Liam had thought that Silas had changed recently, but it was clear to him now that Silas hadn’t changed at all, it was just that Liam had started to see him for what he really was, for the person he had been all along. For the monster inside him that had been hiding in plain sight.
“A pity,” Silas said, “that you finally realized what you are. We could have done so much together, but you’re of no use to me now.”
Quicker than Liam was able to track the action, Silas shifted his hand into a claw and swiped at him. Liam had just enough time to lean away from the attack, but he wasn’t fast enough, and the razor-sharp claws caught him, slicing him across the chest, cutting deep. Liam ignored the stinging pain and jumped to his feet, taking up a defensive position, his own hands shifting to claws faster than he’d managed it before.
“My, my, someone’s a fast learner,” Silas said, his expression amused. “Good. Fast kills are boring. I like to work for it.”
Silas charged for him again, but this time Liam saw it coming and blocked him, driving a fist into Silas’ stomach and sending him flying back before his claws could once again find purchase on Liam’s skin. But Silas was fast on his feet and recovered from the punch quickly, charging for him again. Blow after blow was rained down by both men.
Liam had never tired in fights before, always gaining the upper hand quickly, but that must have been because he’d been fighting against humans. Fighting a shifter was an entirely different story. Silas gave as good as he got and he didn’t just fight with his fists, he used his claws as weapons, each time aiming for Liam’s face or throat, and he seemed to have an endless reservoir of stamina.
Unlike Liam, who’d never spent hours in the boxing gym, or out preying on the soft underbelly of society. For the first time in his life, he was losing this fight, and he could feel his strength and energy ebbing away, drained faster by the wound across his chest.
But he wasn’t done. Not yet. He had too much to live for.
Each time Silas came at him, an image of Eve’s face flashed through his mind. Liam knew that if he lived through this ordeal, everything he ever did would be for his mate. Hehadto survive this. He had to get back to her.
Silas circled Liam, his eyes flashing with a hatred so fierce it surprised him.
“Enough of this,” Silas said.
And though he said nothing further, he didn’t need to. Liam recognized the weird shimmer around his body that signal the onset of a shift, and not just a partial shift. Liam was able to match Silas blow for blow in human form, but he would be no match for a fully shifted animal with huge claws and teeth.
And somehow, he didn’t think Silas would shift into a bunny rabbit.
He was right.
A roar burst from Silas’ throat, low and guttural and enough to make all the hairs on Liam’s body stand on end.
A lion. Silas had shifted into a lion.
And Liam was so fucked.
A fully grown male lion would eat him for breakfast. He reached desperately inside him, calling on his panther. He would still be dominated by the lion on sheer weight and strength alone, but it would give him at least a fighting chance and it would be a damn sight better than facing the lion in his human form. But Liam was too inexperienced, and although he had mastered the call to arms of a partial shift, he’d never even tried to shift his whole body on command. He didn’t know how.
Panther, I need you, Liam said desperately in his mind.
But it was too late.
Silas shook his mane out and took a step towards him. He was, without question, the largest lion he had ever seen. The beast was huge—the top of its head coming up almost to Liam’s shoulder. He didn’t stand a chance. He eyed the door but knew he would never make it there in time. He was trapped inside the warehouse with the lion, and it was going to tear him to shreds.
Liam brought up Eve’s face in his mind’s eye, praying that she didn’t find out about the warehouse, and that she never found Liam’s body. He didn’t want her to have to see what had happened to him. He didn’t want to be the cause of her pain.
The lion’s gaze was fixed firmly on Liam. It snarled then opened its huge jaw and let out another loud roar. Liam couldn’t help but wonder what the men outside would think of the noise. Or perhaps they already knew. He didn’t imagine that Silas would care all that much about keeping the shifter secret. The lion snarled again, displaying its huge yellow fangs. That was the last noise that it made before it charged for Liam.
The lion leapt up into the air and Liam closed his eyes, hoping that death would come quickly, but before the lion reached him, four shots rang out in quick succession. His eyes flew open in time to see the lion crash to the floor at his feet, making the ground shake with its sheer bulk. He spun to face the door and saw Eve standing in its jambs, her gun still held up in front of her.
Eve did a quick check around the rest of the room before turning to Liam. Then she ran to him and flew into his arms, and he stumbled back a step with the strength of her pounce.
“I’ve been so worried. Don’t you ever leave me like that again!”
She wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and held on tight.
Liam slid his arms around her back and held her to his chest, sagging with relief even as he hugged her tighter.
“I’m okay,” he said.
“You’re not okay. Look at your face. What did they do to you?”
