“It escalated when I fought back and kicked him in the face,” I continued, the wound in my arm throbbing.“He pulled out a knife and cut my forearm.Then he fled the scene.A witness ran after him, but he’s a Shifter, so he’ll never catch up.”
Connor remained silent for a few seconds.“You won’t be seeing any more of him around here, that’s for sure.”
“Do you think he’ll run?”
“If he doesn’t, he’s a damn fool.I’ll ring the Breed motels in the area and have them alert me if he tries getting a room.He’s been renting at the usual places, so they’re familiar with his face.Once we catch him, I’ll ring the Mageri, and their Enforcers can haul him off for good.The guards had trouble with him too, so we’ve got more than enough to show he’s not stable to live in the community.”Connor huffed and sounded more upset than usual.He normally had a mellow temperament even in the craziest situations.“Do you need a Relic?”
“No, no—nothing like that.But if I get bloodstains in my car, I want five minutes alone with him before he goes with the Enforcers.What an idiot.All he had to do was leave town.The Mageri won’t be lenient on him for attacking an official.”I switched on the interior light to see how much blood was soaking through the fabric.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’ll be fine once my animal calms down.I can’t shift here or I might hurt someone by accident.”I pulled in a deep breath.“He caught me off guard.”
“Maybe you should stay somewhere else until he’s gone.”
“I can’t move my dad in the middle of the night.Besides, I’ve got new steel doors, so we’ll be fine.He’s too spooked right now to try anything else.Don’t worry about me, Connor.This isn’t my first time dealing with disgruntled inmates taking a parting shot.We had a few lunatics back in San Antonio who could give Marcus a run for his money.Just watch your back.He’s on the run tonight, and I want to make sure he doesn’t go after anyone else.Can you let Hiroki know?It’s probably best if we all lock our doors and stay aware of our surroundings.If you own a stunner, keep it handy.”
“Take care of yourself, honey.I’ll give Hiroki and the guards a ring.We’ll find him.Go home and fix your arm.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.Don’t forget about the Arrowhead peace party.The last one in this town was more like a private affair.Tak invited everyone, and it sounds like it’s gonna be big.Don’t say no, Connor.Hiroki can’t make it, so we both need to be there.It’s important we show up at these events and strengthen the bonds in Storybook.You can’t be a hermit in this job.”
“Aye, so they say.Take care of yourself, lass.”
“Good night.”
After ending our call, I sped home, dizzy from the adrenaline and anger.Being a Councilwoman meant fighting my Shifter instincts, but what I really wanted to do was unleash my tiger and hunt him down like prey.
As I pulled up to my house, security lights switched on and illuminated my property.I glanced around before opening the garage door.Uncertain if Lucian was working in the attic or needed garage access, I left the car out front.
Lucian’s vehicle was parked inside on the left, and as I drifted farther in, he descended from the attic ladder ahead.
“Hey.”Lucian didn’t look at me as he walked toward the door.But before he reached it, he drew in a deep breath and froze.When he did a slow pivot and saw me shirtless with a tourniquet, his luminous eyes were blazing.“What happened?”
“I was attacked.”
He blurred across the room.A dark look flashed in his eyes when he saw the blood.Lucian lifted me into his arms and stormed into the house like a hurricane reaching shore.
“You don’t have to be so dramatic,” I insisted.
Secretly, I ate up his hero energy.It made my tiger purr like a kitten.
Once inside the kitchen, Lucian set me on my feet and deftly untied my blouse from the wound to assess my injury.
“We had a scuffle, and my attacker stabbed me before running off.”
When Lucian spoke, his emotionless tone raised the hair on my neck.“Whostabbed you?”
“The Council’s handling the situation.Can you do me a favor and get the food out of the car?”
“Food?Are you serious right now?”he asked, his voice tightly caged.“Your arm is bleeding because some soon-to-be dead man attacked you with a knife, and all you care about is food?”
“Actually, yes.”I covered the painful wound with my hand.“After you get our dinner, be sure to shut all the doors and stay inside.I need to shift, and my tiger isn’t in the best mood right now.I’m going to try to rein her back in so I can check on my father, but I can’t guarantee that’ll happen.If she doesn’t shift back, heat up the food and take it down to my father.Don’t even think about stepping outside until I come back in.”
He growled his response.
I pinched his chin and leveled him with my gaze.“I’m dead serious.I don’t want to hurt you.”
Lucian’s fangs were out as he stared at my arm.Then he lifted a handful of my hair and drew in a deep breath.“It washim—the Mage.”
