Page 10 of Doyle

"One of the escaped familiars from Liliana’s coven,” I replied. "We need to get him to safety."

Mayhem nodded and motioned for us to enter the truck. “He’ll be safe in there,” he said.

I was glad Mayhem didn’t ask why I was in this form or why I disappeared from the battlefield. He turned back to his bears, barking orders.

As we moved inside the truck, I felt a sense of relief. For now, Michael was safe. But the battle was far from over, and I knew I couldn't rest until Liliana was dead.

I hadn’t seen her earlier and wondered if she somehow managed to escape.

That thought angered me, and it must’ve shown on my face, because Michael hesitantly touched my arm.

The effect was immediate. My seething dragon calmed down, and I looked at him.

He had obviously been through hell, yet he still offered me, a complete stranger, solace when I needed it. A surge of protectiveness filled me.

“Stay here. The bears won’t let anything happen to you,” I told him.

I was about to leave the truck, but he grabbed my shoulder.

“Where are you going?” he asked, terror in his eyes.

“I can’t abandon my allies. The fighting’s almost done. I’ll return to you right away,” I told him.

“Promise me,” he whispered.

It struck me how vulnerable he looked at that moment. A stray thought occurred to me. If Michael ran away while I wasn’t looking… no. I couldn’t allow that.

After the trauma he’d been through, there was no telling what he’d do next. Right now, he was looking to me for answers.

I touched his cheek, pleased he didn’t push me away or recoil.

I kissed him gently, softly, surprised when he kissed me back fiercely. Reluctantly, I pulled away, because I was certain I would get lost in those vulnerable blue eyes.

“Promise me,” he repeated, his voice trembling.

“I promise,” I told him, and he finally released me.

I stepped out of the truck, my heart pounding for reasons beyond the battle. The air crackled with energy as spells and bullets flew past.

I could see my allies holding the line.Draven and Ivan were still in the air, looking for stragglers. I needed to help them, to finish this fight once and for all.

“Mayhem, give me cover. I’m changing forms,” I told Mayhem, who nodded to the other grizzly shifters.

Agony swept through my entire body as bones broke and reformed, and scales covered me as I grew in size. Through it all, I felt Michael's gaze on me.

Something had changed within me when I found him. When I entered this fight, all I could think about was avenging William and finally putting an end to Liliana.

But now? I was looking forward to getting to know Michael better. The chaos around me seemed less daunting, the danger less menacing.

Every day since William’s death had been a struggle to live, but for the first time in a long while, I felt a spark of hope.

CHAPTER FOUR

DOYLE

It didn't take longto clean up the stragglers. I heard Ivan's roar in the distance, followed by Draven's answering growl.

Those two would be retreating to Sky Stead to report to Zane, but I would follow after them later.

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