Braces tripped over his own feet to land on his back. Before he could push himself upright, Liam was already standing over him.
“You can’t hurt him,” I shouted.
Liam didn’t look away from his prey.
“She’s still a little squeamish about this sort of thing,” Liam confessed, couching in front of the human.
The front of Braces’ pants darkened as he peed himself.
Liam made a face. “That’s regrettable. I prefer my dinner not smell like piss.”
“I’m serious, Liam. If you hurt them, you’ll set off the sorcerer’s spell.”
That seemed to break through his blood lust. He lifted his head, his lips parting.
A shot rang out.
Liam jerked as the bullet tore through his shoulder. Blood splattered. Some of it landing on his face.
He burst into motion, the skin over his features tightened in rage as he tackled me where I was still crouched in shock.
We hit the ground as another shot barked.
Concrete sprayed my skin as the bullet impacted the ground beside me. Then we were up and behind a pillar, using it as cover.
“It’s going to be okay,” I told Liam in a promise that was as much to myself as it was to him.
My military training kicked in as my hands roamed Liam’s chest in search of the wound. I found it a second later, putting pressure on it.
The black blood stung my skin, my hands reacting to the silver nitrate they’d used in their bullet.
“They must have a sniper,” I muttered, sounding only a little hysterical.
And we never realized it because the stupid spell was blocking our senses.
Liam hissed as I pressed harder, glancing down at the gaping hole in his chest. Right next to where his heart was.
“This is why you don’t play stupid alpha male,” I snarled at him.
He’d gone and gotten himself shot.
Meanwhile, dumb, dumber, and dumbest had already picked themselves up off the ground and were regrouping.
“I’m going to be fine,Mo chuisle.”
He gave a pained grunt as I stuffed part of my torn shirt into his wound and looked around. Unless I wanted to stand here keeping pressure on the wound, I needed to find something that would lock my field dressing in place.
His hands covered mine, bringing my panicked movements to a stop. Understanding reflected in his gaze. “I promise you this isn’t enough to kill me.”
My expression started to crumple before I steeled myself. We needed to get out of there. I could collapse later.
“It had better not.” I lifted onto my toes to press a kiss on his mouth. “I was just getting used to having you in my life.”
Buzzcut’s heckling was getting louder as he and the other two moved slowly down the street, taking their time in clearing their surroundings. When Liam grabbed me to flee, he must have moved too fast for the three to track.
A small blessing, but they’d be on our position soon.
Dropping back onto the flat of my feet, I was in the act for reaching for my gun when my gaze snagged on a disturbance in the violet threads of the building Liam was leaning against.
