Page 20 of The Purrfect Rival (Enchanted Falls #1)

TWENTY

T he restaurant’s parking lot stretched along the cliff edge, illuminated by vintage-style lampposts. Many spaces stood empty this late, with her car isolated near the scenic overlook.

Rust’s senses prickled with warning as they walked through the lot. Too quiet. Too isolated. He knew what could happen to unsuspecting victims of muggings. But Enchanted Falls wasn’t that kind of town. Living in the big city for so long had made him paranoid.

But his lion went on alert, anyway, focusing on protection rather than courtship.

They’d nearly reached her car when two figures emerged from the shadows between cars—dark clothes, masked faces, movements too fluid for normal humans.

One lunged toward Kalyna, grasping for her satchel. The other moved to block Rust.

His transformation came instantly—not a full shift, but a partial one that left him mostly human with predator features. His eyes blazed golden in the darkness, claws extending from his fingertips as he caught the first attacker’s wrist.

Fabric tore as his claws sliced through the sleeve, revealing a tattooed forearm. The attacker hissed in pain, twisting away.

Meanwhile, Kalyna created three perfect duplicates of herself that stepped in different directions, confusing her assailant. When he lunged at an illusion, the real Kalyna kicked him with surprising force, sending him sprawling.

Pride surged through Rust. His mate was not only beautiful but fierce. His lion roared its approval.

“Run!” Rust ordered, placing himself between Kalyna and the attackers.

They sprinted toward the car, but not before one of the figures flung something in their direction—a folded paper that landed near them. Rust snatched it up without breaking stride, reaching the vehicle seconds later.

Inside, with doors locked, he unfolded the paper. A crude drawing depicted the library engulfed in flames, with a scrawled message: “The heirloom belongs with true guardians. Interfere and watch it burn.”

“What does it mean by ‘true guardians’?” Kalyna asked, peering at the threatening note.

“I don’t know. But this confirms the theft wasn’t random.” Rust asked for her car key and started the engine, scanning for their attackers as he pulled up beside his SUV on the other side of the lot. “I don’t want to leave you alone after this. Someone is targeting you specifically.”

She laid a hand on his arm to tell him not to worry and crimson and gold energy surged between them, swirling throughout the car’s interior like the northern lights. The magical display revealed ghostly silhouettes—a lion and fox running side-by-side through a phantom forest, their forms sometimes merging, sometimes separate but always connected.

“This...” Kalyna whispered, staring at the fading lights. “I’m not sure what this is.”

His lion knew exactly what it was. Mate-bond forming. True match. Destiny.