Page 99 of Shifter Marked and Claimed

“Sedative,” the troll rasped. “Harmless.”

“Not harmless. You hurt what is mine.”

The troll made a choked noise, and his face turned a disturbing shade of red.

“Please, Vedar,” I said even as the world tilted.

I stumbled a step and sat hard on an end table. Pain flared in my chest, and the inside of my jacket lit up like a bulb for a brief moment. So did Vedar’s chest, right where his heart was. As soon as our light faded, so did the weird dizziness. I stood, feeling completely fine.

“Dear one, we need to take him outside where I have more room.”

Vedar lifted the troll with ease and strode toward the back door. I hurried to follow, noting the red hue creeping into Vedar’s skin. We’d barely made it to the door when he exploded into his full size and tossed the troll into the air.

My eyes went wide at the sight of Vedar’s opening jaws.

“Wait! We need to know where Chloe is!”

Instead of chomping the troll in one bite, he snapped his mouth closed and let the troll fall to the ground. The creature landed with a sickening thud and didn’t immediately move. Or breathe.

I rushed forward, but Vedar used his tail to keep me back. When the troll finally did manage a wheezing inhale, I patted Vedar’s tail.

“Where is Chloe?” I asked.

“Where do you think?” the troll rasped. “Go home.”

I cringed in understanding.

“Joey took her to my old house,” I said to Vedar.

While I hadn’t been asking for confirmation from the troll, I appreciated his pained “yes” in reply.

I looked at Vedar. “We need to hurry.”

He scooped the troll up and tossed him into his mouth. Two crunches and a swallow later, Vedar was in his man form and tugging me into his arms. He had his cheek rubbing against mine before I could fully process what had just happened.

“You ate him, Vedar!”

“Yes.”

My stomach lurched, and I fought to push back my nausea.

“Let’s go back inside and save the cuddling until after you wash. And brush. And gargle. While you do that, I’ll find you some pants.”

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

Vedar tooka hurried shower at Chloe’s but balked at dressing in normal clothes.

“You had clothes on every time you left the house to yell at Patchnew,” I said, my hands on my hips. “Why are you being so difficult now?”

“I did human things to gain your attention."

“Humans don’t yell at rocks.”

“But humans do wear silly clothes I don’t need.”

“I need them.”

He started clicking in earnest and stalked toward me, a graceful dance of muscles on display.

---