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Save Jude.
Fight.
No, she wasn’t killing them, but if it came to that in order to save Jude, she would.
Her claws jerked free. The demon groaned, then fell.
Another demon landed on top of him. This one was a broken, bleeding mess—courtesy of a knife-wielding Zane.
So many broken bodies surrounded them. And the tiger stood poised for a final attack. His powerful body bunched as his mouth opened over his prey.
“No, no!” Erin lunged for the tiger. “Zane, don’t let him!” Zane was already there. He grabbed the shuddering demon from the mouth of the tiger and hauled the bastard back by the scruff of his neck.
The attacking demons were done. The jerk that Zane held was the only one still conscious in the room.
Her breath caught as she looked at the tiger.So many wounds. Too many. He wouldn’t be able to hold that form much longer. No way could he?—
The transformation began. Fur melted before her eyes. Bones snapped. Scrambling, slipping in the blood that pooled on the floor, she went to him and held him tight. She could feel the slow thud of his heartbeat against her. “It’s okay.” Not a lie. Itwouldbe okay. They’d gotten there in time. “You’re safe.”
He shuddered against her and as she stroked him, her fingers skimming over his wounds. The deep cuts and slashes marked his sides, his back, his chest.
Erin swallowed.No, he’d make it. Jude would live.
“We’ve got to get him to a hospital.” Her voice was cold.Shewas cold.
So was he. His skin had turned to ice.
Jude’s blood poured on her, soaking her clothing.
In human form now, he seemed even weaker. She grabbed his face with her hands and forced him to look at her. “Jude? Jude, dammit—stay with me!” His blue eyes were dull. Faded, not bright like they should have been. “No! You’re stronger than this!Fight!” A scream of fury and fear. Blood burned her nostrils. Drums pounded.Turn off the damn music.“Stay with me.” A whisper now.
Erin kissed him and tasted blood and man.Stay with me.
His mouth didn’t move against hers. Too slack. Too cold.
“What the hell happened down here?” A sharp, furious demand.
Erin lifted her lips from Jude’s but didn’t glance back.Dee.Zane had called her again on the way to the den and told her to come.Armed.
“It was a setup,” Zane said, voice thundering. “When we got here, they were trying to slice him apart.”
They’d almost succeeded.
“Jude.” Still a whisper, but she thought she saw his eyelids flicker at the sound. “I know...I know you’re weak.” Her cheeks were damp. Blood or tears? Both? “But you’ve got to try and fight, okay? You can’t stay human.” If he did, he’d bleed out before help arrived. She knew it. Wouldn’t lie to herself.
Her lips wanted to tremble so she pressed them together. His eyes were open, on her. Did he hear her? Did he understand?
Her fingers smoothed over his face. “Try to change back.” It was the only thing that would save him. The power of the shift. The beast could heal, the man couldn’t.
Jude wouldn’t be able to hold the tiger form long, she knew that. Probably only for a few seconds, but if he could just shift...
Some of the wounds would close. The healing powers would amp up and he’d survive.
Maybe.
No, no, hewouldsurvive.
The only reason he was still breathing now was because he’d shifted from beast to man. Every shift worked to mend his flesh. So if he could just transform one more time...There might be a chance for him.
