Page 44 of Crimson Shifter

A lethal growl ripped me back to consciousness, my basic survival instincts snapping to life at whatever creature I was about to have to battle even in my weakened state.

A blinding light rushed over me as the double doors of the closet were clawed open. Shadow hissed and whimpered as she came inside, her silk snout sniffing me.

A terrifying growl roared so loud I swore it shook the closet walls.

But Shadow wasn't here.

My thoughts were erratic, thick and heavy, like walking through syrup.

Still, my panther maneuvered around me, sprawling down on its haunches and nuzzling its head beneath my stomach until I was draped over its back. Carefully, it walked through the estate, hurrying me to my chambers. The farther I got away from the Night Thistle walls, the littlest amount of strength came back to my limbs. Just enough to close the door behind me as my panther gently laid me down.

And then Talon was there instead of the panther, his fangs bared, his pupils completely blown out as he grabbed a sheet off of my bed, covering his hands before unwinding the chain as carefully as he could from around my neck.

The pain was blinding, and I screamed, thrashing before he tossed it across the room,

“Thank you,” I managed to whisper, the debilitating sharp sting of the iron and Night Thistle leaving my body so quickly that I almost passed out.

Talon fell to the floor at my side, gathering me in his arms and hauling me into his lap. His features were panicked, and he sank his fangs into his wrist before holding it up to my lips.

“Drink,” he commanded, no room for argument in his voice. “My blood is over a thousand years old, Cassandra. You have to drink it. It will heal you.”

As weak as I was, I couldn't punch my fangs out, but had enough strength to put my lips to the wounds he'd created and swallow weak mouthfuls.

Each one was restoring, knitting together the abrasions on my flesh, soothing every single fiery sting in my bones, my muscles.

I drank, leaning into his embrace as he held me there, feeling as if he alone was putting me back together.

I drew back, my mind clearing of all of the poisonous clouds, and I looked up into his eyes, and saw a thin ring of blue showing through his rage. Then I started crying.

He held me closer, his entire body shaking with fury as I cried.

“I'm going to murder every single being in this house,” he said with lethal quiet, his fingers so gentle as they stroked through my hair.

I backed away enough to look at him, his statement sobering enough to stop my tears. He wiped them away with his thumbs, and looked like he might stand up and deliver on what he just promised.

I clung to his shoulders, shaking my head. “You can't,” I said in a panic. “We haven't completed our mission. We can't. You can't?—”

“You can’t expect me to forgive what she did to you. What they’ve all done to you. Cassandra, you could have died in there?—”

“I've been in there more times than you know,” I said. “I survive. It's what I do.”

“You cannot expect me to ignore this,” he said.

“You have to,” I said. “We can’t blow our cover now. We can't. All of this will have been for nothing and so many people will die?—”

“Youcould have died,” he snapped, holding me tighter. “Cassandra, you could have died.” He emphasized each word, and I couldn't tell if I was imagining the pain that laced them or not.

I reached up to cup his cheek, shaking my head. “I survive,” I said again. “Please,” I said. “Stay with me.”

It might have been the most vulnerable I'd ever been with another being. That desperate plea, that for once, I would be put above a mission or some ridiculous familial bloodline duty.

I needed him to choosemeover his primal instincts.

I needed him to choosemydesires,mywishes, over his in that moment.

No one ever had before, so I had little confidence he would listen to me now. He was a hunter Viking god and could easily lock me in this room and do exactly what he’d threatened to do.

“Please,” I said again. “Talon. I need you to stay with me.”

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