griff, please. Do it.”
A savage snarl tore from Griff’s throat. Hayley could see sweat beading on his brow, could tell how hard he was having to fight to keep his animals under control.
If this continues, Reiner won’t even have to touch him. His own beasts will rip him apart first.