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Victor was fucked.

She rained her fists down on his head. Victor tried to slough her off but she held on, digging her fingers into his eye sockets.

He let out a strange roar that sounded more like a big cat growling, but Eve didn’t slow her attack. She stayed on his back, beating his head with herfists, delivering blow after blow until her arms ached. Blood poured from his eyes, and loud, wheezing sounds escaped his huge jaws.

When he shifted back to human, crying out for her to stop, the suddenness of the shift shocked her into stillness.

He’s lost focus. You’ve got him where you want him.Do it, Roadkill demanded.

Except she couldn’t.

Eve climbed off Victor and shifted back, panting.

Theron shook his head. “Kill him.”

Eve couldn’t believe her ears. Or maybe she could. He’d lost the fight, right? Victor wasn’t as strong as Theron had believed, and the Gerans had no use for the weak.

She gazed at him, bloodied and battered. Yes, she could kill him, but she wasn’t that person anymore.

Even if killing him would be an act of mercy?

There’s always the possibility Theron will kill Victor anyway for his failure.

She knew they were both right, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She didn’t know why, but she trusted her instincts. Not to mention that quiet little voice in her head that belonged to neither of her mates.

He has a purpose too, just as you do.

“Didn’t I make it clear enough?” Theron called out. “I said kill him.”

Eve lifted her chin and met his cold gaze. “No, I won’t. Look at him. He’s an incredible and apparently loyal asset. Killing him would only weaken your position. You have his family?”

“What family?” Theron snorted. “All but his youngest sister are dead. The promise of our protection has kept him in line—until now. He’s of no use to me anymore.”

Eve caught Victor’s strangled cry, and shereallywanted to be the one to kill this bastard. Nothing too painful, merely rending Theron limb from limb or chewing off his face.

Tears streaked Victor’s cheeks, and Eve knew they were not for hisloss in the fight, but for his murdered family.

“Then use him for your breeding program. That was the hardest fight I’ve ever had, and losing him would be a waste.” Eve turned her back on Theron, picked up her discarded clothing, and dressed. When she was done, she glanced toward the window, but he was gone.

So was Victor.

The guard returned. “He wants to see you.”

Apparently, Theron’s curiosity needed to be sated.

She went back into the castle to the room where she’d met Theron to find him seated on one of the ornate chairs by the fireplace.

“Now I see why you left our ranks. You fight well, but you’re soft,” he said with another sneer.

“Ileftbecause as a woman, there was little advancement possible. So I chose to prove myself in a different way. And I succeeded.”

“We’ll get to that part in a minute. First, I want to know about Fielding. You told the guard at the gate you were with him when he died. I would know more of this. I would also like to know how you knew I was here. No one knows.”

“Fielding did,” she said simply.

He studied her in silence for a moment, and Eve had the weirdest feeling that he could see into her mind.

Gods, I hope not.