Page 19 of Primal Bonds

He dragged a hand over his face—and was thrown back seven years into his worst nightmare. Adric had finally tracked Merry and Silver to their latest address. It had been over a year since Jace had last seen any of Takira’s family. His sister had turned up dead, and Merry’s fifth birthday had come and gone while she was on the run with Silver.

The call from Adric came just after midnight. Jace rushed to the site—only to find a burned-out house. The bitter scent of ashes and death filled the air.

Adric had been waiting in the shadows. His throat worked. “I’m sorry, bro.”

Jace had backed away, shaking his head. “No. No. There must be some mistake.”

“No mistake. I tracked them both here.” Adric’s eyes were bronze holes in his face. “It burned down last night. The neighbors said no one got out alive.”

“Leron,” Jace had rasped. “I’ll kill him. I’ll fucking tear him to pieces.” He’d turned to stride off, but Adric’s hand clamped on his arm.

Jace tried to shake him off. “Let. Me. Go.”

“No. I won’t stand by and watch you commit suicide.”

Jace’s mouth had twisted. “What the fuck do I have to live for?”

His friend blew out a breath. “I can’t answer that for you, but I do know I need your help to take Leron down. And we will. We’re close, Jace. But if you go after him now, you could blow it all to hell.”

“You ask too damn much.”

“I know,” his friend returned quietly. “But it’s not for me. It’s for the clan.”

Jace had stared at the house’s charred remains, the desire for revenge raging through his veins. He’d fisted his hands, dropped back his head and roared his fury at the moon. The local dogs had joined in, an eerie, mournful howl.

When he’d turned back to Adric, he knew his eyes blazed a feral green. “Fine,” he bit out. “But promise me he’ll die. No mercy.”

“No mercy,” Adric had agreed.

Now Jace writhed on the couch, his soul as dark and bitter as that burned shell of a house that he’d believed had contained his niece’s remains.

An unfamiliar scent recalled him to the present—a female. It’s only a dream.

With an effort, he forced his eyes open and looked wildly around until he recalled he was in some human’s home in Grace Harbor.

Evie. He grabbed onto her name like a drowning man would a life preserver.

She’d left a pitcher of water on the table. He fumbled for it and, without bothering to pour the water into a glass, drank deeply. His cat was to the fore now. It wrinkled its nose at the chemical taste of the water. But it was cool and wet. The burning eased, but he was still too hot.

He had to shift; he’d heal faster in his cat form. He sat up and reached for his zipper.

The female was staring at him, eyes wide. He hesitated. He distantly recalled that he hadn’t shifted already because he didn’t want to frighten her. Humans tended to get edgy around a 250-pound black jaguar.

His cat rubbed at his skin, frantic to get out. He could feel his eyes had gone night-glow, signaling his animal was in control.

The female backed up and his chest rumbled. Didn’t she know he wouldn’t hurt her?

The hell with it. He dragged off his pants and let the shift take him—and almost didn’t make it. Energy danced over his skin, and for a few frightening seconds he thought he’d get stuck between man and cat and die, his organs unable to adjust to a half-shifted state.

His quartz. A quick check told him it had recharged to about forty percent. He drew deep, pulling energy from the slowly vibrating crystals, and completed the shift. He lay on his side, weak and trembling. So much for his big, scary cat.

But the female took another step back. The cat instinctively leapt off the couch to stop her. She froze and babbled something, and he scented fear, sharp and acrid.

No. He nudged her hand. It’s all right.

She sucked in a breath.

He rumbled low in his chest but held still.

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