Power flowed into her. Her lioness roared in welcome, springing up joyfully to meet the stooping eagle. For the last time, they merged, becoming one.
And she was whole.
Yes.Her griffin reared up, fierce and urgent, golden wings spreading wide.And our mate needs us.
CHAPTER 36
“Police! Come out with your hands up!”
“For fuck’s sake, Gary. What do you think this is, CSI: Montana?”
Voices. Danger.
“Sorry, Sarge.” The first man again, sounding somewhat more sheepish. “I couldn’t resist. I always wanted a chance to say that.”
“Just open the goddamn door, deputy. Hey! Anyone in here?”
A creak. Footsteps. Coming closer.
“You think those guys really saw something?”
A low whistle. “Well, something sure spooked them. Look at this mess.”
His ears twitched, tracking the sounds. Even that small motion hurt. His body was a broken mess of mismatched joints. Somewhere under the pain, a monster raged, trying to break free.
No.
He clawed his way to consciousness, pushing the beast down. Too late to run, even if he’d been strong enough tobreak down the door. He forced himself to lie still, trying to control his breathing.
“Well, whatever those guys saw in the restroom, it’s definitely still there.” The first voice did not sound happy about this. “Maybe we should call for backup?”
“What, you scared?” A screech of metal, as something heavy was pulled away from the door. “It’s probably just some junkie who’s overdosed in there. Help me get this shit out of the way.”
No. No.
He tried to push himself up, but his paws slipped on tile. His gloves were just tatters of leather, caught between his claws. The rest of his clothes weren’t much better. Shattered wings protruded from his back.
More thumps and scrapes as the police cleared the barricade. In mere moments, they would open the door. There was nowhere to hide, no hope of covering his monstrous form. They’d see him.
He closed his eyes, struggling to regain control. With the last of his strength, he pushed his frantic monster back, refusing to listen to its…
Joy?
“Right, that’s the last of it.” The voice was right outside the door now. The handle started to turn. “Stay back while I?—”
“Ma’am? Ma’am!” the second voice interrupted, and the handle sprang back. “Hey, you can’t come in here!”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
And oh, he knew that voice. It wrapped around him like a blanket, like summer sunlight, holding him together.
“Oh, put those away.” Leonie sounded mildly exasperated, as if she’d caught a couple of campers horsing around with pointy sticks. “And move aside, please.”
They actually obeyed. Boots squeaked as both officers took a few steps away from the door.
“Uh, ma’am?” said the officer who seemed to be in charge, though he sounded now sounded a lot less so. “You really shouldn’t be here. It might be dangerous.”
“Nonsense.” He could almostseeLeonie’s eye-roll. “I know exactly who’s in there. He’s no more dangerous than I am.”
