Page 91 of Catch a Tiger

She couldn’t even fucking look him in the eyes and that hurt more than all the other shit. Why did the one who actuallywanted her have to have green eyes that were almost identical tohis?

There was no easy way to get what she needed, so she needed fast, and Vix had always been faster than any mortal had the right to be.

Dropping her eyes to the floor, she vanished her blade, annoyed she didn’t have time to get her boots. It would be fine. She’d heal eventually.

“It’s complicated, Alpha,” the witch said, clearly trying to appease the tiger. “You know I can’t tell you everything?—”

Shemoved, running as fast as she could, but not for the door. No, Vix ran straight for that two-story wall of glass.

Leaping right at it, she tucked and covered her head, shattering the glass with the force of her compact form and a tiny jab of magic to minimize some of the damage to her body. Vix hit the ground running, barely slowing down at all despite the glass that sliced into her bare feet.

Snow numbed most of the pain as she headed north, letting herself run as fast as she could, faster than was possible for someone like her, even if she was a hybrid.

The trees called to her and wildness sang through the earth. She was bleeding but it would stop soon enough, and even her blood had no scent so at some point her trail would disappear.

Kenji would be able to help her.

Just before she reached the tree line, shefeltit even if it made no earthly sound – softer than snowflakes and as silent as death.

There was no way he should be able to catch up with her when she didn’t hold back, but she didn’t bother trying to understand it. She just reacted to the threat.

Vix dug her claws into the ground, turning sharply to face the white tiger who was eating up the ground with the same kind of speed she had. She crouched low, ready for this fight even if she didn’t want it.

For the first time since coming here, Vix felt the overwhelming urge to go back. She wanted them to justlet her goso she could go back to her quiet life where she tended those gardens of death until the day she came face to face with Gabriel and asked himwhy.

Samuel slammed into her with his full weight, not holding back his vicious strength.

So, neither did she.

Claws on her fingers and toes found purchase as she rolled backward, kicking him over her. It was impressive the way he landed on all fours, but she’d expected that.

Blades sliced through the air before they sank into his flesh as he tried to attack again, and his roar of fury had her entire body trembling, but she dodged his next strike that would have knocked her head clean off her shoulders and then summoned a short sword made of silver, not stars.

He couldn’t land a hit on her no matter how hard he tried. The way she dodged and slid was too unpredictable. Vix’s body remembered what she couldn’t and she flipped backwards until she had the space she needed.

There was nothing but ice in his eyes and the fury riding him could end worlds if she let it. He prowled toward her as if he felt no pain despite the blades sticking out of his sides, blood staining that pretty white fur.

Vix set the edge of the silver sword against the rune on her neck and watched as the tiger’s fury stumbled at the sight. The scent of real fear curled around her and she couldn’t help but feel a little relieved he cared about her at all after what had happened.

When he looked at that blade against her neck, it almost looked like he was staring at his own death, not hers. The alpha didn’t dare move, he didn’t even speak to her, but maybe he didn’t know he could.

Such a reckless creature, letting all these killers into his den.

One quick slice across her neck and the roar of pain she heard from him made her smile slightly. It was endearing the way he lunged for her, shifting mid-air to grab her as if he thought he might be catching a dead body.

The force of his desperation slammed into her and they went sliding across the snow, his arms wrapping around her, protecting her from the ice. The moment they stopped, Samuel sat up and grabbed her face, his eyes wild as he tried to see if she could be fixed.

Just in time to see the rune on her neck suck up all the blood, making it glow.

“You know, you’re terrible at this.” Vix reached up and brushed her thumb over his cheek. “You want to be human too much to really listen to your instincts, even when I’m telling the truth. It’s very annoying.”

“What the hell iswrongwith you?” Samuel pushed her into the snow with a childish glare. “Were you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“You’d have to have a heart for that.” Vix got to her feet and rested the flat side of the short sword on her shoulder. “I’ll get what I need to prove I’m right. Just watch.”

Then he came, slamming into the snow between her and the alpha.

Vix grinned, delighted his timing was so fucking perfect.

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