Page 131 of Taming His Vampire Mate
I looked up just in time to see one of them lunge, claws spearing toward Thierry’s chest. If he’d been mortal—or even an instant slower—it would have ended him.
But he spun away, moving in a blur, and the strike cut only air. He darted behind the monster, seized its skull in both hands, and tore.
The creature roared and staggered.
Its partner charged.
I hurled myself forward, Reed at my flank. Our paws ripped at the earth.
Thierry crushed the skull in his hands. The creature nearest him dropped to the ground. Dead.
Its partner shrieked, alone but undeterred.
Thierry had spent that split-second destroying the skull—and it cost him. The creature’s claws reared back, ready to impale my mate with its spindle-like talons.
I didn’t think. I didn’t weigh choices. There wasn’t time for that.
Instead, I moved.
Jeremy, no!Thierry’s voice shattered across the bond.
I slammed into him, driving him down to the ground, putting myself between him and the killing blow.
Claws punched into my back. For an instant there was searing, blinding pain.
And then nothing. No sensation at all.
I had just enough time to feel a savage gladness: Thierry was alive. Whole.Safe.
Then numbness spread through me like wildfire.
“No!” Thierry’s scream tore the night. His wide, horrified eyes met mine.
Reality grayed out around me. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. My body was mortal, after all. Hard to kill, but not invulnerable.
The creature withdrew its claws.
I felt nothing. No pain. No sensation at all.
That was… very bad.
I collapsed onto my side. My wolf fell away, leaving me human and naked. The night air was cold against my face, but the rest of me didn’t feel like anything at all.
I tried to breathe. My chest wouldn’t obey.
Panic ripped through me. I was going to die.
No no no no no!Thierry’s mental voice was ragged, more desperate than I had ever heard. He dropped to his knees beside me, his face twisted in horror and disbelief.Jeremy!
The creature lunged again.
Reed snarled and leapt, sinking his teeth into its back.
It flung him off like it was nothing. He slammed into a tree with a sickening crunch. His yelp rang out—but I couldn’t move to see if he lived. My body was already shutting down.
Thierry vanished from my side.
Through the bond came a blast of black, feral rage—so raw it made me dizzy. Then the sound of snapping wood, followed by a body hitting the earth.
