Except, before he could snap her neck, she broke free of his hold. Both physically and time-wise, throwing herself backward, gasping for air. Her skin was pallid, revealing the thick gray of her veins. Clearly, no mask. The sores he’d only glimpsed before popped up all over her, and he could see where patches of her hair had fallen out.

The doorway wavered, cried with a pain of its own, then vanished.

He froze time again, but she pulled herself out once again, faster this time, before he even reached her. Desperation flooded him, and still he approached. She hissed at him, baring her teeth, sharper and longer than his, and backed away.

When he reached her, his steps quicker than hers, she snapped at him, trying to bite. He jerked backward, avoiding contact—but just barely.

“Mistake, vampire. Big mistake. You’ll … pay … for … that,” she gasped out, and a second later, she disappeared.

The scent of rot didn’t fade, though. Which meant her men were still here. Why hadn’t they helped her—

They appeared out of nowhere, just as she had done, and they were scowling at him. Only three in total, but each held a pyre-gun.

He stopped time, intending to choke the ones in front of him as he’d tried to do to the queen, then race to Ava, wherever she was. He couldn’t believe this was happening, that he’d failed, but just before he reached the guards, just as they too jerked themselves out of his time-hold, blue stun beams erupted, dozens of them. Not at him, but at the guards.

His attention whipped to the side, and he saw that Ava was kneeling, aiming her own pyre-gun. That’s my girl. Pride filled him. Noelle and the trainees were there, too, aiming guns of their own.

The civilians on the sidewalks cried out, scampering out of the way, and soon the area was deserted.

“You okay?” Ava called.

“I’m fine. Let’s get you out of here, though. I’m not sure how long stun will last, and—”

A new group of warriors appeared behind Ava and the others. Before McKell could stop time—before he could do anything—fists were pummeling at his woman. And then, as he raced forward, his ability not helping in any way, a sharp pain tore through his back, and he fell face-first into the pavement.

Twenty-eight

Taken unaware, Ava thought as stars obscured her vision. Someone had punched her in the head from behind. She’d been feeling all smug and superior, getting the group of trainees to Noelle’s van, then making them haul ass back to her apartment building without thinking ahead or announcing her plans.

She’d wanted to pat herself on the back when she’d stunned the men about to attack McKell. She’d wanted to preen when McKell had looked over and realized she had helped, his expression hot and sweet and proud.

Then she’d felt breath on the back of her neck, had seen horror fill McKell’s violet eyes. A hard, meaty club had slammed into her temple, knocking her sideways. But when she turned, no one was behind her.

“Let’s kill ‘em!” Noelle shouted.

“Without drawing blood!” Ava added, pulling herself to her knees. An odd statement, coming from her. Usually when she fought someone, she wanted blood to pour. “Now let’s get these bastards!”

As if her cry was the starting bell, the trainees burst into action. Fists battered, legs kicked. A few were cut by the otherworlders, several were knocked down, and one was even tossed into the street and run over by a car, its sensors not, well, sensing him in time.

Where was McKell? She couldn’t see him. He can take care of himself.

The aliens moved quickly, strongly, assuredly, doing their damage before spinning and inflicting more. Too bad for them, she’d fought men who were quicker, stronger, and far more assured. She ducked when she needed to duck, punched in the throat, chest, stomach, and groin when given the opportunity, and jumped out of the way when all else failed.

They could have bitten her, that would have infected her, but they didn’t. Didn’t even try. And it was strange. The fight would have been over then. Instead, they punched and kicked her. The others weren’t so lucky. They were knifed.

Jeremy’s arms looked like tattered ribbons, and the rest of the gang like discarded rags. Noelle faired better than any of them, even the aliens. She’d confiscated three blades already, and slammed the hilts into their owners’ temples. All three fell to the pavement, unconscious. Ava thought she spied blood on one—a cracked lip. There wasn’t time to check it out. Or worry.

The moment they hit, they disappeared. They weren’t just invisible, they were gone. Ava tried to kick one as he fell, not realizing what would happen, and encountered only air, falling flat on her ass. Oxygen abandoned her in one massive heave; stars winked over her eyes.

Through those stars, she could see a bulky black form flying her way, silver blade flashing in the sunlight. She barely had enough breath to shout, “Tag team!”

Noelle understood instantly. With a whirl, her friend was in front of her, absorbing the impact. She knew where Ava was, and managed to send the male away from her. He hit the pavement, hard, his skull cracking. Every muscle in his body relaxed, his head lolling to the side, and like the others, he disappeared. Only, he left a puddle of blood behind. No maybe about it.

“Shit!” Ava shouted, scrambling back and dragging Noelle with her. “Schön blood!”

Probably looking for a host …

With the thought, her stomach cramped, and she moved in front of Noelle, as if she could block her friend from contamination. She would rather endure infection herself then risk Noelle. Or McKell. Hell, she’d willingly accept the disease if it meant saving them.

A second later, a wave of dizziness hit her. Before she had time to panic, that wave dissipated.

The trainees caught on quick and scampered onto the street, willing to risk any oncoming traffic over the disease. Several Schön warriors were still standing, still geared up for—and clearly wanting—a fight.

They approached … Stun rays hit them; they didn’t stop.

Ava geared up, too, waiting. “Anyone touch it?” she demanded.

A chorus of “no”s rang out, but none of them sounded sure. No, they sounded scared.

Once again she glanced over to where McKell had been standing. This time, she saw him. Her eyes widened, her stomach clenching. He was down, an ax handle sticking out of his back, but he was pulling himself to his hands and knees, shaking his head to clear his mind, irises glazed but expression determined, furious. His exposed skin was bright red and blistered, steam rising from him and curling around him.

Fury of her own filled her, so much fury, as bright as the sun currently was. Worry and dread, too, but they couldn’t compete with the fury. No one but Ava was allowed to hurt him. She forgot about the spilled blood, forgot about the consequences. Only thoughts of saving McKell had any bearing.

She launched forward—or would have, if Noelle hadn’t grabbed her by the shoulders, tossed her to the ground, and pinned her.

“No,” her friend shouted. “Stay.”

“They hurt McKell,” she screeched, struggling for all she was worth.

Noelle held tight. “He’ll live.”

“You don’t know that!” Damn it, how was her friend so strong? “He needs my help.”

“I can’t let you risk it.”

“You don’t have a choice.” Ava managed to twist free and was on her feet a second later, stalking toward her prey.

Two steps in, she saw past the red haze surrounding her and realized that McKell, injured though he was, had things under control. He had snapped the necks of all but one warrior, who was flailing in his grip. Stilling. Dropping. Disappearing.

And just like that, the fight was over. The physical part, at least.

“Call Mia,” Ava threw over her shoulder. “This area needs to be quarantined.”

Her heart pounded in her chest as she rushed toward McKell. His gaze burned her, and he met her halfway, his arms immediately wrapping around her. Those same arms had just murdered four men, but they were tender with her.

“Tell me you’re okay,” he commanded.

“I’m okay, but you, you were stabbed in the back.” She held him as tight as she could, praying she never had to let go. Then she remembered his skin—now she could actually hear the sizzle—and tugged him into the shadows between two buildings.

She removed her shirt, uncaring who saw her bra, and tried to pull the material over his head, protecting him where the shadows couldn’t reach. He flinched, grabbed her wrists, and stopped her.

“What are you doing?”

“Helping you.” She tried again.

Again he stopped her. “Your shirt will cover your beautiful breasts or nothing at all.” He practically wrestled the fabric out of her hands and jerked it back over her head. All the while, his gaze swept the agents behind them. He hissed at anyone who looked her way.

Ava thought she heard Noelle laugh as she hugged him, ready to restart that holding-on-forever thing. How close had she come to losing him?

“Uh, Ava, sweetheart? You’re running your fingers through the very wound you mentioned,” he gritted out.

That’s right, and she didn’t stop. “We almost died, and here I am, alive and affectionate. Yet you’re standing there complaining about a little wound?”

“Yes! That hurts. And it’s massive.”

She grinned as she loosened her grip, rocked back on her heels, and stared up at him, reassured, happy, thankful. “You’re such a baby.”

“You’re a vixen.” His fingers tangled in her hair, angling her chin higher. “You’ll never allow yourself to be taken unaware again. Vow it.”

“I vow it. But you, too, Ax. You’ve got to be more attentive to your surroundings.”

His lips twitched with humor. “I vow it.”

They both knew they couldn’t keep those vows, but Ava didn’t care about that either. She felt better, knowing they would try to be more careful.

“Mia says she’ll be here in five,” Noelle called.

Ava tensed, reminded that the real danger hadn’t passed yet. “One or all of us could be infected,” she whispered. “There was blood on the ground. Infected blood.”

“I know,” he replied gravely. “I don’t fear for myself, but for you. And if you’re infected, I’m going to turn you.” He latched onto her forearms and shook her. “Do you understand?”

Turned, she’d have a chance with him. To make things work, despite her hang-ups and fears. And having almost lost him, she was suddenly on board with that plan. Before, she’d hated the thought of never being able to go out in the sun again. But what did the daylight matter if she couldn’t be with McKell?

“I—okay,” she said. “Okay. I don’t like being forced to do it before I’m ready, but okay.”

“Thank God.” He jerked her into his body, kissed her, tongue thrusting deep.

She took, she gave, she conquered. Ultimately, she submitted. They made love with their mouths, savoring, slow one moment, lightning fast and grasping at each other the next. It was a desperate kiss, one born of fear and determination. Of passion and more of that fear.

He might be selfish, possessive, and straight-up mean, but he left her reeling, falling, and reaching for an anchor. For him. He was her anchor. Had been since the day she’d met him.

He didn’t run when a fight got rough. He made the fight rougher. He didn’t turn away when she threw attitude in his face. He got right up in her face. He didn’t back down, he didn’t cry, he didn’t bend to her will.

Actually, he bent to no one’s will.

A relationship with him would never be easy, but it would be fun. And yeah, if things ever fell apart, she would be destroyed. She doubted she could be with him and not give him everything. He wouldn’t settle for anything but full measure. Men like him never did. Not that there was anyone like him. So decision made. She was in it for the long haul, no matter the reason he wanted her. Human, vampire, trash, royalty. Good enough, not good enough. She would give him everything—and demand equal measure.

In the distance, she heard sirens.

Fear of infection hit her again, and she ended the kiss. She’d told McKell someone “might be” infected, but she knew the truth. Someone was infected. No question. When Schön blood left its host, it always found another. She and Noelle had been closest.

McKell licked his lips as though savoring her taste as he smoothed the hair from her brow. His hand was shaking. “I won’t allow them to separate us.”

“Good,” she said with a nod. She had a feeling she would need him in the coming hours.

Tires squealed as vehicles parked. Finally, she looked away from McKell—one of the hardest things she’d ever done—and faced the coming agents. They wore protective gear from the top of their heads to the soles of their feet, not an inch of skin visible. They knew it wouldn’t help, but it probably made them feel better.

First thing they did was find the blood splattered over the concrete and spray some kind of chemical over it. They had to know the disease had already found a new host, that the blood was no longer contaminated.

How long until the newly infected sickened? She gulped.

The new agents hustled her, the once-again-sizzling McKell, Noelle, and the trainees into a metal van. Without a word. The door locked, sealing them inside. There was a bench on each side, hard, no cushions. Everyone, including McKell, sat. She’d expected him to balk at such treatment, but he never did. And when she tried to sit between him and Noelle, he tugged her into his lap.

She snuggled close, her gaze finding and staying on her friend. The fear Ava felt was mirrored in Noelle’s pretty gray eyes. Ava reached out. Noelle did the same. They twined fingers, squeezed. Their earlier fight was forgotten.