Page 24

A shifter fighting, spilling his blood, to protect her.

“Don’t get near him,” Santiago warned, holding on to her with one hand and using the other to press against the wound on his throat. “He’s in a frenzy, and he might take you down just as easy as the vamp.”

But he⁠—

A swirl of sirens. Screaming in the night. Coming closer. Closer.

The jaguar hesitated. Turned his fierce head toward her.

He doesn’t want the others to know.

The vampire slashed out at him, sending the cat jumping back. Then Paul turned and pulled out a gun from the back of his jeans.

“Cain!” Miranda screamed the warning.

But the vampire wasn’t trying to shoot her lover.

He aimed the gun straight at her. He smiled his fanged smile. And fired.

Santiago shoved her to the ground, two seconds too late.

Her breath heaved out at the burning pain in her shoulder. Realization dawned as tears trickled from the corners of her eyes. Holy shit, that bastard bit me, and he just shot me, too!

Snarls. A roar. The sound of claws scraping over metal. Then the jaguar was there, crouching over her, its warm body pressing against her side.

“Easy.” The word came from Santiago.

Miranda was still struggling to catch her breath. Speech was sure as hell beyond her.

He’d shot her.

A low mewling vibrated up from the big cat’s throat. She blinked, stared up at him, and became trapped in his heated gaze.

He could kill her with one bite. Rip her throat right out. Or use those claws to cut her open. But he just lowered his head. Pushed his nose against her throat.

“She’s gonna be all right.” Santiago’s voice was gruff.

The sirens were close now. The sound grated in her ears.

And the vampire? Where the hell was he? Miranda tried to get up⁠—

The cat snarled.

“Stay down!” Santiago snapped.

“P—Paul…” She was shaking now. And her shoulder was pulsating with pain.

“Bastard’s gone.” Santiago’s hands were on her shoulder, and he was clamping down, hard. “Shot you because he knew Lawson would get distracted. Made a break for it the second you hit the ground.”

Dammit.

More sirens. The swirl of lights above her head.

“Get the hell out of here, Lawson. You know they can’t see you.”

But the jaguar wasn’t moving. Miranda lifted her right hand. Her fingers were trembling as she reached for him. Her hand brushed over his fur. So soft. And wet. Her hand lifted.

Blood.