Page 27 of The Purrfect Rival

Her fox senses didn’t pick up any scents or sounds out of the ordinary.

“Stay behind me if anything seems off.”

A flare of indignation rose in Kalyna’s chest. “I can handle myself.”

“I’m well aware.” His expression softened unexpectedly. “I’ve seen you create illusions. Impressive control.”

The compliment caught her off guard. Most lion shifters dismissed fox illusions as parlor tricks rather than legitimate magic. The recognition warmed her, her fox preening under his approval even as her human side questioned why his opinion should matter.

They approached the warehouse’s side entrance, Rust testing the door. It swung open with an ominous creak, revealing darkness beyond. He produced a small flashlight, its beam cutting through the gloom to illuminate towering stacks of wooden crates and metal shelving.

“After you,” Kalyna whispered, fighting a smile.

“Thought you didn’t want protection,” he murmured, the amusement in his voice evident even as he took the lead.

“I don’t. But if someone’s going to walk face-first into cobwebs, I’d rather it be you.”

His quiet chuckle reverberated through the cavernous space as they ventured deeper into the warehouse. Their footsteps echoed despite attempts at stealth, each creak of the floor amplified in the silence. Rust moved with surprising grace for his size, his posture alert but not tense.

The dim emergency lights provided minimal illumination, casting long shadows between the towering crates. Kalyna stayed close to Rust, not from fear but drawn by an inexplicable pull. Their kiss from the previous night lingered between them like an unfinished sentence, charging every accidental brush of their arms with electric awareness.

“These crates are recent,” Rust observed, running his hand along a wooden edge. “No dust.”

TWENTY-FOUR

Kalyna nodded, examining markings stenciled on the side. “No shipping labels either. Completely anonymous.”

They moved deeper into the maze of shelving, Rust occasionally pausing to listen or scent the air. Kalyna followed his lead, her fox senses alert for any disturbance. Her awareness of him intensified with each passing minute—the controlled rhythm of his breathing, the subtle shift of muscle beneath fabric when he turned, the lingering scent of cedar that clung to his skin.

Her fox cataloged these details obsessively, storing them away like precious treasures. The human part of her watched this process with growing alarm. She’d never responded this way to another being—this hyperawareness, this constant pull toward physical closeness. It frightened her even as it thrilled her, this evidence that something beyond her control might be developing.

The attack came without warning.

Shadows detached from the darkness between tall shelving units, materializing into masked figures that surrounded them in seconds. Kalyna counted five assailants, each moving withpracticed coordination that spoke of training and preparation. Not random thugs, then—targeted attackers.

Adrenaline surged through her veins, triggering her partial fox shift. Crimson threads of energy wove between her fingers as her illusion magic manifested, spiraling outward like wispy smoke. Beside her, Rust’s transformation was magnificent—his eyes blazed golden in the dim light, muscles rippling beneath his shirt as his nails extended into lethal claws.

The first attacker lunged toward Kalyna with a curved blade. She spun sideways, fox reflexes allowing her to evade the strike while simultaneously casting an illusion. Three perfect duplicates of herself shimmered into existence, bewildering her assailant long enough for her to land a solid kick to his knee. He crumpled with a howl as she darted away, maintaining concentration on her illusions.

Rust engaged two attackers simultaneously, his movements fluid and powerful. His partially shifted form radiated strength—not the full lion transformation, but enough to make his human opponents hesitate. When one swung a metal pipe toward his head, Rust caught it mid-arc, the metal crumpling beneath his enhanced grip.

Without conscious thought, Kalyna found herself attuning her movements to Rust’s rhythm. When he drove an attacker backward, she positioned an illusion to distract the man’s partner. When she faltered beneath a particularly aggressive assault, Rust appeared at her side, a rumbling growl vibrating from his chest that sent her attacker retreating.

“We’re better together,” Rust called to her, the words laden with meaning beyond their immediate situation.

Kalyna’s fox yipped in agreement before she could suppress the sound, her animal instinct acknowledging what her human mind still resisted. The response drew a fierce grin from Rustacross the chaotic space, a flash of teeth and golden eyes that sent a shiver of pure desire through her core.

The warehouse door crashed open, revealing Hezron’s silhouette, his stance ready for combat. “Don’t worry, I’ll save—wait, you started without me?”

His complaint cut short as another figure appeared behind him—Lucella, brandishing what appeared to be pepper spray labeled ‘Library Property’ in neat block lettering.

“Kalyna, duck!” Lucella shouted before unleashing a cloud that mostly missed its intended target and caught Hezron full in the face.

“I’m blinded by beauty!” Hezron dramatically clutched his face, staggering sideways. “Also in excruciating pain!”

Despite the danger, laughter bubbled up in Kalyna’s throat. The absurdity of the moment—Hezron’s theatrical suffering, Lucella’s horrified apologies, the bewildered expressions of their attackers—created a surreal contrast to the tension that had preceded it.

Her momentary distraction proved costly.

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