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"Yes, I'm supposed to be home," Gabriel said. His voice was flat and he was completely under Ozni’s compulsion.
Arden's heavy hand landed on Ozni's shoulder and squeezed down on the muscle. "I'll take care of the rest."
Ozni was still seething, his monstrous side wanted... no,neededthe bloodshed. Arden shook him and Ozni pulled back from the blood lust that threatened to take over his mind.
A whimper from the floor made Ozni click back into the present completely. Porter was still on the ground hurt and crying. Ozni didn't think. He just scooped the bleeding human up and cradled him to his chest.
Porter cried out again and Ozni's heart broke at the sound. "It's okay,” he said in a whisper.
“O—z,” Porter stammered out.
His name on Porter’s lips was as full of sorrow as it was hope.
Ozni opened his mouth but shut it as he headed out of the lounge. He wanted to get Porter out of there, away from others and in the safety of their home. He paid little to no attention to the customers or fellow hosts, Ozni just continued to reassure Porter that he was indeed safe.
“Ozni,” Jaygen’s stern voice pulled some of Ozni’s focus.
He met the startling blue eyes of the tiger shifter. They were full of anger, making them look colder than usual.
“My room, and take this mutt with you,” Jaygen said.
He held the scruff of Foi’s black fur. The wolf didn’t seem to mind, his amber-colored gaze trained on Porter. Surprisingly Foi hadn’t pulled away from Jaygen and even as the tiger shifter released the wolf, he stayed in the spot near the back door that led to their living space.
Jaygen took two steps toward them and for a brief second, his cold gaze warmed as he stared down at Porter. His fingers lightly brushed along a bruise forming on Porter’s temple.
“Thank you, Ozni,” Jaygen said ever so softly.
As far as the daywalker was concerned, Jaygen had nothing to thank him for. He knew if it hadn’t been for Arden holding them back, they would have done the same. Except it might have turned out a lot bloodier and messier than what Ozni had done.
“Jaygen,” Porter whimpered. His split lips parted and it was as if he tried to talk more but all that came out was a shuddering cry.
It took everything in Ozni not to tighten his hold on Porter's bruised body.Gabriel Manetti was dead.Ozni would figure out a way, he’d allow his full monster out. That man deserved no mercy. He briefly met Jaygen’s eyes and then Foi’s. Based on the look in their eyes they felt the same way.
“We are here, Pretty,” Jaygen said. He bent over and placed a feather light kiss upon Porter’s forehead. “Rest while I take care of everything down here. I’ll be up shortly.”
Ozni had never seen Jaygen be gentle with anything or care about someone to the point he lost control. But here Jaygen was showing emotions that Ozni hadn’t known the tiger shifter was capable of, his hands covered in his own blood no doubt from restraining himself from reacting.
The scent of blood was tantalizing, but as Porter let out another cry in discomfort, Ozni was able to ignore the blood lust once again.
“Are you okay?” Jaygen asked.
It took Ozni far too long to realise the tiger shifter was speaking to him.
“Yes.”
Jaygen didn’t look convinced. “I’ll send Cy up in a bit to get the medicine for Porter,” Jaygen said. He glanced down at Foi still in his wolf form. He was a giant black wolf whose gold flaked eyes stared at Porter with longing. Jaygen flicked his snout, earning him a whimper from the beast.
“If you are staying in wolf form, make sure not to tear anything up in my room.” Jaygen gave one more lingering glance at Porter before he headed toward Arden who was already giving orders out and handling the customers.
Ozni didn’t wait to see what was going to happen, he opened the door and headed up the stairs.
“I’m sorry,” Porter whispered quietly.
If Ozni had been human, he might have missed it but with his supernatural hearing he’d heard it and the despair that laced the apology.
“No, I am sorry I didn’t move fast enough,” Ozni said.
Foi’s claws tapped against the hard floor as they made their way to Jaygen’s door. Ozni shifted Porter in his arms slightly and put in the code, the soft click of the lock helped ease his nerves. With more and more distance from what had happened downstairs, he slowly began to relax.
