Hidden Passions (Hidden, #7)(74)

Jonah shifting into an enraged tiger brought him back to business.

The defeated cat scattered his healers like ninepins. They weren't hurt, but Chris wasn't sure that was deliberate. Seeing himself surrounded, Jonah snarled a threat at his three clan mates. They weren't intimidated. Bristling, crouched, Syd and Vasur edged closer.

"Think, Jonah," Evina said, still in human form and on her feet again. "I know you're disappointed you didn't win the challenge, but none of us wants to see you hurt. We want to work this out."

In spite of everything, Jonah thoroughly shocked Chris by swiping at Evina with his claws out.

The alpha jumped back too quickly for him to slash her. Nate started to move toward her protectively, but she shook her head. She must have worried her husband would further antagonize the cornered cat.

"We can work this out," she repeated. "You haven't broken the law. You're young and strong, and there's so much you can do with your life if you control your anger now."

Her implication registered with Jonah the same time it did with Chris.

Jonah wasn't going to work on her crew after this.

Probably he wasn't going to be a firefighter.

Jonah growled, backing up in a hunkered down position. Syd and Vasur padded forward to cut off his retreat. Jonah noticed them closing in. His tiger turned, gathered its great striped haunches, and bounded straight for the building's ledge.

Chris swore inside his head. He didn't know how many stories above the avenue they were, but certainly too many for the cat to survive a fall.

"Jonah, no!" Evina called.

The tiger launched himself into the air.

"Save!" Tony cried. "Save the tiger!"

Chris had no idea what he was about until three St. Bernard size streaks zoomed into the air. The green dragon was in the lead. He caught Jonah by the scruff, jerking his descent short. Verdi flapped madly to hold up the heavy cat, the burden almost too much for him. Seeing him struggling, Scarlet and Auric darted in to help. The girl dragon got the tiger by the tail. Grabbing what he could, Auric clamped his toothy muzzle around the cat's forelimb.

The sharp noises the cat let out said this was both a shock and uncomfortable.

The giant gargoyle took to the air as well, probably to ensure his proteges could manage their unbalanced load.

They managed it, more or less. They flew Jonah back above the roof, bobbled him unsteadily to the pool, then dropped him into the water with a large splash.

"Shoot," Tony said as the gargoyle landed gracefully beside him. "Sorry, Grant. I should have asked you to take care of that."

The gargoyle's goblin head grinned at him. "Dragons do good," he said in a rumbly voice. "New keeper be proud of them."

The dragons seemed proud of themselves. They squawked excitedly, scrambling around the pool where Jonah paddled in human form. He could have swum as his tiger. Chris guessed he preferred to be in a shape that allowed him to complain.

"Call them off," Jonah said. "They won't let me out of here."

Trying to kill himself and then being rescued at the last moment seemed to have sapped the cat's berserker energy. Chris went to stand by the pool to watch him wearily tread water.

"I'm bleeding," Jonah said. "Those dragon bites aren't healing."

His left arm did have a bunch of punctures from Auric's jaw.

"They saved your life," Chris reminded.

Tired or not, Jonah scowled. Scarlet did not like that. She cawed accusingly at him, then huffed a long tongue of fire.

"They're crazy," Jonah said, shrinking back in alarm.

He was one to talk, Chris thought.

~

After all that excitement, Tony's heart needed a chance to settle. Destiny didn't seem to be on board with letting him get it. Everyone except the one person he wanted with him stopped by the lounge chair he'd dropped onto beside the pool.

Rick was the first. He crouched down to pat Tony's knee and congratulate him on pulling off the fight. "Next time I won't doubt you."

"I couldn't tell you doubted me this time," Tony teased.

Nate slapped his shoulder and Evina invited him to dinner. "You and Chris," she said. "Next week. Absolutely no excuses. Nate will cook something nice."

Tony's mom and dad both hugged him.

"I'm proud of you," said his dad.

"That boy seems nice," said his mom, handing him a black T-shirt she'd found somewhere.


"He is," Tony assured her.

She opened her mouth to ask one question too many. "Grill him about his love life later," his dad advised, hugging her to his side. "After he's caught his breath."

Someone from Shifter Counseling arrived to collect Jonah. Freda had tranq'ed him as a precaution, once the dragons let him out of the pool. The tiger wasn't unconscious, but he was woozy and couldn't drive. Tony didn't think the cat was going to be charged with anything. Freda accompanied him in the ambulance. Liam looked like he wanted to go to his buddy but wasn't sure he should. A few minutes after that, Vasur, Syd and Liam left the terrace together. They were subdued but seemed okay. Tony hoped this meant they'd adjust to Jonah's expulsion from the clan.

Rick's fiancee came over then. Per usual, Cass's appearance was breathtaking.