Page 55 of Wind with a Chance of Wolfsbane

Leo glanced between them, seeming lost. “You’re both wolf-shifters. Seems like the same thing to me.”

Dwayne gave Jonathan a knowing look.

Jonathan dropped strips of material onto the floor as he continued to peel his tattered clothing from his body. The girl from near the airport continued to weigh heavily on him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Was she in danger—again? Was she his mate?

“I feel like I’m missing something here,” said Leo.

Jonathan sighed. “I was bitten by both Vlad and Lucian and given blood by both. That means I was reborn as something more thanjusta shifter.”

“Lucian?” asked Leo.

Dwayne leaned over slightly toward the man. “Lapdog of Dracula that used to serve Dracula’s maker and God knows who else.”

Jonathan nearly laughed at the description.

“That means what? He’s extra powerful?” asked Jonathan.

“Yes, and has a hankering for blood,” returned Dwayne. “Kind of like a vampire.”

“So, that would mean Jonathan is a shifter with bonus dicky vamp traits?” asked Leo, his voice low, his eyes wide.

Jonathan inclined his head slightly. “Some. Yes. Enough to set me apart from others of my kind.”

“Enough to make your eyes glow red?” asked Leo.

“Evidently,” responded Jonathan. His stomach rumbled again. “I’m starving.”

“Not eating for five days will do that to you,” said Leo. “Come on. Little Caesar’s pizzas are waiting for us upstairs. But first, you should hit the locker room and shower. You kind of stink.”

“Kind of?” asked Dwayne. “He smells horrible.”

“Thankfully, I don’t have your keen sense of smell,” said Leo with a nervous chuckle as he eyed Jonathan warily. “Guess we should actually let you out now.”

“Or not,” said a deeply accented voice from the end of the hall.

Jonathan’s wolf stirred, torn between wanting to challenge the newcomer for dominance and outright submission. It was a fine line he’d walked for over a century. One that left him in a constant internal tug-of-war.

Dwayne and Leo stepped back from the cell bars as a tall, well-dressed man with ink-black shoulder-length hair approached. The man’s green gaze fixed on Jonathan, seeming to see right through him. Silence filled the area as the men stared at one another, no real words needing to be spoken.

Jonathan already knew why Bram Van Helsing had shown up. News had reached him that Jonathan had lost control. That was a big concern. An out-of-control Jonathan was something no one wanted, including Jonathan.

“Well, this is awkward,” said Leo. The comment earned him a sideways glance from Bram.

Dwayne dropped the keys. They landed on the floor near Bram’s foot. Dwayne’s gaze went from the keys to Jonathan. “Listen, as much as I want to let you out, I’m not getting near him. He’s a walking warning sign right now, and I kind of prefer myself not dead. No offense,” he said, nodding toward Bram.

“Wolves,” Bram muttered partially under his breath.

Leo went for the keys just as Dwayne gave him a tiny shove. That left Leo falling into Bram. The vampire never budged. Leo snatched the keys from the floor and stood fast, righting himself and backing away fast. He nudged Dwayne. “I feel like one of those small dogs that get nervous and wet themselves.”

“You and me both,” said Dwayne.

Bram turned his head ever-so-slightly in their direction. “If you’re finished.”

Dwayne extended an arm toward Jonathan’s cell. “By all means, he’s all yours.”

Jonathan growled.

Dwayne and Leo stepped back more.

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