Page 20 of Death Warden
Fin froze.
The crunch and snap of frozen bracken registered. I turned toward the sound, scanning the trees. Probably just a woodland creature. But that noise…Loud, heavy panting.
A large woodland creature?
Axe murderer.
No, it had to be a woodland creature.
Axe murderer wearing a mask.
Shut up, imagination. Where the fuck were you when I needed to finish writing my damn book?
Fin hissed, his hackles rising.
A huge, shadowy shape came into view. A massive…dog? No, too big. A beast. Fangs, glowing red eyes. Not an axe murderer, thank God. But then, alarming instinct that this creature was a predator hit me.
Danger had my muscles tensing.
It came to a stop a few meters from the treeline.
Running would make me prey.
I took a slow step back, keeping my gaze on the creature. “Nice beastie. Good beastie.”
It huffed, smoke pluming in the air, barrel chest heaving, then it sniffed the air and made a hungry, eager sound.
“Adi, this is bad,” Fin said.
“You think?” Sarcasm dripped from my tone.
“Getting snippy with me won’t help,” Fin said. “You should run.”
“I won’t get far.”
“Probably not,” he agreed.
The beast took a step closer and his body morphed, growing taller, human-shaped until there was a muscular, very naked guy standing in the snow. Broad shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist and a package that, in any other circumstance, I’d have happily stopped to examine at close range. Now didn’t seem like one of them. This was a beast who could shift into a hot naked guy, and that meant one thing.
Shifter.
Shifter with ember eyes.
What kind? I wasn’t sure, but if he meant me harm, he wouldn’t have shifted into a man.
He held up a hand as if toward a wary animal. “I’m not gonna hurt you.” His voice was deep and gruff, like a growly bear. “Just…please. Don’t move.” His body vibrated, thigh muscles flexing as if he was fighting the urge to attack.
My wariness grew, my own thigh muscles bunching. “Dude, you’re the one literally freezing your balls off. If anyone’s getting hurt out here it’s you.” I jerked a thumb up the road. “I’m just gonna…”
“Don’t.” He growled and took a step toward me.
My flight instinct kicked into gear. Fuck this shit. I turned and ran.
Fin let out a screech and a weight landed on my back, knocking me to the ground. Hot breath kissed my ear and warmth seeped into my back.
“Fuck…” The man growled out the word. “Fuck, you smell good.” His chest vibrated against me, his words teasing my senses in a wholly inappropriate way that tugged to life something deep inside me. His scent hit me, cedar and evergreen with warm undertones. My body flushed, hot.
I panicked and thrashed. “Get off me, you asshole!”
