On the Prowl (Bad Things #2)(37)

“Sometimes, a pause means death. If there had been silver in her gun and she’d hit Rayce in the heart, he would be dead.”

His expression didn’t change.

“You really are as bad as they say,” she muttered, disgusted.

“I’m the good one.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” She glanced at the woman. “What did you do to her?”

“She’s under my dominion. Not a bad soul, just one that was tainted by magic.”

A compulsion.

“I simply put her to sleep. I figured that would be less painful than what you had planned for her.”

“You know nothing about me.”

“Sure I do…I know you hate being a vampire with every cell of your body. You think vamps are horrible monsters, just as I do. You think—”

“I think I want you out of my damn way.” She glared at him. “No, scratch that…I’ll take you out of the way.” Something had just seemed to switch off inside of her at his words.

You think vamps are horrible monsters…

She ran at him, racing fast because he was standing between her and Julian. Julian was at the bottom of that snaking path, down at the dock. Julian hadn’t appeared yet and he should have. That meant the human had probably tranqed him—or done something worse to him. And while Julian was suffering, Rose was wasting time with the jerk who hated her and her kind.

Before she reached him, Leo seemed to just vanish. But she felt the hot swirl of air around her and she knew he hadn’t disappeared into thin air. He’d just taken flight. She didn’t slow down. She raced to the dock and saw the Devil’s Prize tied up. She jumped onto the boat.

Julian was sprawled out, his body next to Marcos. Only Julian…he seemed to have become trapped mid-shift. His bones were twisted, his limbs at odd angles. His claws were out, and faint fur lined his body.

She fell to her knees beside him.

“Julian?”

Hot air beat around her once more as her hands curled over Julian’s shoulders.

“That’s…certainly interesting,” Leo announced as he drew closer. “When shifters are drugged, their animals usually go out first. But with him…” He touched down onto the boat. He peered at Julian. “His panther is fighting to break free even as the man remains unconscious.”

More bones popped. Snapped. The fur on Julian’s body grew thicker.

“Get away from him,” Leo told her, his voice sharp. “This isn’t right.”

“You get away!” She held Julian tighter. “He needs my help.”

“No, that isn’t what he needs.” Then Leo grabbed her. She was surprised by just how strong he was—though she shouldn’t have been. After all, he was just like Luke.

Or not.

He held her easily, and his wings flapped as he began to lift her into the air.

And then Julian changed completely. The panther’s eyes opened and that golden gaze burned as he tilted back his head and roared. That feral stare—it locked right on her and Leo.

“Not right,” Leo said and he sounded worried.

The great cat leapt toward them. Leo took them higher and the panther snarled. The panther paced the boat, snarling, clawing, and roaring his displeasure.

“Let me go,” Rose fought in Leo’s hold. “I can help him!”

“No, you can’t. His beast is in control. He’s all beast, no man at all right now, and that is not the way this should have worked.”

Leo thought he knew everything. He thought he knew Julian. He thought he knew her. Maybe it was time for him to get a wake-up call. He wasn’t letting her out of his grip, just holding her with that effortless strength that was stronger than a vampire, stronger than a shifter, stronger than anything. He had one arm wrapped around her upper body, and, when she craned down her neck and chin, that arm of his was conveniently close to her mouth.

Since he wouldn’t let her go…

She’d make him suffer.

Rose bit him. His blood flowed into her mouth, hot and powerful and the rush blasted through her whole body even as he bellowed in shock.

Then she was falling. He’d let her go instantly and her body hurtled through the air as she dropped fast. She wasn’t like him—wings didn’t magically sprout from her body. She just fell straight down and crashed into the waves. Her body sank deep as bubbles swirled around her, so thick that she couldn’t see anything. Then the current was pulling at her, tossing her about, and Rose kicked up, knowing she had to get to the surface. She’d drowned before, and it was one of her least favorite ways to die.

But then there was a hand reaching out for her. Strong, hard, and it closed around her wrist, pulling her upward with an unyielding force. She kept kicking and she swam forward, following that pull. Her head broke the surface and she sucked in a deep, gasping breath.

“I’ve got you.” Julian. Back in human form. Treading water right next to her and holding her securely in his arms. “Fucking bastard,” Julian growled as he began to guide them toward the shore. “Can’t believe he dropped you.”

Julian was okay. Happiness exploded through her and she didn’t even stop to think. She kissed him. Wild and frantically. She crushed her body tightly against his. She felt shock stiffen his muscles, but then he kissed her back. Julian drove his tongue past her lips, he locked his other hand around her waist, and he kissed her with the same desperation that she felt.