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Sarah would never forget the raw expression of hate etched in Gerald’s face as he pulled the trigger. Or his horror when the gun clicked without firing.

“Jordan NO.” He screamed.

Devon’s paws connected with the marble floor, springing forward in one powerful motion. Claws extending as Gerald raised his arms to ward off the inevitable attack.

The cougar’s jaws were open as they clamped onto Gerald’s forearm, forcing his arm down to expose his chest. The sound of tearing cloth and scraped bone echoed in the room before the piercing sound of Gerald’s screams. He kicked and thrashed, trying to dislodge the powerful beast serrating his flesh.

She wanted to look away. She couldn’t. Her cougar took the perverse pleasure in watching her mate protect what was his.

Her entire body flinched when the weapon fired.

She felt the effects immediately. A pain in her chest that spread out, consuming everything in its way. She watched her mate rear back. The dart hanging from his chest before he turned back and slashed Gerald across the throat.

Black blood spattered across the polished floor and up the white wall only to trickle down in crimson rivulets. Gerald dropped the weapon, clamping his hands to his throat, attempting to contain the gushing red river between his fingers and hold his trachea together.

Sarah rushed to his side. She didn’t want him, but she wouldn’t wish this death on anyone.

One bloody hand reached out to grab her arm as the other remained on his throat.

His expression was shock, fear, and pain.

He tried to speak, but only managed to gurgle and cough before his hand went slack and he rolled to one side.

Blood flowed freely from his neck, pooling on the floor.

She reeled from the violence and the emptiness forming in her chest. She grabbed at her chest, struggling to understand her cat’s distress, turning to the one thing she knew she could trust.

Her eyes instinctually went to the dart still hanging from Devon’s chest. She swatted it away, causing it to skitter across the smooth surface before meeting the cold eyes of her mate.

They were as beautiful as she remembered.

She saw everything and felt nothing. She reached for their emotional bond.

Nothing. It was gone.

* * *

Sarah watched Devon shift. The fluid transition beautiful as his muscles tightened and formed before her. Gerald’s blood was spattered across his chest, marring the perfection of his skin. These things didn’t scare her. The hole in her soul did.

“I can’t feel you,” she said nervously.

He reached for her hand, squeezing it in a comforting manner. “I know. I can’t feel you either. We need to get out of here.” He grabbed his pants from the floor, putting them on hastily before pulling her behind him and reaching for the door. It was locked.

“You can’t get out I tried,” she said.

Devon slammed his fist against the door. It opened inward, allowing Hunter to enter.

He looked at Gerald’s body on the floor. “What are you waiting for? Let’s get out of here.” He ducked out.

Devon pulled her behind him as they entered the corridor. Alarms blared with the distant echo of gunfire. The guards they did see appeared to be retreating.

They followed the hallway to the exit, meeting up with Talen, Cade Luca, and Liam.

Devon stopped abruptly. “Where are the rest?”

“They’re chasing Kallan’s men. They’re retreating we aren’t sure why.” Talen said.

“I killed Gerald Kallan,” Devon said.

“He should be attacking us then,” Talen replied.

“You didn’t get him?”

Talen shook his head. “He’s slippery as fuck. There was a man surrounded by armed guards, but it wasn’t Kallan. It was a decoy.”

Cade shifted his stance. “Smart,” he said.

Devon looked at Cade. “Anyway, Kallan could know about your satellite connections?”

Cade shrugged. Sarah saw his furious expression. She had the feeling Cade would be checking on that himself.

Hunter moved. “Enough talking let’s get Sarah out of here and retrieve Rachael.”

Sarah startled. “I told her to go to the apartment.”

Devon looked at her. His eyes softened, making him appear younger yet without the connection she felt like something precious had been ripped away from her.

She followed Devon closely as they sprinted across the compound and into the waiting SUV’s. The road blurred beside them as she tried to reconcile the loss she felt. Her hand squeezed Devon’s. He responded by pulling it to his lips and kissing it lightly while looking her in the eyes.

He was doing everything right, yet her uneasiness continued to grow. She needed something, but she couldn’t ascertain what it was.

A short time later, they were up the stairs to her apartment, standing outside her door before Hunter put his arm across Devon’s chest barring him from entering. “I need to go in with Sarah alone for a moment.”

Devon growled. Looking at the arm across his chest.

Hunter pulled back. “I know I’m asking a lot. I can’t explain it. I need to secure Racheal before any males are around her.”

Devon’s eyes squinted. “Talen and I are mated. Your cat shouldn’t perceive us as a threat.”

Hunter’s eyes flashed amber. “Don’t you think I fucking know that!” He snapped before shuddering as he took a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I have no right to ask you to trust me with your mate.”

Devon ran his hand through his hair. “I trust you. I also trust her, but I want her armed. We’ll wait outside till you call us to enter.”

Hunter handed Sarah a Glock, turning without a word and opening the door.

Sarah felt the pain skitter across her stomach the moment her hand left Devon’s. She focused on her oak coffee table, scanning the contents of the room, looking for anything out of place. Looking for Racheal. Everything was where it should be. As Sarah had suspected. She was gone.