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It makes them fucking targets.

Tim, that flea-bitten fuckstick, is standing at the head of the altar, arms raised, holding some nasty-ass rope like it’s a holy relic.

“Tonight, under the full moon, we summon the blessings of our ancestors as we claim our new queen and beg them to bless us with many young?—”

“Oh, fuck no,” I growl, voice low and shaking with rage.

The circle freezes.

Every single cat-faced coward turns toward me.

Tim’s eyes flash yellow as his lips peel back into a snarl.

“You!”

But that’s all he gets.

Because I shift mid-stride.

Bones cracking, sinew tearing, my Bull roaring out of me in a burst of muscle and fury, and I trample him flat like he’s nothing more than roadkill under a god’s hooves.

The impact sends a satisfying wet crunch through the air as his screams are silenced in a heartbeat.

The Crew hits like a hammer behind me.

Dante is already halfway to my position before he lands on one of them with a roar that splits the sky.

Emmet’s Black Wolf tears into another with savage precision, while Zeke shifts mid-leap, wings unfurling, his eyes gold and burning as his flames lick across the property, burning the barn and every fucking thing standing.

But I don’t stop to watch the massacre.

I shift back fast, raw, naked, shaking, and I’m already scrambling up the altar, my hands tearing at the binds on Arliss’s wrists.

“You’re okay, mate. You’re okay. Mo Chroí, look at me, I got you. I got you.”

Her eyes find mine, wide and shining, and the sound that leaves her throat as I pull the gag away shatters me.

“Kian!” she sobs. “Kian, you came for me. I knew you’d come!”

And then she’s in my arms.

I cradle her to my chest like she’s made of spun sugar and shattered starlight, burying my face in her hair, inhaling her like it’s the only thing keeping me alive.

“I’m so sorry, I should’ve been faster. Fuck, Arliss, are you okay? Did they hurt you?”

My voice is breaking. I can’t stop the tears. I don’t even care who sees.

She pulls back just enough to wipe at her nose and gives me a shaky smile that guts me.

“No. Yes. But not like you think. I, uh, I head-butted Tim. The blood’s mine. I think I broke his nose, hurting mine at the same time.”

I blink, staring at her, awe blooming in my chest even through the horror.

“God, I love you.”

“I love you too, Kian. I really do.”

I pull her into me again, tighter this time, my arms locked around her like I’ll never let go again.