Page 23 of The Jaguar's Flower

“I’ll be waiting for you.” She chewed on her lip. “Then I’ll explain what I’ve been working on more fully.” She cupped his cheek and kissed him. “Go. I don’t want you to get into trouble. I’ll see you tomorrow night, Mac.”

It broke her heart to let him leave, but she could do nothing. Except, maybe? “Staff is allowed to do with the shifters what they want?” As she said the words, they killed her. “Can’t I say I had you stay with me?”

Yes. Stay with her.Mac wished his mind could make up its own mind. He cleared his throat as he held her cheek. “I want to stay, and you could order me to stay. There wouldn’t be a single question about it.”

His dark gray eyes scanned every beautiful feature of her face. “We still get punished for leaving our post. Be careful how you use those orders, Violet. If I don’t tell my brother everything, there will be a slight chance of a hiccup. We can’t have Renfield become suspicious.”

“They still let you get punished?” Her heart ached for him and the rest of the shifters. “That’s not fair.” She blinked back her tears before she kissed him again. “Go. I won’t let you get punished because I want you to stay. They’ve hurt you enough.”

Before he left, she brushed her fingers along his cheek. “Tell your brother if you need to. I’m not ashamed of what goes on between us. You’re not someone that I want to use. You’re someone I don’t want to lose.”

“I’ll come for you tomorrow night.” He kissed her deeply before the jaguar finally pulled away. It hurt him. The space between them created a void that left him starved. “You won’t lose me. We will find a way for all of us to be free.”Because I finally believe in hope.

The jaguar reached the door before he took one last look. Everything told him to stay, but he couldn’t. Avel would become suspicious, and it would compromise the mission. He couldn’t let down two people he cared for.

He nodded at Violet before he left the lab. Mac rubbed his arms to calm the chills. Everything inside him told her to return to Violet.We’re a beast.His mind continued to switch between negative and positive thoughts. It was okay to be with Violet one moment, while the next could end in a tragedy.

The closer he drew to the dorms, the more his mind ran rampant. The jaguar barely avoided a collision with another shifter until he caught a familiar scent in the air. He froze. Mac turned on his heel as his eyes landed on Draven. “Why do you--” The pure rage he noticed in the other shifter raised alerts inside him.

“You smell of Dr. Morris.” Draven slammed Mac into the wall behind the jaguar. “Why do you smell of her when your duties shouldn’t take you anywhere near her lab?” A deep growl rolled through Draven as he fought not to attack the other shifter.

The jaguar snarled at the other shifter. He slammed his fist into Draven’s chest to push him away. “She lives and breathes. Even happier when she sees me. Why do you smell of Avel? His scent is all over you.” His growl rolled off him as he prepared to fight against the other soldier.

“Avel and I share a nightly post,” Draven growled back. “Stay away from the doctor before you cause her harm. When you hurt her, I will kill you.”

The protectiveness that Draven showed irked Mac. He gripped the man’s shirt before the other shifter pushed his hands away. He dodged a fist that almost connected with his jaw. The jaguar went to attack but stopped when he spotted Avel. Mac stepped back as he eyed his brother. “He smells of you. Mixed.”

Avel paled. “Why are you two fighting? Don’t you realize anyone could see you, and it will end to shit if you get caught fighting outside the arena?”

“It’s about Dr. Morris,” Mac answered unashamed.

Draven calmed with Avel’s presence. “He is covered in Dr. Morris’ scent again.” He glared at the jaguar and subtly moved closer to his twin. “There is no reason for him to be out of his bunk.”

Mac eyed his brother. “I can say the same for you two.” When Avel flinched, the jaguar chuckled. “She requested me because we bring calmness to each other. Is that what you crave to hear, Draven? Why do you care so much about what I do with her when it’s her scent on me, not her blood?”

“I am protective of her.” Draven’s eyes darted to Avel’s, then back to Mac. “I know what you’ve done. If you cause her any harm, I will be the one to put you down. This place is dangerous, and she is the only kind member of the staff.”

Avel tensed. “Drave,” he whispered.

Mac scoffed. “Tell me, Draven.” He knew the answer to his question. The jaguar needed confirmation. “What exactly have I done that makes me dangerous?”

“Don’t answer that,” Avel warned. He barely tugged on Draven’s arm. “Don’t, Draven. You both need sleep. We all need sleep.”

“Answer the question, Draven,” Mac continued.

A growl thundered through Draven’s chest as he glared at Mac. “You know what you’ve done.” His hands flexed as he shoved into Avel’s side.

Mac nodded as he eyed Avel. When his brother couldn’t look him in the eye, the jaguar sighed. “Perfectus miles.Yet we aren’t even close.”

“Mac.”

The jaguar shook his head. “You’ve said enough, Avel. You don’t blame me, correct?” His eyes moved over to Draven. “I think the truth speaks for itself. For once, I have someone who doesn’t see me as a killer.” Before Avel reached for him, Mac pulled away and walked off.

“Mac!” Avel called, but the jaguar ignored his brother.

“He doesn’t blame you, but I will if you hurt her,” Draven spoke in low tones, but he knew the brothers heard him.

Avel glanced at Draven. “This place will continue to break us all.” He shook his head as he headed back to his dorm room. “We have duties to attend to. I’ll see you tonight, Drave.”

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