“Hunters ahead.”
Liam cocked his head and heard their animated discussion.“Something has happened.”
“Yeah.If we can see which direction they go, you and Jago can sneak out earlier than planned.”
Without words, they hastened their steps, trying to get closer to make sense of what was happening.
One man noticed them and nudged the tall dark-haired man next to him.
“What are you doing?”a tall, wiry man with a black beard and military bearing demanded.
“Walking home,” Liam said.“Our cottage is off this path.”
“Get on with it then and don’t wander at night.It’s not safe.”
“Because they might shoot us,” Sienna muttered.
Liam looped an arm around her, keeping her close, and he heard Sienna’s breath hitch.Even through the fabric of her shirt, her warmth seeped into his palm.When she unconsciously leaned into him, something primal stirred in his chest—not just attraction, but possession.Mine, his feline whispered.The thought should have alarmed him.Instead, it felt like the first true thing he’d known since waking in the cottage.
Liam tightened his grip on her hand in silent warning.He tugged her past the men and along the path.
“Who died and made him boss?”she demanded.
“It’s best if we keep up our newlywed cover.”
As they turned off the path toward the cottage, the men loped past, their radios squawking.They disappeared around the corner.
“I’ll follow for a bit to work out their direction.Tell Jago to get ready—we’ll leave early while they’re distracted.”
“Take care.You don’t want them to spot you.”
Liam nodded and slipped into the shadows, following the men.It was easy enough since they were in a hurry and not checking behind them.The group seemed headed for the opposite end of town.Excellent.Liam skulked in the gloom until he confirmed his suspicions.
His low-grade headache had bloomed into something sharper, and he considered shifting.No—too risky.
Once clear of the village, safely out of sight of any hunters, Liam drew a deep breath, trying to steady himself.The pain only intensified, his vision swimming.
He slammed his eyes shut, but the darkness burst into color—purple, green, flashes of orange.
His heart pounded, slamming against his breastbone as if it was trying to claw free.His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground—just as a cat’s snarl echoed around him.
Hell!
Had he made the sound?
He slapped his hand against his mouth to hold the cries inside and tried to focus.Nothing but a moan squeezed past his lips.The feline cry repeated, this time a clear distress call he could hear above the thundering of his pulse.Liam attempted to stand, and on his second attempt, managed it.A faint sound from behind had him stiffening, but the familiar scent washing over him brought instant comfort.
“What’s happening?”Sienna clutched his shoulders, her fingers digging into his flesh painfully, yet somehow centering him.Her hand slid beneath his T-shirt to rest on his belly, skin against skin, and the relief was immediate.
“Better,” he managed, leaning into her touch without thinking.
“The headaches are getting worse, aren’t they?”Her voice was thick with guilt.
He wanted to lie to spare her, but found he couldn’t.“When I get tired.”
His head still ached, but his awareness sharpened.
A man shouted, his voice tight with excitement.“Go that way.Head off the creature.Can you see it with the night vision glasses?”
