Page 85 of Act of Passion

Malik gave her a knowing look. “My sweet, take the car and gohome.”

She stared at him like he was nuts. Because he was if he thought he was going to take on Elm and all his men all alone. “You’re going to get yourself killed and then what happens to Bethany and me? Do you think he’ll stop hunting us because you’re dead? No. He won’t. I can help, Malik. I can take him on with magik and slow him down enough for you to possibly kill him. Together we can fighthim.”

Malik’s face remained calm. Too calm. He touched her cheek lightly. “Brooke, you have to go now. You can’t be part ofthis.”

“Whynot?”

He teared up while gifting her a partial smile. “Because I can smell your scent changing already. Just like Cody did the morning after we weretogether.”

It took her a minute to wrap her mind around what he was saying. She’d have said it was impossible for him to smell the change he was talking about this soon, but she’d already seen a shifter do just that and be dead right. “Malik Nasser, every time you touch me you knock meup!”

“Yes, Brooke Nasser, I do.” He laughed softly, his eyes still moist. “Go home, mysweet.”

With that, he got out of the SUV and came around to her side. He helped her out and drew her against him, kissing her to the point she was dizzy. “I loveyou.”

“I love you too and I’m not leavingyou.”

“Brooke, you haveto…”

The air around them cooled quickly and Brooke stayed close to Malik, knowing Elm was too close. No one was leaving at thispoint.

Snarling, Malik turned and pushed Brooke against the open car door, putting his body before hers. “Come out,coward!”

The darkness parted, and Elm stepped out from it, his long white-blond hair pulled back at the nape of his neck. He ran his gaze over Malik and sneered as additional men stepped forth from the darkness as well. As she spotted all the men who had hurt her, she realized he had the band back together again—including Haneez. Elm waved his hand in the air. “Something isdifferent.”

Brooke caressed her husband’s back lightly. They were together in this no matter what. She’d not have her family hunted anylonger.

Elm gasped. “Brooke, you’re mated? To ashifter?”

Malik snarled low and deep, putting his hands out to his sides as fur coated them and claws emerged from hisfingertips.

Elm curled his lip, disgust evident. “Like mother, like daughter. It would appear you wish for the same fate asher.”

“You’re not going to fucking touch her, asshole,” said Malik, his voice deeper thannormal.

Elm tossed his head back and laughed, doing his part to really drive home the evil villain vibe he was so good at. “And you think to stop me? You’re a mere shifter. Nothing more. It’s like child’s play to me. Do yourself a favor and run away kitty. This is out of yourleague.”

The second the words left Elm’s mouth, Malik rotated his head and seemed to get even bigger before her. He roared as his skin began to shimmer, much like hers could do when tapping deeper into her gifts. Malik shimmered a bright gold as his shoulders heaved from his deepbreathing.

Elm actually took a small step back, concern washing over his face. “W-what areyou?”

Feeling empowered, Brooke moved to Malik’s side and drew upon her own gifts. Her skin shimmered as well. Her eyes tingled, indicating they were glowing. “He’s the son of the god king and he’s my husband. Looks like he’s really fucking letting his mean out now. I almost feel sorry for you.” She glared at him. “Never mind. I don’t feel the least bit sorry for you. I hope he bites your headsoff.”

Elm backed up more and Brooke knew he’d flee in an attempt to fight another day. She was sick of running. Sick of hiding and being afraid. She threw her power around the area, keeping everyone within the confines ofit.

Elm froze and glanced around. “Little Fae, I will let my full power out to counter this spell and it will cause you greatharm.”

Malik didn’t wait any longer. He charged Elm and the others. The other men with Elm converged on Malik in an attempt to protect Elm. Malik cut through them likebutter.

Several pulled out weapons, aiming at her husband. Brooke threw power at them, lifting them in the air and slowly squeezing the life from them with no more than a thought. She feltempowered.

She felt like the daughter of a queen and a powerful shiftermale.

Haneez aimed a rifle at her and before she could even think to throw power at him, Malik was there, slicing the man in half with oneblow.

She’d never seen anything so horrifically awesome in her life. She nearly clapped and threw up all at once. If Edee would have been there, she’d have totally clapped and probably whistled too before slapping Malik’s ass to let him know it was a greatmove.

Brooke found herself frozen in place, captivated by the sight of her husband, the king who didn’t want to be king, as he continued mowing down the enemy. When he was done, only Elm was leftstanding.

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