“I’m so sorry,” Talon said, taking a spot beside Dominic. “I can’t imagine losing my lion.”
Fuck, Talon had hit the nail on the head. Even though my rabbit and I didn’t see eye to eye on a lot of things, I’d be lost if something stopped me from feeling him.
“It’s been ages, I—I don’t remember what it’s like,” Dominic said softly.
"We don't have to talk about it if it's too painful," I added gently, moving to sit on Dom’s other side. "We're here for you, no matter what."
Dominic looked from Talon to me; the corners of his mouth twitched in a faint smile despite the sorrow in his eyes. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "It's just that… sometimes I feel like I'm less because I can't be the demon I once was."
"That’s not what defines you," I insisted earnestly. "What matters is who you are now, and who you are is someone I—we care about."
Talon nodded in agreement. "Lucas is right. You being a demon, powers or no powers, doesn’t change how we feel. You've shown us kindness, laughter, and a bit of mischief," he added with a slight chuckle, trying to coax a fuller smile from Dominic.
Dom’s smile widened. "It means a lot to hear that from you both. Honestly, I’ve spent so long being wary of attachments because I didn't want to get hurt again. And well, I thought I lost everything, so don’t rock the boat. Finding both of you it—it gives me hope.”
I squeezed Dom's hand. "Let’s not focus on the past anymore. We’re together now, and that's what counts. We'll face whatever comes as a team."
"Yeah, and hey, you've got two—"
Talon’s words were cut off by a loud crack of thunder. The lights flickered and died. Crap, I was hoping not to lose—. The simultaneous blare of our phones caused me to jerk in surprise and forget my train of thought. I looked to Talon and Dominic, who had quickly silenced the alarms.
“It says to take cover. Go to an inner room and stay—” Dominic started, but stopped abruptly and jumped to his feet.
The room suddenly grew cold, and the thunder rumbled like an approaching train—a train of doom. “Fuck!
“Tornado!”
The word was barely out of my mouth when chaos erupted in my living room. A red-skinned giant burst through the darkness out of nowhere. I didn't know who or what this terrifying creature was, but it was clearly after Dominic. Its skin, a fiery blend of bronzed gold and molten lava, seemed alive with an inner fire. The creature's hair was a fiery red-orange, moving as if flames danced within the strands. From its back sprouted two pristine white wings, broad and majestic, creating a stark contrast to its fiery demeanor. Its tail, sinuous and tipped with a blade-like structure, swished aggressively.
“Julian, you fucker!” Dominic shouted as he dodged a large spike tail.
It had a name, Julian, and Dominic knew him.
Talon roared, transforming instantaneously into the largest lion I’d ever seen. His mane was full and the color of coal, his pelt a mix of dark and light brown hues, glowing with an intensity that seemed to match the storm’s fury.
Talon’s roar filled the room again, a sound so primal and fierce that it momentarily distracted Julian. The giant demon turned its glowing amber eyes on Talon as if assessing the new threat. Despite the chaos, Dominic didn’t back down; he darted around the living room, narrowly evading another lashing from the deadly tail.
Dom’s agility and speed were a reminder that he was more than just human; his demonic heritage still lent him a formidable edge. If we survived this, I’d need to remind him just how capable he still was.
“Lucas, stay back!” Dominic yelled over the noise, his voice urgent.
But I couldn’t just watch. Not when both were risking their lives. I may be a prey shifter, but I was no coward. As Talon engaged, his massive lion form became a blur of speed and power, the epitome of a perfect predator. Despite my efforts to find an opening to help, Julian’s swift movements made it nearly impossible. His tail lashed out again, this time aiming for Dominic, who was cornered near the bookshelf.
Without thinking, I sprinted forward, my only thought to push Dominic out of harm’s way. Just as I reached him, I felt a searing pain across my back. Julian’s tail had found its mark, but not on its intended target. The force of the blow sent me flying across the room, crashing into the wall.
The pain was immediate and overwhelming, a white-hot agony that blurred my vision. Sounds became muffled, the roars of Talon and the shouts from Dominic echoing as if from a distance. I tried to stay conscious, tried to understand what was happening, but the room spun wildly around me.
“Lucas!” Dominic’s voice was the last thing I heard, tinged with panic and fear.
Then everything went dark. The last sensation I felt was the cold floor against my cheek and the fading sounds of the battle raging around me. As consciousness slipped away, I was enveloped by the terrifying thought of not knowing what would happen next.
I'm Sure
Talon
TheimpactofLucashitting the wall echoed like a gunshot in my ears. Rage, pure and unrestrained, coursed through me. My lion roared, a sound so loud it nearly drowned out the chaos around us. Seeing Lucas crumple to the floor, motionless, caused a switch inside me to flip. Every doubt and hesitation I had harbored about my connection to Lucas and Dominic evaporated instantly. They were my mates. There was no denying it now—not when every fiber of my being screamed to protect them.
Julian turned his fiery gaze towards Dominic, preparing to strike again. My instincts took over, and I lunged with all the force of my lion. My vision tunneled to focus solely on the threat before me. Julian’s tail, that monstrous appendage that had just harmed Lucas, swung towards me, but I was ready. Dodging swiftly, I closed the distance between us; my claws prepared to tear into whatever part of him I could reach.
