Page 48 of Untamed Instincts

Toro glared at Noah. “Hang tight, human. I’ll be right there as soon as I kill this piece of shit.”

The vampire’s face was a swollen mess, blood oozing from his nose and the side of his mouth. Even through the cacophony of fighting, Noah could hear how badly Toro was wheezing, as if Quinton had broken a few of the man’s ribs.

Noah was unable to hold Toro’s gaze. It was too evil, filled with too much hatred. Just glancing at him made Noah want to take a scalding-hot shower to scrub the gross feeling off his skin.

Quinton rose up from the floor, towering over the vampire. “That’s the last fucking time you threaten my mate.”

Spinning, Noah yanked Wesley’s head to his chest, holding him tight when Quinton’s hand punched through Toro’s chest. The sound of breaking ribs made him want to vomit.

“Hyett isn’t going to let anything happen to you,” Noah found himself saying repeatedly to Wesley in an effort to stop the man from trembling so badly.

“I know, but it’s still scary as hell, especially since I just went through something similar with a demon,” Wesley replied.

Noah was still trying to wrap his head around the fact that demons existed.

“The noise stopped,” Wesley pointed out.

Noah glanced over his shoulder. Quinton’s hand was bloody, and Hyett stood over a prone body, breathing heavily. Ryker and Killian returned, seeming no worse for wear.

Hyett charged across the kitchen, and Noah let Wesley go, stepping aside so the bear shifter could seize his mate and haul Wesley into his arms.

Quinton went to the sink and washed his hands. Noah’s gaze slid down to his nicely rounded ass, focusing on the strength in those buns so he wouldn’t focus on the dead bodies lying around him.

Then Quinton charged toward him and scooped Noah into his arms. “Close your eyes, Noah.”

He did as his mate asked, feeling Quinton walking. He didn’t open them again until they were in their bedroom, away from the carnage.

“Is Toro really dead?” Noah refused to let go when Quinton tried to place him on his feet.

“Yes.” Quinton kissed his forehead. “Now we’re going to discuss how much you owe.”

* * * *

Quinton hung up and set his phone on the nightstand.

“Well?” Noah asked from beside him.

Lying back, Quinton slid his arm around his mate, pulling Noah into his side. It had been a week since he’d killed Toro. The following morning, Quinton had tracked Raphael down and paid him the fifty grand Noah owed.

He’d also gone to Harris’s and found the human just sitting on his couch, staring off into nothingness. Quinton and his sons had called Prince Christian and explained the situation. Since Toro was the only person who knew exactly what had been done to Harris’s mind, asking just any vampire to undo the damage might cause further harm.

That was why Quinton had gone to the firstborn vampire, the most powerful, to try and untangle the mess Toro had made.

Christian had sent someone to retrieve Harris, and Noah’s best friend had been with him for five days now.

“Christian said he’s still working on him.” Quinton kissed the top of Noah’s head and wondered if even the prince could undo the mess Toro had left behind. Although Quinton hadn’t met Harris, his mate cared about him.

Even if Christian was successful, Harris would never be the same. Who would be okay after a vampire had not only bedazzled him but violated his mind in such an intrusive and nefarious manner?

Noah glanced up, his eyes filled with such sadness that Quinton could practically feel gray clouds forming over his mate’s head. “Harris didn’t deserve what happened to him.” He rested his cheek on Quinton’s bare chest. “Because of my stupid decision, he paid too high a price while I got off pretty much scot-free.”

“Hey, none of that.” He pulled Noah up, bringing him closer. “You can’t blame yourself for what a deranged vampire did. Wallowing in guilt isn’t going to accomplish anything.”

But Quinton knew that no matter what he said, Noah would blame himself. If it had been Noah who’d had his brain scrambled because of Quinton’s actions, he would feel the same way. A hundred times worse, even.

He ran his hand down Noah’s slim back then rested it on his mate’s hip. Noah tried to covertly twist his ass so Quinton could cup it. The guy wasn’t fooling anyone.

So Quinton made sure to keep his hand away from Noah’s backside, just to see what his mate would do next.

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