For the first time in her entire life, Tabitha Rusko had to fight the urge to backawayfrom danger. It was true that she’d only met the mellow detective who had thought he was at the end of his too-short life. Apparently she’d never met the soldier or the male who’d been strong enough to survive an immortal mating even while ill. He was no longer ill. What he was, she didn’t know.
He reached her, standing a mere foot away. “The marking on a demon’s hand only appears when their mate is near. Yours appeared when I kissed you the first time.”
“Yes,” she admitted. “But I don’t believe in fate and all of that.” Yeah, she sounded defensive and unsure.
“I do,” he said, his chin down, studying her like he’d never really looked at her before. Like she was now inhisworld, and he was trying to decide what exactly to do with her.
She threw up her hands, going for a good offense. “You seemed like a laconic cop who just wanted to help people. Even though we had this obvious attraction for each other, you stayed distant. Like I plan to do.” She couldn’t just drop everything and trust somebody right now. Not until she set herself up with enough money and power to keep safe. Maybe to keep him safe.
“I was dying,” he said, that focus becoming unnerving. “Now I’m not. Probably.”
“You’re not,” she snapped. “Mating makes you immortal. While our blood can’t cure diseases in humans, a mating does.” Although he could use some doubt in his mind, apparently. She spoke too soon. Maybe she should try to reason with him, but as far as she’d heard, that rarely worked with mated immortal males. “I’m kind of on my own mission right now.”
“World domination?” he drawled.
She grinned. “No. Just security and safety, which comes from money.”
“I think safety now comes from me, baby.” This close, power already cascaded off him—strong and sure.
Oh, crap.
* * * *
Evan hadn’t felt this strong in two years. His body felt like his own again, and he studied the female in front of him intently. Interest and a barely banked vulnerability glimmered in those eyes that had haunted his dreams, and he should probably back off and let her come to terms with what they’d voluntarily done. While he had no clue what forever meant, right now, they had to come up with a plan together. The bottom line was that even though she was the immortal being, he did have years and experience on her. “You’re naïve if you think money brings safety.” Even he knew that.
She lifted her chin, the challenging sight stirring his desire for her even higher. “It sure doesn’t hurt.”
“True.” The skin along his nape prickled, and he turned instinctively to see Richard Goncharov stride along the house from the backyard. Had he been waiting? Evan’s chest filled and his blood flowed faster through his veins, sparking almost painfully. What was happening?
Richard, his face hard, reached the other side of the vehicle. “I’ve waited long enough. The Popovs are coming, and you need to leave with me now.” His focus remained on Tabi, and he ignored Evan as if he wasn’t there.
Evan crossed in front of the BMW, coming within a foot of the demon. “She’s mated, friend. You’ve lost—leave town.” The sense of possessiveness taking him held a life of its own—strong and brutal. He forced his hands to relax and not form fists. Whatever was happening, he would handle it like he had every other challenge in his life. “Goodbye.”
Richard turned his body to face him fully, his extra inches of height making him crane his neck. “You’re human.”
“So I’ve heard,” Evan said evenly.
Richard’s nostrils flared in his pale face, and his eyes widened. “I smell her on you.” He turned so suddenly the air cracked. “You mated ahuman?”
“Yes,” Tabi said, meeting his gaze over the sports car. “It’s complete and a done deal, so there’s no reason for you to remain in town. I believe my mate told you to leave.”
Evan settled—slightly. Hearing her claim him as her mate calmed some of the fire raging inside him. “Go.”
Richard’s lips peeled back and his fangs dropped. “The Popovs will kill you both. At least sell me your business—you’ll have enough funds to get somewhere safe.” Then he named a price that had Evan’s eyebrows lifting. These people worked in millions and not thousands.
Tabi scoffed. “The business is worth billions—possibly trillions. I’ll never let it go.”
Evan stepped closer to the demon, not liking the fangs out. “She’s safe now and will remain so.” Even as a human, he would’ve protected her.
“You’re not.” Richard attacked faster than a whisper, grabbing Evan’s arms and slashing sharp fangs down his neck.
Pain exploded near Evan’s ear, and he shoved the demon off him.
“No!” Tabi leaped for Richard, sliding on her knees across the BMW hood, her nails scoring down his face.
The demon roared and backhanded her. The sound of his hand impacting her cheek echoed through the rain, and she cried out, tumbling backward and off the side of the car.
Anger exploded inside Evan, and he dodged forward, grabbing Richard by the neck and yanking him away from the hood with one hand, punching with the other. Richard fought back, his punches holding more strength than any human’s ever had. They dropped to the ground, hitting and grappling for position.
