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I wasn’t ready to die. But even more, I wasn’t ready to give Lola’s killer any more time. I couldn’t risk that the killer would get off or escape. With each passing second, I was giving them more time to flee. It was killing me.
“I’ll wait to tell them, then,” he said. “It’ll help reduce violence.”
“There’s something you should know.” I didn’t want to say it, but if David was telling the truth, and Lola had been fed on, Xander would want to know. It was a serious violation of shifter and vampire treaties. It was enough to start a war, which I was told was David’s goal. I wasn’t sure if I was playing right into his hands. Maybe I was. But Lola was my best friend and she deserved better. She deserved justice, whatever that looked like.
“I don’t have proof yet,” I said.
“Tell me,” he said, his hand tensing into a fist under mine.
“David, that demon who has been on our trail, he claimed that the killer fed on Lola.”
I could feel the tension in the air around me as Xander’s mood shifted. His jaw tightened and his expression was downright murderous.
Feeding on a wolf wasn’t only illegal, it was considered the ultimate disrespect. I was sure there were some wolf shifters out there who got off on it and volunteered. Hell, I’d heard of the occasional vampire-shifter couple. But it wasn’t talked about if it did happen. It was disgraceful and I knew it prevented the shifter from certain rituals after death.
Xander threw the sheet that was on his lap off him and swung his legs off the edge of the table.
“Whoa,” I moved my hands to his bare legs.Holy hell those are some quads.If he wanted to restrain me, or move me out of the way, he’d have no problem. Yet, he froze under my touch. “Please, stay here. Heal.”
“You know I can’t,” he said. “I need that fucker dead.”
“I know. And I’m going to make it happen,” I said.
“You’re traveling with an enforcer,” he said.
I winced. Everything about Elias was weird right now. He was an enforcer, but also a demon. And he’d kissed me. It was a lot to process but there wasn’t time.
“What if that goody-two-shoes wants to bring the killer in alive?” he asked. “If someone fed on her and they’re allowed to live, Lola can’t be buried with our family.”
“I won’t let that happen,” I said. “I swear to you. I will see this is done right.”
“I need to go with you,” he said.
“No, I can’t have more blood on my hands,” I said. “I just lost my best friend, don’t make me lose you too.”
The words surprised me. The thought of anything happening to Xander made my heart ache.
“Please, heal. Get better,” I urged.
“Lola deserved better,” he said.
“I know.” I moved so I was in front of him, our faces nearly level due to the table. “You have to get better. If I fail, if I don’t find the killer in time, I need you to finish this.”
His hand caught my chin and he stared into my eyes. It was like the whole world ceased to exist and it was just the two of us. “Promise me, if you need help, you’ll call me. I heal fast.”
“I know, but Sherry says you need to stay tonight. You need to finish healing.”
He dropped his hand from my chin and set it on my hip. It was an intimate touch that sent my head spinning. I knew I should step back, away from him, but I didn’t want to. I needed to be close to him.
“I’m going to finish this,” I said. “I’m going to deliver justice for Lola.”
“I know you will,” he said. “But if they hurt you, I’m killing all of them. I won’t stop until every last one of them is dead.”
His words sent my heart racing. I’d never had anyone look out for me and suddenly, two males were essentially swearing fealty to me. I had no idea what was going on, but I couldn’t make myself fight it. It feltright.
Xander leaned in, his face so close to mine. I could see the dark stubble on his face, his full lips, his strong jaw. He was everything I’d ever fantasized about in a male. I wondered what it would be like to taste him, to feel his body against mine.
“Skylar?” Elias called.
