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His eyes narrowed with warning. For the briefest second—just a heartbeat—his irises flared bright gold as his beast challenged mine. Its message was clear.

Don’t.

I shoved my sweats down my hips and twisted toward Chloe, already shifting to smoke. Her shocked gasp and Lachlan’s angry shout filled the air as I shot across the roof. I materialized next to Chloe on the battlements, getting a glimpse of her pale face and dumbfounded expression. In one movement, I knocked the sword from her hand, swept her into my arms, and carried her off the ledge.

For a second, she seemed too stunned to move.

But only for a second. As I strode toward the door, she came alive, thrashing and screeching like a wild animal. “Put me down!”

I ignored her, then grunted as her fist caught my jaw.

She swung again.

I yanked my head away, and the blow glanced off my cheek. In my mind, the beast purred with satisfaction.

She’s strong, it told me in its unique way of communicating. A fierce mate.

Lachlan fell into step beside me, his body radiating disapproval. But he stayed silent, and he didn’t interfere. Which was good, because I wasn’t sure I could handle both him and a flailing Chloe. My sweet, mild-mannered executive assistant was gone, replaced with a swearing, spitting hellcat.

“Let go of me!” She fought harder, clawing at my bare chest. Without breaking stride, I heaved her up and over my shoulder. Immediately, she pummeled my back, striking my spine and kidneys.

I smacked her ass as I shouldered through the door and into the long gallery.

She went rigid. Then she unleashed holy hell on my back, yelling as she pounded her fists. “You hit me! Put me down, you Neanderthal!” She kicked her legs, one foot veering dangerously close to my sensitive bits.

I gave her another open-handed whack—this one hard enough to echo through the gallery—and put on a burst of speed no ordinary man could have managed. In a blink, I was through the gallery, down a series of hallways, and up a narrow, twisting staircase.

Lachlan met me at the top, his eyes like molten gold as he watched me unlock an ancient door studded with iron. The hinges groaned as I shoved it open and carried Chloe inside.

The tower room was small and round and held nothing but a bed. I deposited Chloe on it and straightened.

She shot to her knees, then shrank back when she got a look at my face. “Y-You…” She swallowed, and the rest emerged as a croak. “You’re glowing.”

Well, the cat was out of the bag now. I let my power rise a little more, and my voice rippled with it as I spoke a binding command. “You’re not to leave this room.”

She winced as if I’d struck her. As if the command was a physical blow.

Alarm bolted through me, and I reached for her. “Lass—”

“Don’t touch me!” She scrambled back, pressing herself against the wooden headboard. Her chest heaved, and her cheeks burned with color.

But it was her expression that made me lower my arm. Her pupils were dilated, her eyes wary and fearful. They flicked to my hands, as though she waited for me to advance.

Or attack.

I was suddenly mindful of my nudity—and of the difference in our sizes and strength. I pushed my power down, forcing my voice to a human volume and cadence. “I won’t hurt you.”

Her chin went up. “You already have.”

Now I winced, her words cutting deeper than the rusty sword she’d wielded on the battlements. At the same time, my beast fought its bonds, straining to break free. Fire licked at my veins and singed my insides. In another moment or two, I wouldn’t be able to stop the shift.

And taking my other form in the oldest tower in the castle was a recipe for disaster.

Chloe was frightened and furious, and she had a right to both emotions. But I was in no state to offer comfort or explanations. Not with my beast so close to the surface. Without another word, I turned and went to the door. As I gained the threshold, she called out.

“What are you?”

I stopped. Turned my head just enough to answer over my shoulder. “Your mate.”