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The jaguar was hurt too. And judging by that fight, probably even worse than she was.
Santiago grabbed her hand, swearing. “Dammit, be careful! He’s not some house cat for you to play with!”
Miranda swallowed. She found that she couldn’t look away from the jaguar’s golden eyes.
Santiago was still muttering, telling her to stay on guard, but she just wasn’t afraid of the jaguar. Of Cain. Because in those eyes, she didn’t see an animal. She only saw Cain.
But the cops were so close. If they saw him…“Go!” The word was ripped from her throat. “Don’t w-worry…about m-me.” Patrol cars roared onto the graveled drive. “Run!”
His body was tense.
“Run,” she pleaded.
His gaze held hers. Then he turned and ran away, heading toward the woods.
Her eyes closed. A tear trickled down her cheek.
Freaking shot. What a damn night.
“Shit! Miranda! Jeez, cuz, what have you done to yourself?”
To herself? At the clearly insane question, her lashes lifted, and she glared up at Sam’s frowning face.
* * *
Damn. Damn. Damn. Cain bounded through Miranda’s house, once more in human form. Maintaining the human body was hard, though, with the rage spewing from his every pore.
The bastard had shot her.
To vamps, even the normally vicious degenerates, blood was life. Precious. To be taken with teeth and mouth and tongue.
It was never wasted. Not human blood, anyway.
But Paul hadn’t cared about spilling Miranda’s blood. He’d been intent only on causing pain. To her.
To Cain.
And his plan had worked perfectly.
Cain grabbed his pair of jeans, jerked them on, and shoved on his shoes. Screw a shirt, he didn’t have time to waste finding one somewhere in the couch cushions. He rushed toward the door, aware of the pounding in his temples from the shrieking sirens.
She’s all right. The wound had been shallow. The vampire had wanted to kill her, but he’d missed her heart. Caught only the edge of her shoulder, thanks to Santiago. Now he’d owe the human a new debt.
Her blood had been on the ground. Her face had been too pale, but she was all right.
Cain’s hand slapped against the screen door, sending it flying back as he ran outside. He’d had to trek back around the house, shift in the woods, then run, naked, into the rear entrance of her home to avoid detection when the cruisers had blared onto the scene. Now he went out via the back now. His feet flew over the ground as he rushed for Miranda.
The humans were everywhere. Searching with flashlights. Guns drawn. Voices muttering.
He’d barely escaped being caught in his animal form. And as for the vampire, well, it had sure as hell been his lucky night. But his luck wouldn’t last forever.
Cain’s gaze scanned the yard, looking for the one human who mattered. He found her almost instantly. Miranda had been strapped to a stretcher.
“This is crazy!” Miranda was arguing, voice furious, but a little weak. “It’s a scratch, okay? I don’t need to go to the hospital for some scratch.”
He pushed through the gathered deputies and EMTs. Caught her hand. So soft. “You’re going.” A white bandage covered her shoulder. It was soaked red with her blood.
“Bullet’s out, but it cut her up like hell,” Santiago told him.
