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She stole a glance over her shoulder. Adam teetered—head turned backward on his shoulders—then dropped like a felled Oak tree. Bile rolled in her stomach.Oh, God. That is so wrong.

Rage faded from Colin’s expression, and he slid to the ground, shoulders heaving.

With an anxious whimper, Titan padded to Colin and nudged the vampire’s elbow with his broad snout. Wonder softened Colin’s grimace. He stroked Titan’s scarred head. “Who’s a good dog?” he cooed.

Titan sank to the floor beside him, tongue lolling. Was he injured? Alex raced to her fierce protector’s side. “Poor baby. You were so brave.”

Face brightening, Colin held out a hand.

She sailed past and dropped to her knees—next to Titan. She examined his scarred flanks, checking for fresh injuries. Other than a scratch or two, the hellhound was in good shape. Titan tolerated her ministrations with a patient sigh, then leapt to his feet. Tail wagging, he scooped up his discarded soup bone and trotted to his bed. A reward well earned.

“Ohhhh…” Colin moaned louder, arm trembling.

Crap, Colin!She scooted over to him and did a frantic inventory of his wounds. “Oh my God, your shoulder!” Taking a bullet was no laughing matter. “I’m so sorry, Colin. I wanted to help, but I was afraid I’d melt your brain.”

At his gurgled cough, her heart launched into her throat.

Jericho knelt next to her. He clasped Colin’s hand. “Let’s get you to medical. I’m sure Ivy will be more than receptive to your wounded hero routine.”

“Good idea,” Colin said in a surprisingly strong, clear voice. “It’s been a while since I’ve visited my favorite nurse. I’m overdue for a sponge bath.”

Alex rolled her eyes. Poor Ivy was going to have her hands full.

Once Jericho had Colin on his feet, Alex ducked under his uninjured shoulder, rushing to lend some support. They hobbled toward the garage.

“What about the deal you made with Victor?” Colin asked. “Maybe I should go back alone. If Alex can’t prove to him she’s not a threat—”

“Oh, I’m a threat, all right,” Alex bristled. “If Victor thinks I’m going to roll over and take orders, he has another think coming.” Already she was stronger. With Jericho’s help, she’d have the control she needed to protect both herself and her mate. If the Council wanted a piece of her, she’d give it to them. Victor as well.

Jericho slanted her an approving smile. “I think it is time we renegotiated the terms of your release.”

“Together,” Alex countered.

“Together.”

Twenty-Nine

Liam squeezed his eyes shut,humming a frustrated groan. Colin’s whiny-ass voice echoed throughout the halls of the medical facility. All that bellyaching overonegunshot. The pansy should just hang up his fighting leathers and join a boy band.

The fight with Adam had ended far too fast from what he’d heard. That back-stabbing dirtbag was the reason Alex and Jericho had been in that cell in the first place. Man, he would have liked to get his hands on that asshole. Bastard should have been strung up, like one of them piñata thingies, then beaten with a mace.

Footsteps sounded outside his room, and his eyelids flicked open. Alex peeked around his door. The sight of her made his chest ache. He hadn’t seen his girl since she’d brought him to his knees two days ago.

“Hey, Liam. Is it okay if I come in?” she asked with a sheepish grimace.

“Sure, Sunshine.” Liam frowned. Why did she seem uncertain of her welcome? He knew she wasn’t herself when she’d cracked his melon. Once his head stopped spinning and he could walk a straight line, he’d be good as new.

Jericho came through the door behind her, their hands intertwined. They stood at the side of his bed with expectant looks on their faces, waiting for… What?

Liam focused on Alex’s slim neck, and a broad grin split his face. Mated. He figured that was what Jericho had planned when he’d taken her from Claymore. It was what Liam would have done. Right after he told Victor he could stick his execution order up his lily-white ass.

“’Bout damn time,” Liam said, and they both breathed an audible sigh. “How you doing, Sunshine?”

She leaned into Jericho’s side. “Better, thanks to Jericho.” Tears gathered in her eyes. “Liam, I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”

Ah, hell, he’d always been a sucker for Alex’s tears. “Hey now, enough of that,” he grumbled. “I know you didn’t mean any harm.” He reached his hand out, and she took it in a tentative grip, though he noticed she didn’t let go of Jericho.

“We just spoke with Victor,” Jericho said, changing the subject. Thank the gods. “He’s agreed to give both of us our freedom in exchange for Alex’s occasional help with certain…diplomatic issues.”