Consumed

Chapter 4

Katie awoke to a warm rain splashing her window an hour before dawn. She’d managed about thirty minutes of sleep—the pain in her arm kept her awake most of the night. Residue remained in her head from the run-in with the werewolf ... tarlike and painful. All werewolves were monsters, but Brent went beyond animalistic. Truly evil, he needed to be stopped.

Her pink kitten-shaped clock flipped numbers over to reveal the early time. Lance had given her the goofy clock as a joke a few months back, but she kind of liked the color.

A sound caught her attention. Her heart increased in tempo. Someone waited in the living room. A quiet presence. Considering Maggie had been away at the labs for the last month, whoever hovered in there wasn’t invited.

Darkness slid inside and a shadow filled her doorway.

Scooting back, sitting up, she reached for the light.

Jordan leaned negligently against the door frame. “Told you to be ready.”

Relief relaxed her shoulders. She shoved long, sandy-colored hair away from her face. The pattering rain was failing to dispel the muggy air. “You really need to learn to knock.”

“I’ll work on it.”

Silence stretched out. Even from across the room, she could feel his heat. Male and strong. In her bedroom. Why hadn’t she worn the sexy negligee Maggie bought for her last birthday instead of a ratty old T-shirt? Her chest began to ache. She cleared her throat. “I read a file on you earlier.”

“I figured.”

Something inside her fissured. “How were you infected?”

He glanced around the soft yellow room, interest lighting his eyes. “The Kurjans attacked feline headquarters. Arrows tipped with the virus. Good plan.”

She tugged up the deep green bedspread that perfectly matched the one on Jordan’s bed. God, hopefully he wouldn’t notice the similarity. “Anybody else infected?”

“No.” His gaze landed on the pretty desk in the corner he’d carved for her sixteenth birthday.

“So you were the target?” Made sense. Jordan was the most powerful leader in the shifter world—take him out and more chaos would ensue.

“Probably.” He straightened his pose and tilted his head toward three watercolors lining the wall. “Those are by Brenna Dunne.”

“Yes.” The young witch was incredibly talented. “We’re friends. When Maggie and I moved here, we asked Brenna to paint us a couple forest scenes.” Forest scenes reminding Katie of home. Reminding her of safety, family, and Jordan.

“Hmmm.” Jordan shook his head, eyes focusing as he faced her fully. “I have four days to get things in order. We should get going.”

Something didn’t quite track. If she ended up being confined to headquarters, then she’d rather be at home with her people. Even though she couldn’t shift, she was still a shifter, darn it. “Why don’t you want me at home?”

“I’m endorsing Noah as leader of the feline nation. Some people won’t agree, and it’ll be dangerous until he proves himself. I need Baye at home to help Mac cover his back.” The three brothers had served as Jordan’s enforcers for centuries. The feline nation was a monarchy, and Jordan had no family. Nobody waited to ascend and lead, so there’d be fights until one victor emerged. Jordan ran a rough hand through his tawny hair, leaving it mussed.

Her hands were jealous. “I spoke with Emma earlier.”

A genuine smile tipped his lips. Finally. “How is the Queen of the Realm?”

“Good. She said they might have an antiviral for the virus based on both Maggie’s blood and the sample you sent right after being infected.” After all this time, could they have found a cure?

“That’d be great.” Jordan’s inflection didn’t change. Lightning cracked outside, brightening the room. “Don’t get your hopes up. We both know there isn’t enough time for me, but maybe for others.” He took a step inside, bringing the scent of wild male with him.

An unwelcome hurt chilled her legs. “Why didn’t you call me? I mean, when you were infected?”

He stilled, lifting both eyebrows. “I came as soon as I knew the results.”

“I could’ve worried with you while you waited for confirmation.” Why couldn’t he see her as an adult—as someone he could count on? “You can trust me.”

“I do trust you.”

No, he didn’t. In fact, Jordan didn’t really trust anybody. “You don’t have to be so all alone all the time.” Ruling a nation took a strong hand, and Jordan held strength in bulk. But Dage ruled with family around ... with friends being a part of his life. Why couldn’t Jordan?

Irritation cut lines to the sides of his mouth. “Let’s discuss my leadership issues another day. I don’t suppose you’ve packed?”

“No.”

“We can do this my way, Katie ... or my way.” Then his head lifted. His eyes darkened.. “I smell blood.”

Shit. “I, ah, cut my arm. No big deal.”

Two strides and he sat on the bed, reaching for her bandaged arm, zeroing right in. “What cut you?” His voice lowered to deadly.

She shivered in her thin T-shirt. “Ah, well, a werewolf?”

He ran his fingers along the side of the bandage. “Tonight?” Puzzlement combined with anger in his frown. “The moon isn’t full. Did you find a lair?”

“No.” She trembled but not from the cold. The contrast in Jordan’s gentle touch and dangerous tone caused a warming in her belly. A tingling in her thighs. Man, she needed to concentrate. “Baye and I went looking for the place we think he’ll go when the moon is full ... at the marina ... and he was, uh, there tonight. He’s evolved, Jordan. Actually spoke to me.” Kind of.

Jordan straightened. Doubt filled his eyes. “A werewolf spoke to you?”

“Yes. He said his name was Brent, and he knew you. Didn’t like you much.”

“Brent? Couldn’t be.” Jordan frowned, gently setting her arm on the bedspread. For two seconds, he didn’t move enough to even breathe. Then he exhaled, his jaw hardening. “I have calls to make.” He stood, crossing the room in three strides, lifting his cell phone to his ear. “You have an hour to pack.”

Glass shattered.

Shards flew from the window to cover her bedspread.

Fur shone in the moonlight, and a low growl vibrated as a werewolf leaped inside, landing solidly on two feet. He sniffed, straightening to his full height.

Jordan pivoted, snapping the phone shut.

Oh God. Katie scooted farther back against the headboard, her heart slamming behind her ribs. Her mental shields dropped into place, protecting her from evil. The smell of wet dog made her cough. Calm. She needed to stay calm to think. “Jordan, meet Brent.”

The two studied each other. Rain splashed inside, droplets glimmering on her polished oak floors.

Weird. This was too weird. The werewolf should be going for their throats, not staring at Jordan with an amused glint in his yellow eyes.

She had a gun in the nightstand. Slowly, casually, she reached for the drawer.

“No,” Brent growled, keeping his gaze on Jordan. “No, Kaattiieee.”

“Jesus.” Jordan shoved his phone in his pocket. “When did you evolve enough to talk?” He eyed Katie and the beast, anger darkening his smooth skin.

Yeah. The bed lay between Jordan and Brent. Not a good place to be in her flimsy shirt without any weapons.

Jordan moved toward the bed.

“Stop.” Brent flashed yellow teeth in a parody of a smile. “I talk. I think. I hunt.” He jerked his head toward Katie. “Miiiine.”

“You couldn’t be more wrong. Kate, get out of bed and come here.” Jordan’s skin shimmered. A growl, deadlier than the one issued by Brent, rumbled from his twisted lips. “You said you know me?”

“Yeesss.” Brent moved his hairy body closer to the bed. “Brennnt Bowwmn.”

Jordan snarled.

Katie froze. Animalistic tension swirled through the room, raising the hair on the back of her neck. As a smart woman, she knew her limitations from the damn virus—getting between two shifted animals trying to kill each other would end badly. Hopefully Jordan wouldn’t shift.

Jordan took another step toward her, his hands clenching into fists. “I thought I killed you. Three hundred years ago.”

Brent shrugged a massive shoulder, sending fur rolling down his body. “No. Almooossst. You left tennndon attached in neck. I had to diiiig out of graaaave.”

“That’s unfortunate,” Jordan said, his voice a low tenor Katie had never heard. “How long you been a werewolf?”

“Ten yearrrsss.”

Jordan kicked off his boots.

Brent licked his lips.

Katie bunched her muscles to attack.

Brent settled his stance, fur rippling. “The Pride issss mine, coussssssin.”

Cousin? Katie frowned. Jordan had family?

“Kaattieee one of us.” Brent slid another foot closer to the bed.

Jordan ducked his head and charged. He hit the werewolf dead center, throwing them across the room and through the window. The window frame cracked down the middle, leaving a gash in the wall. They disappeared from sight. Air exploded as he must have shifted. Snarls and growls filled the night as they fell three stories.

Katie rushed to the window, her hands clutching the jagged sill. Rain slammed into her face.

In a tangle of limbs, the duo landed, werewolf solidly on top of cougar. Brent must’ve twisted them midflight. He rolled away, gasping, teeth flashing as Jordan’s head thunked hard on the cobbled alley.

Panic caught Katie’s breath in her throat. She rushed back to the drawer, reaching for the gun and swinging around. Her foot caught on the bedspread and she went sprawling across the floor. Pain ripped across her knees. She tightened her hold on the weapon. With a sob, she scrambled to her feet, leaping back to the window.

Down below, Brent backed away from Jordan. The massive cougar, much larger than any true animal, sprawled on the wet bricks. Blood cascaded from a cut above his left ear. He didn’t move.

The angle of the fire escape kept her from getting a clean sight. Frustration caught in her throat. Determination straightened Katie’s spine. She aimed the barrel for Brent’s neck. He bunched to attack.

She fired.

The shot ricocheted off the metal fire escape. He paused.

Both Jordan and Brent looked up, eyes wild, fur standing on end.

Jordan jumped to his feet with a high-pitched snarl.

Katie’s hand trembled, and she slapped both hands around the gun. The cougar and werewolf circled each other, jaws wide, teeth flashing. Blood flowed from the cut along the top of Jordan’s head, dying his fur a dark red, even with the rain pelting down.

She tried to aim, but the animals moved too quickly. Toeing on her tennis shoes, she gingerly stepped over the jagged glass to the fire escape. The wind blew water into her face ... even then a heavy mugginess assaulted her lungs. She had to get closer to aim for Brent’s legs. Too bad she didn’t have a tranquilizer gun.

Grabbing the slippery rail, she maneuvered down the wet steps, her gaze on the fight. Jordan jumped Brent, sinking his canines into the werewolf ’s neck. Brent howled in anger.

Chills ripped down Katie’s spine. Her arm ached, a dull, thick pain, pounding with her rapid heartbeat.

Brent swung, connecting with Jordan’s chest. The lion flew across the alley to land hard against the building. Brick shattered, sending chips flying.

Jordan rolled, landing on all fours, teeth bared to kill. He took a step and halted, his wet ears going back. Rage filled his eyes when he turned his head and looked up. The snarl he gave at seeing her made her step back.

Brent hissed, shooting farther into the alley, his feet pounding and sending cobblestones flying. With a yowl sounding as if it came from a churning hell, Jordan bunched and followed him into darkness.

“No,” Katie whispered, rushing down the remaining steps until splashing in a puddle at the bottom. Dusty water washed up her bare legs. Clutching the gun harder, she hustled after them.

Rain splattered into her eyes as she ran through the alleys, following the demolished ground. Fear propelled her. She had to reach Jordan—if there was any way to stop Jordan from killing Brent, she needed to do it. Brent’s blood might hold hope for them all. They had to take him down, not end him for good.

She slid around a corner to see Brent disappearing over a rooftop, Jordan springing onto a fire escape. “Jordan,” she screamed.

He halted, eyeing her and leaping back to the ground. Raw fury folded his lip.

The world stopped moving. The brick on either side of the alley turned a deep black from the rain splattering up from the cobblestones. Darkened windows lined high above, while even higher, two building lights shone down, weak in the murky night. A horn bellowed in the distance. She shoved hair from her face, gulping in air. Muggy and hot, air coated her throat on the way down.

Her lungs heated.

The cougar eyed her, rage in his eyes, fur rising on end down his back.

The need to aim the gun at him made her stomach clench.

The air thickened and he rose to full height, a human male standing in the rain. Nude and enraged.

Katie shivered. His eyes glowed in his angular face, revealing the animal present even in human form. His nose was straight, his cheekbones high and symmetrical, purebred lion embedded in every feature. While his chest had always been broad, cut definition enhanced more powerful muscles than she remembered. His narrow waist tapered to...

God. She would not look lower.

Jordan’s gaze started at her tennis shoes and traveled up her bare legs to the clinging T-shirt. Fury lined every strong contour in his face.

Awareness slammed desire out of the way. She took a step back. Okay, running through alleys wearing only a T-shirt might have been a bad idea. Very bad. Intuition yelled at her to flee. No way in hell could she outrun him. Aiming the gun would be a serious mistake. She knew it ... yet her hand trembled as she raised the weapon.

His chin lowered. A stalking predator, he strode forward with measured steps, water sluicing off his hard body.

Retreat was her only option. A loose stone tripped her, and she dodged to the side, her back flush to a building. Thank God the weapon hadn’t gone off. A second later he trapped her, his abs square against the barrel of the gun, his gaze primal.

Something inside her hissed. Deep down, beyond humanity, at her very core ... a lioness stretched.

The breath caught in her throat. She stilled. Searching down deep. Searching for the animal she used to be. The animal that had been silenced ten years ago by the virus. A tingling wandered through her veins, igniting her blood. An animal sense that she’d missed so very much. The slumbering cougar awakening in reaction to a male.

And the male was pissed.

He may have shifted to human form, but a primitive tension poured off him that sent her heart beating hard enough to hurt.

Splashing rain counted dangerous seconds as he waited in silent demand, not saying a word.

Sawdust filled her mouth. She tried to swallow, her gaze caught and held by his. Heat flashed in her abdomen. The animal deep down took over, lowering her hand and the gun. Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip, her gaze dropping to his chest. Both shoulders shook with the need to challenge him, but inside, the lioness purred.

Her mind blanked. Was the lioness returning? Finally?

He held out a hand. She faltered before sliding her palm along his. Strong fingers threaded through, and he pivoted to lead her home. “We’ll discuss this on the plane.”