Page 19 of A Bloodline Redeemed

Ireallyneededtostartworking out.At least do some cardio so I had a chance of escaping attackers.Or, you know, hot leopard shifters.Not that I actually wanted to escape in this situation.

But still, the grand staircase wasmassive, and I was puffing like a steam engine by the time I reached the top.River could have easily caught me, but he was obviously giving me a head start.When I reached the top of the stairs, I glanced back to see River and Zhong step out from the hallway into the open foyer below.Only one of them was people shaped.

And even that one had fangs, horns, wings, and a tail.

River slunk out from behind Zhong, a big, lithe cat, dark as shadows, with just a hint of brown flashing here and there, the leopard spots hidden behind his black fur.His citrine eyes flashed and seemed to glow for a second there as he crouched, his long tail lashing behind him.Then he leapt, landing at least half a dozen steps up the staircase and letting out a tearing growl.

I wasn’t afraid of him.I knew it was all a game.And yet, the primal part of my brain screamed in terror and begged us to run away or call up a spell, ASAP.The cat started jogging up the steps, Zhong following behind with his massive wings outspread and his fangs bared, and I jolted into motion, trying hard not to judge myself for the way my lower belly clenched and the blood rushed to my clit.

I pounded down the hall, not daring to waste any more time looking behind me.Instead of heading for my room, I pelted for the smaller set of spiral stairs at the opposite end of the hall, huffing and puffing my way to the third floor.River’s room was up here, one of the few areas that had been cleaned out in this part of the ridiculously oversized mansion.But I breezed past his door and darted into one of the other rooms instead.

Quietly closing the door behind me, I crept across the gleaming hardwood and toward the closet.It wasn’t dusty in here, thanks to the spells keeping the house preserved for generations of Lovells to enjoy.But it smelled a bit musty all the same—disuse somehow left its mark even without debris.While the clean hardwood and rugs didn’t let me leave any dusty footprints behind, I knew my scent would still lead the big cat right to the closet.

Once I reached the closet, I touched the door handle.Then I cast a shield spell that Dyre said would dull scents and quickly hurried through the other door—which led to a bathroom that was shared with the suite next door.It was a nice arrangement.Probably meant to house guests with children, so the parents could have a space of their own, but keep the kids close by.

Not that I’d ever met any Lovells that liked children enough to keep them close, when I was living here as a child.

I had barely eased the door closed and made my way into the second bedroom before I heard the sound of sneaky footsteps next door.A bang and a growl announced the closet doors opening, and I used the loud moment to dash across the room and out the door into the hallway.

Grinning to myself, I eased the bedroom door shut, turned, and ran right smack into a solid granite wall.

Big hands gripped my upper arms and Zhong’s deep chuckle coiled through me like a caress.“Ah, ah, ah.Where are you going, master?”he purred, his spade-tipped tail lashing behind him.

A low, rumbling growl sounded from right behind me, and I stiffened in instinctual terror.Predator, my instincts screamed.Followed very closely byhot damn.

A ripple of magic washed over me, and River’s arms slid around my waist, his head resting on my shoulder as he purred, “No fair.I wanted to chase her down.”

I shuddered, quickly losing my grip on reality.And my patience for the game.

Zhong chuckled, low and rich, his yellow eyes creasing with amusement.“I don’t think our witch is patient enough for that.”

River sighed.“Too bad.”But his hands splayed over my torso, one covering my soft stomach, while the other slid upward, between my breasts, and came to rest at the base of my throat.“I love hunting down juicy prey.”

I made some kind of weird, strangled sound somewhere between a whine and a moan and pressed back into his body, pressing my ass against his hips—and the impressive erection that waited for me.River purred in appreciation and nuzzled my hair aside so he could clamp down on the side of my neck with his sharp teeth.

Zong sighed, clearly done playing the big baddie.The softie.“You look perfect in his arms,” he told me, releasing my arms to touch my face, to glide his big thumb over my bottom lip.“I knew you would.”

I shuddered when River licked the side of my neck with his rough tongue.“Run,” he murmured against my skin.“If you make it to my room before I catch you, I’ll give you a prize.”

Then he pulled back and gave me a shove, sending me stumbling forward.

I felt lightheaded and a little embarrassed, since I was new to this whole hunting fixation of his… but Icouldoccasionally follow directions.I did as I was told, dashing down the hall as fast as I could without looking back.

I felt River shift back to leopard form, heard the scrabble of claws on the shiny floor, and my heart kicked like an agitated mule in my chest, adrenaline pushing me to run faster.As if I really was in danger.

When really, all I was focused on was thatprizehe’d promised.Whatever it was, I was certain I wanted it.

My hand reached for the doorknob.A large, warm body crashed into me from behind, teeth grazing the back of my neck through the tangle of my hair.I was pressed up against the door before I could turn the knob, all the wind knocked out of me, making me gasp for air.River’s magic washed over me again, brushing my aura from head to toe, with us in such close proximity, and I was stunned by the way he felt soright.

Jaguar teeth were replaced by soft lips and biting kisses.And the heavy paws against my shoulders became hands, sliding down to my hips, holding me pinned against the door as he ground his rigid dick against my ass, making me gasp—and this time not just for air.

“I win,” he purred in my ear.

I huffed and somehow managed to find my voice through the flurry of adrenaline and lust.“No way.I got to the door before you.”

He chuckled and spun me around to face him, still pressed flush against me—and completely naked thanks to all the shapeshifting.“You didn’t actually make it into the room, witch.But I’m feeling generous.Let’s call it a tie.”

I forgot what we were arguing about when his lips met mine.He tasted like wild magic and effervescent joy.I drank him in, and it felt like some missing puzzle piece just… clicked.River reached around me, the doorknob clicked, and the door vanished from behind me, making me fall backward into the room.

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