"Are you alright?" His voice rumbled against her ear, low and urgent.
Beth nodded into his shirt, her fingers curling into the soft fabric. The tension in her shoulders eased, replaced by a profound sense of security. She trusted Jacinth and Arthur's magical barrier completely - she'd seen enough of Djinn powers to know they were well-protected. But having Tyr here, solid and real against her, settled something deep in her chest she hadn't even realized was unsettled.
"I'm okay," she whispered. He drew her more securely against his chest, and she felt him press a kiss to the top of her head.
The approaching headlights grew brighter, but Beth found she didn't care quite as much anymore. Tyr's presence grounded her, pushing back the fear that had been threatening to overwhelm her since Dimitri's warning. She breathed in his familiar scent, letting it calm her racing pulse.
"The barrier will hold," Tyr murmured against her hair, though whether he was reassuring her or himself, Beth wasn't sure. "Jacinth's magic is strong, and Arthur... well, he's forgotten more about protective spells than most Djinn will ever learn."
Beth nodded again, not quite trusting her voice. She knew all this, but hearing Tyr say it somehow made it more real, more certain. She stayed within the circle of his arms, drawing strength from his solid presence as they waited to see what their attackers would do next.
Three large pickup trucks rumbled to a stop in front of the clinic. Her fingers tightened in Tyr's shirt as men spilled out of the vehicles, their movements a mix of aggression anddisorganization. The last rays of sunset glinted off metal as they pulled rifles and handguns from the truck beds.
"Look at them," Tamera's voice dripped with disgust from her position near the reception desk. "They're not even trying to hide what they're up to."
Beth counted at least twelve men, most dressed in mismatched tactical gear and camouflage. A few wore red armbands with some symbol she couldn't quite make out. They moved with the confidence of predators, but lacked the discipline of true soldiers—some wielding their weapons with practiced ease while others handled them awkwardly, compensating with extra aggression.
"Of course not." Jacinth's tone remained casual, almost bored, as she watched the men coordinate their positions. "They want us to be afraid." She leaned against the wall, examining her perfectly manicured nails as if the armed men outside were nothing more than a minor inconvenience. "That's the whole point of this little display."
Beth felt Tyr's chest rumble with quiet agreement. His arms remained secure around her as they observed the scene unfolding before them. Through the invisible barrier, she could hear muffled voices as the men called out positions and commands to each other, organizing themselves for what they clearly expected to be an assault on the clinic.
Beth's breath caught as several men hauled red plastic containers from one of the truck beds. Her stomach dropped as she recognized the distinctive shape of gas cans.
"They're going to set fire to the clinic!" The words came out in a horrified gasp. Her fingers dug deeper into Tyr's shirt.
"They can try." Tyr's voice held dark amusement.
Jacinth stepped closer to the window, pointing to where the barrier shimmered faintly in the air just beyond the glass. "Shielding, remember?" Her dark eyes danced with mischief asshe turned to face the gathered shifters. A grin spread across her face, making her look more like an impish teenager than an ancient Djinn.
Tyr's lips curved into a predatory grin that made his fangs gleam in the fading light. "Besides, Tobi and Antonio are out there in the woods right now, watching their every move."
Beth's gaze darted to the treeline, though she couldn't spot the vampires in the growing darkness. The knowledge that they were out there, unseen guardians ready to intervene, sent a wave of relief through her tense muscles.
"So..." Jacinth's eyes sparkled with barely contained glee as she moved toward the front door. "Who wants to volunteer?"
Tamera bounced on her toes, practically vibrating with excitement. "I do! I do!" Her hand shot into the air like an eager student.
"Absolutely not." Liam's voice carried the stern authority he usually reserved for difficult patients.
Tamera planted her hands on her hips, red hair flying as she whirled to face him. "You're not the boss of me, Dr. McConnell." Her stormy blue eyes flashed with determination.
"Actually, I am."
"Oh, right." She narrowed her eyes at him. "But you still can't stop me."
“Fine." Liam's jaw set in a stubborn line. "Then I'm going too."
Beth felt Tyr's arms tighten around her waist, his chest rumbling against her back. His cool breath tickled her ear as he growled, "Don't even think about it."
She hadn't been planning to volunteer, but his protective response made her smile despite the tension. She leaned back against him, watching as Jacinth strode confidently toward the front door. The ancient Djinn's movements were fluid and graceful, power radiating from her petite frame.
Tamera hurried after Jacinth, with Liam close behind. They stepped out onto the concrete walkway, remaining safely within the shimmering barrier that Beth could now see more clearly in the trucks' headlights.
A sudden flurry of movement erupted from the armed men as they spotted the trio standing there. Rifles snapped up, voices shouted commands, and bodies scrambled for better positions. The chaos of their response only highlighted how unprepared they were for their targets to simply walk out and face them.
Beth held her breath as Jacinth stepped forward, her casual demeanor making Beth's stomach flutter with nervous anticipation. The Djinn was definitely up to something—but what? Beth pressed closer to the window as Jacinth's musical voice carried clearly through the evening air.
"Hi there, boys!" Jacinth waved cheerfully, as if greeting friends at a backyard barbecue. "What can we do for you tonight?"
