Jealousy, odd and unnecessary, whipped through Zane. What would it be like to have her leap at him without a care in the world, sure she could trust him and that he’d catch her? Whether the woman knew it or not, he’d never let her fall. Although his relationship with her family was surely suspect.
Man, he hoped he didn’t have to kill any of them.
He glanced at his two brothers sitting quietly at the table. The cabin wasn’t large enough for four men and one tiny human. The climate grew heavy with the sense of power and testosterone. “Everyone patched up?” Zane asked.
Logan nodded and then eyed him head to toe. “You seem . . . different.”
Sam’s head jerked up as if to scent the air. He looked from Zane to Janie and then back, his eyes lightening. “You didn’t.”
“Didn’t what?” Logan drawled, a dimple winking in his left cheek.
Zane cut them both a look to shut up.
Garrett Kayrs lifted his head and took a deep breath. Slowly and way too deliberately, he set Janie away from him. “Janie?” he asked.
Her hands fluttered together, her eyes wide. “It just happened.”
Garrett growled, his eyes flashing a bright aqua, and then rushed Zane.
Zane dropped into a fighting stance just before the vampire slammed him into the rock chimney. Shards ripped into his back and pinged off the floor. “Knock it off.” He cuffed Garrett on the side of the head the same way he would Logan before punching Garrett’s thigh and knocking him to one knee. “I have ten years of combat experience on you, kid. Wait for the right time to battle.”
Garrett shot a punch up into Zane’s groin.
Zane doubled over, waited, and then groaned when the agony hit. His eyes watered, while his temper flew. “Damn it.” He slapped his hands above Garrett’s ears, careful not to break his skull. Then he grabbed the young vampire by the nape, pivoted, and threw him across the room.
Garrett landed on the table and smashed to the floor.
Holy fuck. Zane leaned over, trying to breathe again. He’d forgotten vampires fought dirty.
“Zane!” Janie rushed forward and bent to help her brother up. A table leg rolled across the floor. “Stop hurting Garrett.”
Son of a bitch. Zane was the one with swollen balls. “Everyone calm down,” he groaned.
Garrett swore and leaped through the air at him.
Logan intercepted Garrett with a tackle a second before he hit Zane, the two young soldiers impacting the door and flying right through it. Snow billowed up and covered the floor.
“Garrett!” Janie jumped to her feet and rushed toward the outside.
Zane reached out with one arm and caught her at the waist, forcing her to a quick halt. She struggled against him. “No,” he said. “Stay away while they’re fighting.” If one of the men accidentally hit her, they could take off her entire head. They were young and out of control . . . and both defending family.
“Screw you,” she muttered, turning and aiming a punch at his dick.
He turned at the last second, but she still grazed his groin. Nausea skidded through his gut. Damn fucking Kayrs family—they all went for the balls.
The sound of punches and grunts echoed from outside, and Janie fought him hard, trying to get outside.
“Stop.” Zane was done being gentle. He picked her up by both arms and strode across the room to drop her on the bed. She bounced, her eyes on fire, fury spinning a glorious red across her stunning face. He leaned in until his nose nearly touched hers. “Get off this bed, and I’ll flip you over my knee, regardless of who’s here.”
She blinked, rage darkening her eyes to a midnight blue. Then the combative woman tried to kick him in the balls again.
He swiped her foot away from his junk and pivoted to glare at Sam, who sat on a chair in front of the demolished table, a bowl of carrots in his lap. Sam finished chewing one and swallowed. “What?”
“Stop them,” Zane ground out.
Sam shrugged. “Why? They’re evenly matched and have too much energy. Let them beat the shit out of each other.”
The soft cry of distress from Janie struck right to Zane’s heart. A tree crashed to the earth outside. He turned. “Stay here and I’ll get them.” He pinned her with the glare he gave young demons during training and waited until she nodded.
