"What do you mean, I can handle it?"
Noah didn't even flinch at my death stare. Instead, he leaned back on his elbows, his dark eyes shimmering with a mixture of mischief and that raw, primal confidence that made him such a headache at times like this.
"Think about it, little tiger," he said, his voice dropping into a smooth, persuasive purr. "You aren't just any female. You've been reinforced by the marks of a serpent, a Beast warrior, a king, and now a merman Prince. Your body is stronger than it was a month ago. Plus..." He paused, his gaze raking over me with shameless appreciation. "You've always had more stamina than all of us combined when you're focused on a 'project.' Why should this be any different?"
"Because this 'project' involves three apex predators losing their collective minds!" I snapped, though my heart gave a traitorous little skip. "A rut isn't a game, Noah. If all three of you go under at once, I'll be lucky if the tent is still standing, let alone my spine."
