The doors opened to reveal his Nighthawk Custom motorcycle waiting in its designated spot. The sleek machine gleamed under the garage's subdued lighting, its chrome and midnight paint reflecting his approaching figure.
Tyr swung his leg over the seat, the familiar leather creaking beneath him. The powerful engine roared to life at his touch, echoing off the concrete walls. He guided the bike through the garage's security gates, emerging onto the rain-slicked streets of Manhattan.
Traffic thinned as he crossed the George Washington Bridge, the city's glittering skyline receding in his mirrors. The highway stretched before him, leading north toward the Hudson Valley. Toward Beth.
Cool wind whipped past his face as he opened the throttle, letting the bike's raw power surge beneath him. The midnight ride cleared his head, helping him sort through the tumult of emotions Lord Damien's audience had stirred up.
Stars peeked through breaks in the clouds overhead as city lights gave way to darker countryside. His enhanced vision picked out every detail of the familiar route - the gentle curves of the highway, the occasional deer watching from the tree line, the exit signs counting down the miles to home.
To Beth.
The bike's engine growled as he accelerated, eating up the distance between them. His fingers clenched the handlebars, anticipation churning with uncertainty in his chest. Seven centuries of existence, yet he'd never faced a conversation this important. Had Beth ever thought about becoming a vampire? Would she even consider such a transformation to be with him?
Plus, no one—not even Damien with his millennia of knowledge—could promise her leopard would survive. In all known history there had never been a shifter Turned. Tyr's throat tightened at the thought of asking her to risk Whisper's existence for a chance at forever with him.
Stars wheeled overhead as he opened the throttle wider, the bike's power surging beneath him like the emotions he could no longer contain. Every mile brought him closer to Beth - and closer to asking her to risk everything for a chance at forever.
Chapter 20
Tyr's motorcycle purred to a stop in front of Beth's house. He pulled out his phone to text her that he'd arrived when Nathan's message flashed across the screen.
«Nono won't settle. Keeps whining and pacing, acting anxious. Can't reach Kayja or Remi. Could use your help.»
Tyr frowned at his phone. The hellhound pup had been remarkably well-behaved from the very beginning.
He typed back quickly: «On my way. Give me 5»
The front door opened and Beth stepped out, her face lighting up when she saw him. She wore a cozy sweater in deep sea green that made her eyes sparkle.
"Hey." Her smile faltered as she caught his expression. "What's wrong?"
"Nathan just texted. Something's up with Nono." Tyr showed her the message. "I promised I'd head over."
"I'm coming too." Beth grabbed her leather jacket from the hook by the door. "That poor pup - he must be really upset if Nathan's worried enough to text you."
"You sure? We were supposed to have dinner..."
Beth was already locking up. "Dinner can wait. Nono needs help." She pulled on her jacket as she descended the porch steps."Besides, I love that goofball. Even if he did smoosh me, trying to sit in my lap despite being the size of a pony."
Tyr couldn't help smiling as he handed her the spare helmet. Her genuine concern for others, even a lost hellhound pup, was just one of the countless things he loved about her.
"Hold on tight," he said as she slid onto the bike behind him, her arms wrapping securely around his waist. The familiar warmth of her body pressed against his back made his chest tighten with emotion.
The motorcycle roared to life, and they headed toward Nathan and Harper's place, the cool night air whipping past them. Beth's arms tightened slightly as they took the curves, her trust in him evident in the way she moved with the bike.
Tyr pulled his motorcycle into Nathan and Harper's driveway, the headlight sweeping across the front of the house. Before he could even cut the engine, Harper burst through the front door, her foxy-red hair glowing in the porch light.
"Thank goodness you're here." Harper wrung her hands, her usual calm demeanor clearly shaken. "We fed him a couple days ago, and he's not acting hungry. He just won't settle down."
Beth swung off the bike, already heading for the door. "Have you called the vet?"
"There's no point taking him to the vet again." Harper shook her head. "He's a hellhound, not a dog. They wouldn't know what to do."
Nathan appeared in the doorway, his phone in hand. "Still no answer from Kayja or Remi. I've tried calling and texting both of them multiple times."
Tyr's enhanced senses immediately picked up Nono's distressed whining from the living room. He followed Beth into the house, where the oversized pup paced back and forth, his claws clicking against the hardwood floors. Tiny flames shotfrom his fur with each turn, singeing small marks into the baseboards.
Beth knelt down, opening her arms. "Hey sweetie, what's wrong?"
