Fear kept her gaze on the killer.
Out of nowhere, satisfaction coursed through her. She lifted her ears in question. The feeling belonged to Jordan. He’d dispatched one werewolf and was gaining ground on Brent. Intriguing to be inside his heart, privy to his thoughts.
Jack charged.
Training and instinct kicked in. Katie lowered her head, shooting forward and between his legs. Bounding around, she leapt onto his back. Her claws dug deep, her jaws snapping to gain hold.
With a roar, Jack reached back, grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and yanked her over his head.
The world blurred as she crashed to the ground, rolling to the side to protect the cub.
For two seconds she was a child again, scared and running from a bully. But this time Jordan couldn’t come to her rescue.
Desperation had her mind blanking. Her shoulder pounded where Jordan had placed his mark. Her mate. She’d run from him ... and being part animal, he’d had no choice but to chase.
Snarling, she flashed her teeth at Jack. Dodging to the side, she ran.
All furious animal, Jack howled, his claws scraping down her flanks.
Panting, her heart racing, she ran around a vampire decapitating a werewolf, past Lance and Baye as they battled several beasts, past fighting vampire soldiers and away from the entrance to headquarters. Toward the cliffs leading so far down to the sparkling ocean.
Jack lumbered after her, howling.
Her paws slipped on the wet grass, and she went sprawling. So many years had passed since she’d run in lion form.
Jack gave a gleeful yowl and pounced.
She turned onto her back, her hind legs catching him at the hips and thrusting him over her head.
His arms spiraled. He hollered in anger as he went pummeling through the air.
Katie jumped to all fours, turning around. Jack staggered to his feet, arms windmilling to regain balance. Roaring a battle cry, Katie lunged for him, hitting him solidly in the chest and bouncing back. Jack disappeared over the edge of the cliff. His holler turned to a high-pitched scream, echoing up as he fell. Finally, silence.
She flipped around, surveying the area.
Jordan snarled, fangs flashing, and tore the head off a werewolf. Jerking to the side, he threw the head over the cliff. Brent gave a howl of outrage. The remaining werewolves echoed his bellow. Glancing at the empty cliff, Brent and the still standing beasts shot back into the forest. Several vampires took off in pursuit.
Jordan lowered his head, stalking toward her, his eyes primitive and gold. Sniffing her neck, he gave a short, satisfied growl. Moving closer, he nuzzled her jaw, wandering to the bite in her shoulder, which he nipped.
Warmth flushed through her. Her mate.
One by one, the remaining feline shifters stalked toward her. Forming a line, Noah bowed his head. His brothers and then the rest of the lions followed.
A vow of allegiance from their soldiers to their Alpha female. A promise to follow and protect her, regardless of what happened to Jordan.
Jordan nodded in approval.
The shifters turned and bounded in pursuit after the werewolves.
Then Jordan stretched his neck, turning to survey the sun lowering in the sky.
A cold chill shoved away the warmth in Katie.
The moon was coming.
Chapter 22
Katie shifted back to human with a series of sharp pops. Aches vibrated along her bones as they re-formed.
Jordan shifted and instantly had her in his arms. “You shifted.”
She leaned back, joy filling every pore. “I know. The mating must’ve changed me.” Hope flared hotter than the joy. “You, too! Marking me would’ve altered your physiology, too.” Her excitement dimmed. Hopefully Jordan had changed enough he wouldn’t turn into a werewolf. “We should go after Brent.”
“No. Let Noah get the bastard.”
A sudden thought made her gasp. “Janie was hurt.”
Jordan nodded, stepping back to survey the cuts, bruises, and gashes marring Katie’s flanks. Gentle hands brushed along her hip. He leaned over to place a soft kiss above a bruise. “You need bandages.” He grabbed Katie’s hand and strode into headquarters. “Let’s hit the infirmary.”
After stopping for Jordan to yank on jeans, and Katie to throw a loose cotton dress over her head, they limped down several flights of stairs. Opening the door at the medical level, Jordan held both hands up in surrender, keeping Katie behind him. “The fight is over.”
Katie elbowed him, sidling to view the small vestibule. Max and Garrett flanked the single doorway cut into rock, guns in hand, stances set to shoot. Stone-cold determination sat comfortably on Max’s wide face. Anger and youthful bewilderment filled Garrett’s eyes. But his hold remained steady on the gun, and a hard line of conviction angled his jaw. The kid wouldn’t hesitate to shoot.
Jordan stepped forward. “The werewolves are gone—soldiers are pursuing them north.”
Max nodded. “I sent my mate, all the kids and nonsoldiers, as well as the injured to the level ten secured section. We needed to bring Janie here.” His expression remained the same, but a low hitch caught on his words. “Dage and Talen should be teleporting home any minute.”
Fear rolled in Katie’s stomach. With a nod, she shoved open the door to the small room better equipped than any big city hospital. Five beds lined the far wall, and Janie lay motionless in the farthest one, attached to several beeping machines. Cara held her hand from the far side of the bed while Emma checked her pulse, her gaze on the watch adorning her wrist.
Katie’s steps slowed on the spotless tile as she approached the bed. Janie’s cheeks lacked any color, her skin pasty and her lips blue. A devastating purple bruise marred her left temple to her jaw. The air around her seemed ... heavy.
Cara glanced up, tears shining in her dazed blue eyes.
Emma gently placed Janie’s arm back on the bed. “Her pulse is way too slow.” Pressing several buttons on the nearest machine, she shook her head. “I can’t get any brain readings.” She bit her lip, an obvious struggle not to cry on her face.
Garrett hovered closer. “Janie? Wake up.” The protector was gone, and a scared brother stood in his place. “Please.”
Katie slid an arm around his waist. He burrowed as close as he could get, his body trembling.
Male voices echoed outside, and then Talen Kayrs stalked into the room followed by the king. Dressed in black combat gear, a dark scowl covered Talen’s dangerous face. The massive vampire hurried toward the bed, stopping cold in the center of the room.
Then he blinked. Twice. Metallic green shot through the normal gold of his eyes.
“Janie?” He held a hand toward the bed, hesitantly moving forward. Once reaching his daughter, he dropped to his knees. “Janie?” Hoarseness lowered his voice to something guttural and full of pain.
Tears filled Katie’s eyes. She held Garrett tighter even as Jordan hugged them from behind. Fear had her shoulders shaking. The boy’s entire body stiffened, terror cascading off him in scents of sulfur and grass.
“Janie?” Talen smoothed a stray curl off the girl’s face. “Baby, wake up.” The entreaty, the desperate plea from a father for his child, had Katie swallowing a loud sob.
Dage moved closer to his mate. Dark circles lined under his eyes. Teleporting his brothers twice in one day had obviously taken a toll. “Emma?” The king took in the beeping machines with a glance.
Emma shook her head, leaning into the king’s large body. “She’s in a coma. Pulse slow, immeasurable brain activity.” The queen swayed, her face as pale as Janie’s.