“Please, Jordan. He has saved me before.” Yes, Lance had killed. And he’d answer for those crimes when he was well enough to do so.
Jordan retracted his fangs and stood, blood sliding down his chin, his eyes calming. “We’ll secure him in the cells on the ninth floor. I’ll let him live ... for now.”
Katie sighed in relief. Then she stared at horror at the hole in his hand. “You need a bandage.”
Talen Kayrs held his mate’s hand while they kept vigil at their daughter’s bed. How could he have allowed her to be injured? What if her head didn’t heal? A helplessness flushed through him that had his eyes heating. His family was his life.
Cara tightened her hold, her tiny hand encased by his. She smiled, her gaze on their daughter. “She’s strong, Talen. Trust me.”
His breath caught in wonder at the strength of the woman. So small, so delicate, yet she held strength unmatched by any warrior he’d ever fought. So he allowed her to shoulder the burden, to comfort him. “I believe you.” And for the moment, he did.
The injured girl’s eyes fluttered, then her breathing smoothed out.
Janie wandered along warm sand, the ocean rolling, the sun shining, and an excruciating pain pulsating her face. She tucked her hands in her linen pants. Linen, huh? The material wrinkled like crazy, and was quite worthless when training to fight. Odd that in her dream she wore it.
Not that this was a normal dream.
The breeze lifted her hair, wandering along the bruises in her face. Werewolves hit hard. Though she’d nailed the jerk in the nose first. As soon as Uncle Jase got home, she hoped she could tell him all about the fight. He’d promised she’d like using the jumping front kick if she ever needed to defend herself.
Hopefully she’d see Uncle Jase again. At this point, the future wasn’t looking good. For either Jase or her.
Interesting that she’d never seen this ending in visions. An outcropping of rocks rose ahead and she slowly climbed, using her hands against the rough ridges and finding a nice seat where she could view the ocean. Dazzling and blue, the water shimmered with a world of life she couldn’t see. The rock warmed her, providing a smooth surface for her to lean back.
Endorphins kept fear at bay but failed to erase the pain in her face and head. Odd to be actually dying. Even as she sat, the blood slowed in her veins.
A figure stood farther down the rock cropping, tall and broad, white face reflecting the sun. Janie tilted her head to the side.
Catching sight of her, the figure straightened and then sauntered her direction. Agile limbs had him climbing the outcropping to pause and take a seat. His greenish eyes flashed. “Janet Isabella Kayrs.”
She’d smile, but her lip hurt. “Kalin the Kurjan. Do you have a last name?”
“No.”
Too bad. She loved hers. Surveying him, her mind in a daze, she struggled to concentrate. “You grew up.”
He rubbed his prominent jaw. “I thought you’d end up taller.”
“Yeah. I get that a lot.” She should be afraid. Instead, cotton surrounded her, safe and warm. Haze fluttered over her vision, yet she tried to study him. Well over six feet, his long hair was black with bloodred tips. His shoulders had broadened out, and his features had turned from teenager to man. Well, Kurjan. Kind of handsome in a totally creepy way. He wore a Kurjan soldier uniform. “You’re a soldier.”
“Yes.” Puzzlement wrinkled his light eyebrows. “What happened to your face?”
“Werewolf attack.” She shrugged, then winced as bruises flared to life.
“Oh.” Anger burned bright in his eyes. “I’m so very sorry to hear that.” He shook his head. “But you need to dig deep and get better. Now.”
Somehow she’d never figured Kalin would be giving her “dig deep” pep talks. “So you’re sleeping now, and I can’t block you. Since I’m dying.” She’d never figured to spend her last minutes with Kalin. They’d almost been friends once.
“You’re not dying.” Fury danced on his angled face. “You can’t die. You’re the future.”
“The future changes by the second. You should know that.” She swayed, his face melting a little bit. “Besides, you don’t like me.”
“That’s irrelevant.”
Yeah, somewhere deep that kinda hurt. “Whatever.”
Clouds, dark and full, rolled in from the ocean. The sea churned and turned gray. Thunder rumbled directly above. The wind cut hard and cold.
Kalin’s hair lifted and he growled. “Stop that.”
“Not me.” Janie actually enjoyed the rain. Would there be rain in Heaven? Was she even going to heaven?
Movement caught her eye. Strong, powerful, and obviously angry, Zane’s long strides ate up the beach toward them. His expression darker than the sudden storm, his eyes turned a deep green, and the scar on his jaw held prominence.
It was fitting her life would end with all three of them together in a dream.
Zane bounded up the slab. A swift growl and he tackled Kalin, tumbling them both down the jagged rocks to the ocean.
The sky fissured.
Panic finally shot through Janie’s daze. She jumped to her feet, leaning over the rock where Kalin had sat. “Stop it!” she yelled. Wind whipped her hair into her face, and she shoved curls back to see.
The two men battled below, punches throwing, kicks impacting hard.
The sky spread, showing a red ball of fire on the other side. Oh God. They would all die.
Scrambling down, she lost her footing and fell on the rocks. Pain lanced across her hip. Pebbles cut into her hands as she stood, staggering down to the beach.
Sand swirled around her legs. She struggled to balance. “Stop fighting!”
Zane shot a roundhouse kick to Kalin’s gut, sending the Kurjan back three feet.
Janie jumped between them. “Stop fighting or we all die.” She pointed to the swirling mass of red pain beyond the tumultuous sky. Fighting in the odd dream world they’d created could only lead to disaster.
The men paused, both looking up and then back down at her. Wind whistled around them.
Kalin flashed sharp fangs so much bigger than they used to be. “That’s my cue. I do see some of the future, Janie. You’re in mine.” With a wisp of sound, he disappeared.
Zane growled, dark gaze focused on her face. “What happened?”
“Werewolves.” She swallowed. Although the wind beat against her, she no longer felt its bite. “I told you we’d see each other again. Though this is the last time.” Her brain hurt. Comfort existed past the dream if she could just let go. Maybe she should let go.
Zane grabbed her arms, giving a strong shake. “How bad?”
“Bad.” She forced a smile, lifting her head to see his eyes. For so long, they were all she thought about. “Thank you for being my friend as a kid.”
“You’re still a kid,” he growled, the sound cutting through the storm.
She swayed. “They hurt my brain. I need it.” Her eyes fluttered closed. “I had such hopeful plans for us. For the world. I’m sorry, Zane.”