“Are you kidding me?” Kat said, sighing with exasperation.
Briggs stalked toward Garth, his big hands balled into fists and a continuous growl emanating from his chest. “You were supposed to be protecting her.”
“I was,” Garth said.
“The fuck you were,” Briggs snarled. “She was run off the fucking road!”
“How the fuck was I supposed to know they’d do that?” Garth asked. “You weren’t there, so you don’t know how -”
“I know you didn’t do your fucking job, and she almost died last night,” Briggs growled.
“She’s fine!” Thick, sharp horns pierced through the skin on Garth’s forehead, and Briggs made another low growl as white fur sprouted on his face.
“For fuck’s sake, both of you calm down,” Kat said with another soft hiss.
“The only reason she’s not dead is because of him.” Briggs jabbed his finger in Ronin’s direction. “A fucking bird!”
“Hey now, don’t be hurtful, big guy,” Ronin said with a grin.
“You’re a useless fuck of a bull,” Briggs snarled at Garth.
“Fuck you!” Briggs towered over Garth, but the bull shifter showed no fear as he shoved Briggs in the chest. “The only goddamn reason I was even on this assignment is because you pussied out on taking it.”
“Uh oh,” Ronin said, but his grin was nearly maniacal now. “I hope we’re paid up on our house insurance, Kitten, because I’m pretty sure the house is about to be destroyed.”
“Guys,” Willow said. “This isn’t anyone’s fault, okay? Everyone take a deep breath and chill out.”
Briggs’s body swelled, and Cece watched in alarm as Garth’s horns emerged fully and Garth lowered his head.
“Oh shit,” Ronin said. “He’s gonna gore him.”
“Briggs will kill him,” Kat said.
She started forward, and Ronin grabbed her around the waist, hauling her behind him. “Nope, Kitten. You’re not going near either of them.”
“I’m not letting them kill each other or destroy our house, Ronin,” Kat said.
“Step the fuck back,” Garth said, staring steadily at Briggs.
“And if I don’t?” Briggs asked.
“You think I’m afraid of you?” Garth grunted in surprise when the vines wrapped around his arms and crept toward his neck. He tore them away before they could wrap around his throat and glared at Briggs. “I said step the fuck back.”
Briggs growled again, and his t-shirt ripped along the shoulder seams. The bull shifter started forward, stumbling to a stop and staring at the numerous vines that were twisted around his lower legs. “What the fuck?”
“I’m about to teach you a lesson you won’t forget, bull shifter.” Briggs grinned, showing off his wickedly sharp canines.
He reached for Garth as another man ducked into the room. He was nearly as big as Briggs, and he fearlessly stepped between Briggs and Garth, shoving Briggs back and bearing his own canines at him. “Calm the fuck down, Briggs. Now.”
Briggs growled at him, and the man growled back. “Walk away.”
“She almost died, Bishop,” Briggs snapped.
“But she didn’t, and you’re scaring her,” Bishop said.
Briggs’s head whipped to the right, and he stared at Cece. His usual blue eyes were now brown, and white fur was threaded through the dark stubble on his jaw, making him look more animal than human.
After a few seconds, his body relaxed, and he backed away from Bishop and Garth, running one hand through his hair and taking a deep breath before standing near the door with his arms crossed over his massive chest.
