Eternal Flame

Then his hand rose and wrapped around her neck.

Chapter 17

Catalina threw another fast glance over her shoulder. No one was back there. She’d ditched Jude. How the hell did I do that? Her stomach clenched. You didn’t lose a tiger shifter unless he let you lose him.

“Where are you going, Catalina?” At the sound of that soft, feminine voice, Catalina’s blood froze. She’d known when she came back to Baton Rouge with Logan in tow that this meeting would be coming, only a matter of time.

Slowly, carefully, she turned to face the woman she’d once considered a friend.

Sandra “Dee” Daniels stood in the shadows, her small body almost completely hidden. There was a slight shuffle of footsteps, then Dee stepped forward. Her blond hair was cut haphazardly around her face.

Normally, Dee would have flashed her a wide smile. They would have gone out for drinks. Talked smack about men. Maybe exchanged some secrets. But that was all in the past. “Jude sent you after me,” Catalina said with certainty. But Dee shook her head. “No, Tony did.” Ah, Tony. Figured. He and Dee had a … pretty intimate past. Of course, that was back in the days before Dee had changed.

Dee smiled now. Only it wasn’t the one Catalina had wanted to see. It was a new, harder smile, one that revealed Dee’s fangs.

From vampire hunter to vampire all in a few short days … yes, Dee’s life had changed. That change had been one of the things that sent Catalina running from the city.

Dee offered her hand, palm up. “I’m going to need you to come with me.”

Catalina shook her head. No, no, she had to go and see about Logan. He was weak, and he’d need her help to get out of Baton Rouge. Especially with someone from Perseus still hunting them.

“I can see the bite marks on your neck,” Dee told her. “And I can almost feel the guy in the air around you.”

Dee wasn’t your average vampire. She hadn’t been Taken, the term for the humans who were transformed by a blood exchange with a vampire. No, Dee was so much more. Born, not made. A vampire who hadn’t even realized her true power until death came calling.

And she sent the asshole packing.

“W-we’re being hunted, Dee,” Catalina said. “We have to get out!”

“Running?” Again? The unspoken word hung between them.

Catalina kept her chin up. Dee didn’t understand. She didn’t know what it was like to be weak. To see the fire and know it was going to burn your skin away while you screamed.

Catalina spun away-and slammed into Dee. She’d never seen the woman move. Wouldn’t have, not with Dee’s power. “You’re coming with me,” Dee told her and grabbed her wrist.

Catalina blinked back tears. “I don’t—”

“One spell is all I need, Cat. One spell, then you … and your vampire … can get out of town.”

She licked her lips. “Y-you’ll… let him go?”

Dee held her gaze. “Unless he goes after humans, he’s off my radar.”

But he’d gone after the Ignitor. He’d been desperate, starving. Did Dee know what he’d done? Catalina would need to keep Logan away from Zane so the demon wouldn’t come for his revenge.

Only a matter of time.

Catalina forced herself to nod. “Okay.” It was the only deal she’d be getting. Better take it, grab it with both hands, and hold as tight as she could. “I don’t have much power.” Painful to admit, but her binding marks weren’t fading yet. And why not? They should have vanished when Beth died. Beth had been the one in charge at Perseus. The one to trap her and to use her. Why haven’t they faded?

“It’ll have to be enough.” Dee pushed her toward a car idling near the curb. Catalina sucked in a breath when she saw the driver. Simon. Dee’s vampire lover.

The two were a perfect killing team.

“Who needs my spell?” she asked, suddenly very worried as she climbed inside the vehicle.

Dee jumped in behind her and the car door slammed.

“Zane.”

The last thing she’d expected. “Zane? Why?” Simon floored the gas.

“Because someone pumped the poor bastard full of drugs.” Dee sighed. “And we both know what can happen to him when the drugs get into his system.”

Goose bumps rose on Catalina’s arms. Yes, she knew. And, once, long ago, she’d seen. Scrying. He’d always asked her not to do it. But the future teased and taunted, and she’d had to know.

Zane … eyes black as the night. Face bloody. The earth bucking beneath him. Death … a shroud he carried. One look, one touch, the prey fell before him.

“Hurry,” she whispered to Simon and, when he looked up into the rearview mirror, she saw his jaw clench. ”Hurry.”

Jana’s breath caught as she stared up at Zane. His face could have been carved from fire and fury. Such hard, fierce lines. And his hand, as it wrapped around her neck …

“I… hurt… you.” Gravel rough. Like the man was struggling to speak. Maybe he was.

She realized his fingers were feathering over the bite mark on her neck. He was worried about that? Jana couldn’t help it. She laughed. A quick, light gurgle of sound.

He blinked at her.

“Zane, trust me, you’ve got worse marks on you.” Because she hadn’t been gentle at the end. Her nails had dug into him and held tight.

“ Should … have … run.”

“Maybe.” She curled her fingers around the steely muscles of his arms. “But you know I don’t ever do what I should do.”

The bees began to buzz in the back of her mind. “Go …” She glanced down at the cuffs. “Can’t, remember?” His gaze followed hers. Those bees got louder. Louder … The cuffs broke apart. “Go.”

Those all-powerful, unbreakable cuffs fell to the floor. He pushed against her, his cock still thick and swollen, and the move seemed almost helpless. More, please.

But then he pulled away, sliding out of her, and jumping to his feet. “Leave…” Still that gravel-rough voice. ”While you … can.” He yanked up his jeans.

Jana licked her lips. Tasted him. She swallowed and wondered what the hell she should do. What did a woman have to say to make a man understand she wasn’t the kind to wilt when things got tough?

Slowly, she rose to her feet. She took a few fast moments to dress, to adjust her clothes, and felt the aches and tingles in her body as she moved. Then she faced him with her legs braced apart and her chin up. “You’re not going to hurt me.”

But he shook his head. “Will…”

“No.” She was certain. “You’re stronger than whatever that agent pumped into you. You’re the strongest man I’ve ever met.” True.

“Not …man…”

He was right. So much more than just a man. “You’re not like your father.”

His teeth snapped together and the floor seemed to roll. Good thing she’d locked her knees. She’d figured that was coming. “You’re not your father, and I’m not your mother.”

“Weak … human.”

Yeah, he just had to throw that in her face, right?

“Zane, trust me. We can do this, together.”

He hesitated, his powerful body shaking, and in that instant, she really thought that she might be getting through to him. Breaking past the darkness and getting to the man.

Then she smelled the smoke.

Her eyes widened. “Zane …”

She saw his nostrils flare as he caught the scent and then he was running for the door. Just as he reached out to grab it, the door swung open. Jude was there, filling the doorway. His claws were out.

“No!” Don’t attack, don’t!

Zane’s fingers wrapped around the shifter’s throat. Jude’s claws pressed against Zane’s stomach. “Demon,” Jude growled, “you in control?”

Zane gave the barest of nods.

The claws dropped. “Good. Cause we need to get the fuck out of here.”

Zane didn’t free the shifter. Jana saw his fingers whiten as he tightened his hold. She sprang forward and caught Zane’s shoulder. “Let him go.”

Zane’s fingers fell away. Her breath heaved out. “What’s happening? What’s—”

“Fire.” Jude bit out the word even as he whirled away. “Coming fast. We need to get up a level and get out.”

She gave a quick nod, but he didn’t see it. The shifter was already racing away. No, he was shifting. Out in the hallway. She heard the crackle and hiss of the flames, but she also heard a roar. Like … a tiger’s roar.

She ran to the doorway. Jude was on all fours, with his head down. As she watched, fur exploded along his body. Bones snapped, popped. Elongated and reshaped. The man disappeared and a tiger-holy hell, one big white tiger-appeared in his place.

Another roar seemed to shake the building, then the tiger launched forward as its giant body soared through the air.

Jana sucked in a deep breath. Then one more. White tiger. She’d never seen a shift like that before. Sure, she’d heard about them, but she hadn’t actually seen someone transform. Oh, damn. Oh, shit.

“Fire’s… stronger….” Zane’s voice muttered in her ear. “Go…”

She didn’t need to be told twice. Jana ran after the tiger, with Zane at her side. They thundered up the stairs. Smoke billowed in the air, choking her, and stinging her eyes.

The stairwell exit door was broken and hung drunkenly open. Thanks, no doubt, to the tiger. They went through the doorway and seemed to step into hell. Fire-everywhere. Burning so bright and hot.

There was no way to get out. The flames were too strong. The exits were blocked. The windows covered by the flames. How? How had the blaze gotten so strong? Not a normal fire. No way. This one was definitely—

Zane shoved his hands forward, as if he were pushing against something. The flames rolled back, rolled, then sputtered, dying low before the windows. The tiger crouched, then leapt forward, easily breaking through the glass.

Jana ran after him, only to be pulled back by Zane. “Wait, what are you—”

He picked her up, tucked her head against his chest, and flew through the window. The glass had to cut him, but the guy didn’t even grunt, and he landed on his feet—on his feet. His knees barely buckled as they touched down outside. Then he was running away from the burning building with her held tight in his arms.

Her hands dug into him. “Zane … is … is anyone else inside?”

He froze.

Humans worked there. Sure, it was nearing three a.m., but someone should have been inside. Guards. Attendants. Someone.

And that fire was burning so hot now.

He put her on her feet. Spun back around. The tiger was pacing, growling.

“Where’s Tony?” she asked, coughing a bit to clear her lungs as she looked to the left, then the right. The lot was deserted. “And the agent, where is she?”

Were they in the building?

Zane sprinted forward. The tiger attacked. Its paws slammed into Zane’s chest, and he knocked Zane back.

Snarling, Zane leapt, his eyes on the building. Once more, that tiger came at him, swiping this time with his claws. A long, hard swipe that drew blood across Zane’s chest.

A hot wind blew against her face. The bees …

“ No!” She grabbed Zane. “He’s a shifter. He’d smell people if they were inside.” But Jude was doing everything he could to keep Zane out of that building. Because no one was inside? Because if Zane went back in, he wouldn’t be coming out?

Zane shook her off and lunged forward once more. He caught the tiger’s front paws, holding them tight, and didn’t even flinch under the cat’s great weight.

“What the hell?” A woman’s startled cry. “Zane, Jude, get away from there!”

Because they had gotten too close to the flames. The flames that had shot even higher, even brighter.

In the distance, a siren began to wail. Hell.

The woman rushed toward Zane and Jude. Wait, was she crazy? Was she really going to try and get between a demon and a tiger? The lady was small. Freaking tiny, with really bad hair. Blond, but cut oh-so-badly. And she was cursing. Swearing constantly under her breath.

“Dee!” a man bellowed. But that call came too late. “Dee” had already gotten to the two fighters. She punched the tiger in the side. Hard.

He roared and turned toward her.

“Don’t even think of biting me,” she yelled at him, snapping her teeth together. Her incredibly sharp teeth. “I’ll bite back.” Vampire.

So was the dark, dangerous man who ran after her. Jana caught sight of his fangs glinting in the dark.

No, not more vampires.

Jana’s hand rose to her neck, and her fingers pressed lightly against the still tender skin. A shiver skated over her body. Her heart already raced too fast, and the desperate beat began to shake her chest.

Vampires. Near Zane. Closing in …

Her hands clenched into fists.

“Take care of him!” Dee ordered her vamp friend. The male grabbed Zane’s arms and held them behind the demon’s back.

Zane immediately head-butted the guy. Blood poured from the vamp’s nose.

“Shit! It’s me, Zane, it’s—”

“Would you shift back already?” Dee shouted at Jude as Jana stared at them, rage and fear twisting inside her.

Can’t just stand here. Can’t let them hurt Zane.

“She’s charging up.” What? Another freaking voice?