Page 34 of Dante's Circle Reborn

Because he needed to fight.

He leapt away from the two as they clawed at one another, trying to stanch the bleeding, still growling at him. He ignored them. At least, for the moment.

Three others came at him, one with a knife, the other two with their fists. And Poppy was there at his side, her hands outstretched, her snakes coiling and hissing around her head.

“Stay back,” Jonah ordered.

“You don’t get to do this alone.”

And then she opened her eyes, and the first gorgon in front of her spat, screaming. Stone slid up his calves, his knees, his hips. He clawed at it, screaming as blood seeped from his eyes, his nose, his mouth. The stone crept up his chest, and then down his shoulders to his fingertips, wrapping around his neck as if a vise. The snakes hissed, growled like they were shifters rather than snakes, and they spat at him, but then they were all stone. Dead.

Poppy shook at his side, her body swaying. He grabbed her, holding her close as she closed her eyes, sweat pouring from her.

It must have taken such strength to do that, even as she had more power than a normal gorgon. He didn’t want to think about what would happen if another gorgon tried to do what she had just done. But she had been beautiful, so strong, courageous. He wasn’t going to let the pain that he knew she had to be feeling from doing that to one of her own be in vain.

The last two gorgons came at them, and Jonah wasn’t playing anymore. He sliced out, twisted, jabbed again, tucking Poppy behind him, thankful that she could at least still stand. His jaguar was out in full force, taking over but still letting him stay in human form. Poppy shook against him, her eyes still closed, and he was glad for that. He didn’t want her to use any more strength, didn’t want her to harm her soul any more than she already had by having to kill. He knew she didn’t like it, but it wasn’t like he did either. However, this was a necessary means to an end, something he was used to. He had been a soldier for so long that he had forgotten what it felt like to not have those scars on his soul.

He slashed out, one strike to the jugular, a twist of the neck, and then there was nothing else. No more screams, no more sounds of fighting. Just the spark and crackle of fire behind them as the house burned. There were sounds of humans outside his home, sirens, but the warding he’d put on the place would keep it safe for a few more minutes. Not long enough to stay safe for long, however.

Jonah looked at the carnage and knew they’d have to clean this up soon. Perhaps not the two of them, though. Not when others could come after him and Poppy. One gorgon stood as stone, death within marble. The others were on the ground, blood pooling, death taking them.

“We need to get out of here,” he growled, knowing that even though the battle had taken no time at all, it had taken long enough that the authorities would be on their way any minute.

“Where do we go?”

He took out his phone, grateful that it had survived everything that had just happened, and dialed Malik.

“We’re on our way,” Malik growled, and Jonah’s eyes widened before it hit him.

“The wards?”

“We felt them go off, but we’re still a couple of minutes out.”

“I need to get Poppy safe.”

“Poppy? Are you okay?”

“We’ll be fine. One’s stone, and there are four bodies, and my home is on fire.”

“Dante’s close, as well. He’s going to be there to take care of any authorities. We’ll glamour what we have to.” A pause. “Wait, stone?”

“They’re gorgons. They’re after Poppy.” Jonah paused. “She’s my mate, Malik.”

Poppy let out a little gasp, and he shook his head. He would explain Malik and everyone else later. They didn’t have enough time now.

“Well, damn.” He could hear someone else whispering, but then Malik was back on the phone. “Go to the place on Fifth. It’s protected behind wards, and you’ll be safe from the other gorgons. And then you’re going to tell me exactly what’s going on.”

That was an order from an Alpha, not just a friend, but Jonah understood. “Yes. Of course. Just make sure the humans don’t find out. We weren’t exactly quiet.”

“We never are when we’re protecting our mates. I’m glad for you, Jonah.”

Jonah couldn’t say anything because he had no idea what to feel. Adrenaline coursed through his system, so he just cleared his throat and said, “thank you,” before hanging up.

“There’s another safe house. This one’s anactualsafe house rather than a home. It’s hidden deeper beneath wards and is harder to get to.”

“Was that the man from the bar earlier?”

“Yes, my friend and Alpha. They’re on their way. We’ll be safe.”

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