Page 31 of The Vampire's Werewolf Bodyguard

Simon

Sparks blur the edge of Simon’s vision, unable to break the enthrallment. He can’t scream or try to shove away Cody’s transformed weight. This is different from the previous shifts. Fear cuts deeper than the claws digging into Simon’s shoulders. Not just for himself, but for Cody.

Once Cody has served his purpose, Dima will clean up loose ends. It all makes sense now. Apparently inspired by Tania’s death, Dima wanted to pin Simon’s murder on human hunters. When that didn’t work, he found a werewolf with control issues. A high-profile interspecies murder—a platform Dima could use to rebel against the treaty. Simon and Cody’s deaths would only be the beginning.

But right now, Simon only cares about the next few heartbeats. Fear for Cody’s life. Guilt for getting Cody involved in this .

Regret for not asking Cody to claim him, so he could die belonging to Cody instead of Dima.

He barely hears Dima’s chuckle over Cody’s heaving breaths.

Even if Simon could call his magic now, he wouldn’t use it against Cody. Simon falls limp, staring into his wolf’s bright eyes, and waits for the end.

The end doesn’t come.

Something flashes in Cody’s eyes, and Simon feels the recognition in his own heart. Like a string tying them together, suddenly pulled taut.

Simon knows what will happen an instant before it does. With a last hard, skin-breaking push into Simon’s shoulders, Cody lunges away. His snarl thunders through the foyer, and two monstrous bodies collide.

The enthrallment shatters in Dima’s distraction. Simon flings himself to his feet in time to see Cody bear Dima to the floor. Blood sprays between them as Dima blocks Cody’s jaws with his forearms. A lesser creature would have been snapped in two already.

Dima screeches with rage and frees one arm. He scrambles for Cody’s fallen gun.

Simon kicks it out of the way.

Vibrating with rage, hurt, and magic, Simon stands at Cody’s shoulder and stares down at his sire. The shadow he once thought would stay forever by his side. Now Dima’s eyes narrow in pure hate, and his own dark blood flecks his lips.

Cody’s jaws tighten, shattering radius and ulna with a loud snap.

“Any last words?” Simon asks, then shakes his finger. “Anything I would believe, I mean. ”

Dima laughs raggedly. “You always were my favorite.”

Manipulative bastard.

Cody appears to be waiting for a cue. Smoldering in his own rage, Simon considers letting Cody finish the job. Watching those powerful jaws rip out Dima’s throat would be cathartic.

But Cody’s greatest fear is killing someone during an uncontrolled shift. Causing harm without remembering. Simon will gladly take that burden from him.

Letting Dima live isn’t an option. Not after he threatened Cody.

“All right, Cody,” Simon says, hardly hearing himself speak. Tendrils of flame twine between his fingers. “Let him go. I’ve got this.”

Cody tears away in a cloud of blood. Before Dima can recover, Simon unleashes his magic. Ravenous flames rush forth and surround the prone figure.

Dima contorts with a bone-chilling shriek. The fire dances tall, igniting flesh and hair and clothing with equal enthusiasm. Skin shrivels from bone. White chars to black.

Simon staggers backwards, stomach twisting at the sight and stench. The visceral connection with his magic. He feels Dima’s last keening screech as if it rips from his own throat. Then the final, choking gasp.

Seconds later, Dima is nothing more than fragments of bone. The flames sway, pushing against Simon’s control, hungry for more.

Cody’s broad head nudges Simon’s hip. The support knocks him back to clarity, and he calls his magic back.

The foyer darkens, leaving only scorched marble and mangled remains.

Simon sinks to his knees. No longer nauseous, just cold. He reaches without thinking, and Cody’s already pushing into his embrace. Still in wolf form, as comforting as ever. Simon flings his arms around Cody’s neck and buries himself in the ruff. A million painful thoughts coalesce into a single truth.

“I love you,” Simon murmurs, muffled by the deep fur.

A sound trembles through him. Another, thin and fragile, until he inhales. Then laughter forces from his lips. Clutching Cody, Simon shakes with the absurd wheezing. He’s safe. Cody’s safe. Whatever happens next, they can handle it, because they’re together.

He laughs until he has no breath left, then breaks into a sob.