white light pulsed around Lucienâs tensed body. Her angelic half reacted, reaching eagerly for it, twining with the white energy, until tendrils of their mingled light swirled around them both.
It was worry for Petra, she realized. Lucien cared deeply about the little gremlin.
âI canât leave you here alone. Itâs too dangerous and I will not see you hurt.â
The white light pulsed stronger around him. Mara felt awed and awash with new feelings for this powerful vampire. Lucien was determined to save her. People usually threw her under the bus. Even her sisters had grown distant. But this vampire was slowly getting under her skin with his fierce protectiveness.
Mara thought of crazy, brave Petra confronting the werewolf hunters. âWhy are they after her?â
âShe violated the rules. Petraâs forbidden from taking human blood.â
âBut gremlins eat meat.â
âPetraâs not truly a gremlin.â He swore. âI will not let them get to her.â
âAnd I canât climb those stairs. Go, Lucien. Iâll be here.â
âI will be back straight away. Stay here in the shadows and donât move.â
The quick brush of his lips sent blood singing through her veins. He dematerialized.
No one had ever made her feel this crazy way before. He was lethal and yet tender. She longed to fall into his arms, stay there and feel safe. But she knew no place was safe.
Mara fisted her hands. âWhy?â she whispered. âWhy did you wreck my life, Jones? I never hurt you, never did anything bad to anyone.â
Strength returned, pouring into her jellied limbs. Rage loaned it to her as she pushed away from the wall and stood. The dim darkness inside her suddenly blasted into full power, like a jet powering up.
Struggling to leash her emotions, Mara thought quickly. Theyâd need a cab to the airport. She walked out to the main street to coax a cab in her direction.
One pulled up to the curb. The driver wore a ragged knit cap with the colors of the Jamaican flag. Mara caught a familiar scent on the back door handle. Jones. He had used this cab, had been here. She must find him.
A red haze of fury fogged her mind, clogging all rational thought.
The fire exit door banged open. Someone yelled her name.
She fumbled with the taxiâs back door handle and flung it open.
Even as she slid inside and closed the door, she knew. The overwhelming scent of evil clouded her mind. Panicking, she searched the door. No handles.
The driver turned, tipping up his cap and flashing a familiar-gap toothed smile. Jones.
âWelcome, demon. No need to state the destination. Youâre going straight back to hell.â
Â
Lucien swore as the cab sped away. Heâd knocked together the skulls of the hunters, sending them unconscious, but now Mara was trapped.
âGo straight to the airport,â he yelled at Petra. âIâll meet you there.â
Heart hammering in his chest, he ran on the sidewalk, tracking the cab. Maraâs terrified look stamped into his brain as her fingers scraped at the window like a trapped animal.
If Jones laid a single finger on herâ¦Fangs exploded in Lucienâs mouth.
Legs pumping fast, he passed startled pedestrians, who looked confused at the microburst of air. Though the sun diminished his powers, he maintained his legendary speed. Lucien raced into the street, weaving around the vehicles until he spotted a pink taxicab stopped at a red light.
The driver was reeling back, screaming as a whirling gray mass attacked him. Fear kicked up Lucienâs heartbeat.
He materialized beside the taxi.
The door yanked open with a protest of screeching metal. He grabbed Mara around the waist while maintaining a glamour.
Jones touched his wet, reddened cheek. âHello, Lucien, nice to see you again. Sheâs dead now. The hunters will claw into her and hurt her badly now that sheâs attacked
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