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But he wasn’t a man. He was a wolf shifter and, as her mother had gleefully announced before she bolted all those years ago; her destined mate.
2
The sound of her voice, the shock of it, wound its way through him, jumping from one nerve ending to another until he was vibrating with barely restrained need. He let loose a feral growl at hearing her speak for the first time. He reined in his wolf and his double-downed on his own self-control.
“Looks like you could use some help. My vehicle is parked at the bottom of the stairs.” Keir looked over her shoulder toward the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. Toward men with red-rimmed irises smelling of sulfur. Men who weren’t men at all. Shit! Demons were after his mate.
Rhia wiggled and attempted to pull free. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I don’t know who you are, or even your name.”
“Keir Smythe, and you know exactly who I am. We need to leave. Now!” He switched up his hold on her, grasping just one of her wrists as he led her down the steps as fast as their height difference allowed. He should have picked her up and thrown her over his shoulder, but he had a feeling that would go over like a lead balloon.
“Look, I’m no damsel in distress. I don’t need saving. Let me go. Please.”
The desperation in her voice hit him square in the gut. Did she really want to get away from him that badly? Did she not get who was after her? He might accept she didn’t trust him—yet, but there was no way she didn’t feel their connection.
Another growl escaped him. This time his, not his wolf’s. Their mate was in his arms, and both of them never wanted to let her go.
“Quick update, those men pounding their way toward us right now. They want to take you away from me. You know who I am, don’t deny it. And their boss? He wants you so he can eff up the prophecy and infiltrate mankind until every world leader answers only to him. And that’s not going to happen.”
"Great, you found me. It means nothing. And more importantly, I want nothing to do with you. Besides, I have a date tonight whom I really don't want to disappoint. So, if you could move your hot bod, I’ll be on my way."
Keir held back a triumphant shout. He was so much more than a “hot bod” but he’d take the compliment until they were alone and he could finally claim his mate.
Time was running out, and it didn’t matter if she trusted him right now or not. He had to get her to believe that her life was in real danger. As much as his wolf wanted out, it was not the time to take chances with so many humans present.
“Rhia, take a good look behind us, please.” Keir put as much persuasion into his tone as he could. He cursed their lack of psychic connection, which wouldn’t solidify until they had sex. And his wolf was all for that as soon as possible.
She released a strangled curse. Huffing, she said, “Fine.” She whipped her head around, and her body stiffened. “No. Impossible.” Her strangled whisper gutted him.
“Rhia—”
“If you utter the phrase, ‘Come with me, if you want to live,’ I’m gonna punch you in your too perfect, toothpaste-commercial white teeth.”
His woman had spunk, grinning at her right before he tugged her after him. Racing down the steps, shouts followed them the entire way. He only slowed when they reached his truck, shuffled her into the passenger seat. “Buckle-up!”
Once he hit the driver’s seat, he punched the start button, threw it into drive, and headed toward the airport.
“Tap the phone app on the display, then hit ‘HQ.’” Keir weaved in and out of traffic with his mind racing and his wolf screaming, “save mate.”
“Who could you possibly need to call right now? And excuse me, but can we talk about what the hell just happened?” Rhia sat ramrod straight, glaring at him. Gods, she was beautiful.
“Also, I need to get to my apartment. There’s a good chance those men, er demons, know where I live. So I’m not going anywhere without my plants, my inventory, and my book.”
“Book? You mean your spell book?”
“No. Potions. That’s my specialty. I flunked pretty much every spell casting lesson I ever took.”
“Seriously. Are you telling me that you don’t have them saved in the cloud somewhere? There’s no way I’m turning around. We are leaving Las Vegas, no pun intended.”
“Sounds like you found your mate, brother.” The disembodied voice filled the cab, and Rhia jumped, hitting the headliner. She yelped, then clutched the top of her head and frowned at him. “Who the hell is that?”
“Rhia, meet Quinn, my eldest brother and leader of the brethren.”
“The brethren, really? You and your brother named yourselves the brethren. A bit redundant, isn’t it?”
“No, we didn’t. Our father did and yeah, I agree. And it’s not just two, there are six of us. Quinn, is Mac there? I need him to run that fancy program of his and see if Denali is clear of, uh, unfriendlies.” Telling her that more demons than the two they just ditched could be after her would have to wait until he was sure they were safe.
“This can’t be happening right now. How is this my life?” Rhia mumbled.
