“There you go,” Kate said, relieved. “He probably just fell asleep.”
“Yeah,” Devlin answered, even more uneasy than before. Something wasn’t right.
“Why don’t you stay here?” Devlin said, trying to sound casual. “Just hang out at the bar for a minute until I wake up the driver.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said. “It’s a short walk. It’s not a problem.”
Kate reached out and took his hand, and Devlin sighed very softly. His instincts were starting to scream danger, and he felt like he was walking his mate right into it.
They cut through a dark, narrow side street. Devlin kept a tight hold on Kate’s hand as they hurried along through the shadows. Devlin watched every corner and crevice, waiting for something to leap out at him.
The vacant lot in the back of the theater was as poorly lit as the side alley. Devlin held in a groan as his instincts went into hyperdrive. He didn’t want to worry Kate … who seemed oblivious to the potential danger … so he was keeping his anxiety hidden.
As they crossed the lot under the light of the only streetlamp, Devlin saw something that made his blood run cold.
The limo’s side window was smashed in. The car was so dark it was impossible to see if anyone was still inside, but the sharp, shattered edges of the driver’s side window left an imprint of violence on the scene.
“Kate,” he whispered, stopping. She turned back to look at him, her pretty features curved in a frown. He knew she had a million questions, but as she turned back around to look at the limo, he could see the broken window answering most of them for her.
“Oh, God,” she muttered. “Is the driver okay?”
“No time,” Devlin muttered. “Let me take you back to the lobby, where you’ll be safe. Then I’ll come back.”
He turned around, his hand clasped tightly around Kate’s. Fear ran in his blood, a reaction to the horrible sense of doom that was hanging in the air. He knew that Kate was in danger. It was a certainty. The only thing he didn’t know was why.
They had taken a single step toward the alley when something leapt at them from behind a nearby dumpster. Whatever the thing was, it was huge and seemed to be made of shadows yet bristling with claws and teeth.
It hit them both, and they went down. Devlin felt the impact of the road against his knees and hands, the shock and pain shooting through him as the heavy weight landed on him. For a few seconds, he couldn’t move. Then the creature bounced off them and darted into the shadows on the other side of the parking lot. Devlin struggled to his knees.
“You have to go. Kate, run.”
“No, I won’t,” she cried, struggling to her feet. “What is it?”
The massive shadow flew through the air again, sending them tumbling back onto the hard ground. This time a massive claw swiped across Devlin’s belly, splitting open his guts. He screamed and grabbed the wound, panting as he knelt on the road.
“Devlin!” screamed Kate. “Devlin, no!”
She shuffled over to him, trying to stop the blood, but it was no use. A red river ran across his thighs and splashed onto the ground as Devlin held his intestines in.
Across the parking lot, there was a terrible, low growl. Devlin looked up in surprise and saw a massive tiger slowly stalking out of the shadows. It came into the light slowly, making sure that both of them got a good look at it as it approached.
Devlin did a double take. The big tiger was fierce and looked very dangerous. He didn’t recognize it. If another shifter was after him … or Kate … surely, he would know it.
“Devlin?” Kate asked, her voice high with shock.
The tiger pounced. Devlin screamed as he begged his inner panther to obey. Shifting was very hard when badly injured, but Kate was in danger.
I have to protect her!
Devlin roared as the panther’s strength flooded him. He let go of his wound and hurled himself at the tiger. They met in the air, clashing and then falling into a sinewy tumble on the ground.
Devlin could hear Kate screaming, but his only thought was to destroy the tiger. There was blood everywhere, and it was probably his.
It doesn’t matter. I have to take him out.
They wrestled a few minutes more until the tiger twisted and leapt away. They began to circle each other, and Devlin felt a hint of triumph.
Couldn’t go toe to toe with me, huh?