Yeah. Shifters didn’t heal like vampires. It was a miracle Brent had survived with one tendon attached in his neck. “Then he got infected by the virus.” Jordan eyed the other two shifters. Alert, tense, ready to rumble. Not good. “How exactly did he get infected?” He needed answers before he killed this guy.
David gave a humorous laugh. “We attended the colloquium ten years ago—you didn’t notice.”
“Ah.” Several shifters had been infected that year, Katie being one of them. “Guess that’ll teach him to crash a party.”
“He’s evolved. And he has great plans for the feline and canine nations. We both do. No more bowing to the vampires. We’re taking over.”
Jordan shook his head. “You’re about to die, son.”
David flicked his glance toward Katie and back. “No, Jordan. You’re going to die. Then my brother and I will share your woman.”
Jordan smiled. “That the best you got?” Jesus. The moron might as well be spitting from a playbook for dummies about messing with your opponent’s head. He tucked his chin, lowering his voice so only the cat in front of him could hear. “Your brother begged for his life. On his knees.” Not true, but what the hell.
David snarled, shifting into lion form in a flash, striking for Jordan’s jugular.
Jordan pivoted, throwing the cat across the field. With a hiss, he shifted into a mountain lion, bones cracking, pain ripping through his muscles until he landed on all fours. His roar filled the night.
They lunged at the same time, claws rending, clashing upright like dueling bucks. Jordan swiped down David’s face, tearing tissue. Baring his teeth, he gave an Alpha’s roar.
The other cat howled in pain and snapped teeth into Jordan’s front leg.
Agony rippled up his tendons. He batted David away.
The clouds parted. Moonlight cascaded down. A buzzing set up between Jordan’s ears, cotton filtered over his eyes. Warmth.
Closing his eyes, he lifted his head.
“Jordan!” Katie screamed.
A wisp of a thought later, sharp canines latched into his neck.
Instinct had him dropping to the ground and rolling over, throwing the other cat away. Blood flowed freely from the wounds in Jordan’s neck.
Confusion had him shaking his head. Moonlight. Safety. Where was he?
Then a scent. Wild orchids. He pivoted and saw her. Katie. His. Snarling, he lowered his head and ran his claws through the earth, his focus on her.
Air whispered along his fur an instant before a hard body collided with him, sending them sprawling. Hissing, he rolled to his feet, gaze on the other lion. Challenge. His female behind him, the threat before him, he reacted like any animal and charged.
Digging his teeth into his opponent’s jaw, he kept track of the other two lions, the vampire, and the female. The need to protect her battled with the moon’s pull ... but the female’s silent demand won.
Twisting his jaw, he scraped through muscle, cartilage, and bones until reaching the jugular. Warm blood flooded his mouth.
The other cat yelped, slashing wildly with sharp claws and snapping with its teeth.
Jordan felt their intent a second before the other males shifted into cougars.
The vampire roared in protest, the female yelled a warning.
The other two cats bounded across the clearing, circling him while he lay on their struggling leader. The vampire leaped in front of one cat, a wicked blade flashing fast and bright.
The female ran to intercept the other shifter, firing green bullets. The cat roared and leaped toward her, knocking the weapon free. She fell back, hitting the ground, her head and shoulders bouncing.
Rage beyond primal ripped through Jordan.
A force of darkness rushed out of the forest. A werewolf. Jordan knew him but the name wouldn’t come. The monster stalked into the clearing, eyes on the female. Katie. The female was Katie. She flipped to her feet, yanking another weapon from her boot.
The other cougar took advantage of Jordan’s distraction to jump on his back.
Jordan struggled, his sole focus on the female. Sharp fangs ripped into the back of his neck. Fire lanced through his jaw.
He tightened his hold on the cat below him.
Gunshots echoed behind him, along with a primal roar.
Then suddenly, a helicopter blasted through the sky, setting down hard, shifters jumping out.
Not his people.
As a unit, they shifted from human to lion. Every instinct he owned bellowed for him to protect the female—to fight so she could get away. The forces weren’t equal, but he could take several out and give her a chance to seek safety.
The shifters made it halfway across the clearing, five of them, before a second helicopter smashed between them, sending dust flying. Vampires leaped out, weapons ready. Allies.
Katie careened past him, thrown by hairy hands. She bounced twice on the hard ground. The furry beast stalked by, taking a moment to kick him in the ribs. Rage ripped through him.
The cat below him slashed deadly claws along his belly.
Jordan hissed, digging his teeth in further.
Another vampire jumped out of the helicopter in his direction, rapidly firing green shots into the werewolf. The creature howled in pain. Katie pivoted and plunged a knife up and into the monster’s jugular. The beast staggered away.
The cougar on Jordan’s back leaped off to stalk toward Katie.
Allowing the animal inside to roar, Jordan clenched his jaw until his teeth met through David’s flesh. Jordan yanked. Tissue, muscle, and bone flung across the clearing. David sagged to the earth, his eyes open in death.
The werewolf stumbled to its feet, lurching toward the tree line. Jordan’s legs bunched to go after him. But the other cougar continued to advance on Katie. His female.
The moon called to Jordan. The damn light stole his concentration. Stole his drive. Growling, he shifted back into man to avoid the seductive pull. Pain crackled along his bones and tendons. Stars burst behind his eyes. Lunging, he tackled the other mountain lion, arms circling its body, right as the animal pounced for Katie. He slammed the heel of his hand under the cat’s massive jaw. Deadly teeth smashed together.
Man and beast rolled in the dirt. Jordan landed on top, straddling the animal. The cat yowled in protest, legs thrashing, claws seeking purchase.
“Jordan!”
Jordan jerked his head at Conn’s yell, sharp reflexes snagging the knife thrown by his friend. Two seconds later he gutted the animal and then cut its jugular. Warm blood covered his legs, washed down his hands.
Shoving the carcass away, he staggered to his feet. Spinning around, he found Katie. She scrambled to stand, her face pale except for a spreading purple bruise on one high cheekbone. He glared, and she took a step back, eyes wide.
Inhaling, he turned and took in the rest of the field. Talen and his men had taken care of the other shifters. Brent was gone. Animal blood scented the air along with the sweetness from the moon. Ironic and disheartening. Jordan popped a tendon back into place. “Good timing.”
Talen wiped blood off a knife on the grass. “We kept an eye on the airspace and saw the second helicopter coming—Dage sent reinforcements.”
Thank God for friends. Jordan nodded, eyeing his ripped clothing on the field. The wind whipped over his naked body. Cuts and bruises marred his flesh, and his gut was still bleeding. He’d heal. “I need my phone. I’ll video the result of the challenge.” Maybe the carnage would keep other felines from challenging Noah next week.
But probably not.
Chapter 14
Jordan’s body ached. The wounds had healed by the time he broadcast scenes of the bloody clearing, showing the dead shifters. He’d ruled for three centuries with fairness and mercy ... unless challenged. Then whatever beast was living beneath his chest had roared. Being the last of his line, he’d been challenged more than others, considering there wasn’t anyone who could easily step up if he died.