Cynful

Mrs. H. relaxed a little, the keychain baton in her own hand sliding into her back pocket. “Cool. I never really wanted to test out my karate skills.” She winked and followed them to the back door of LA. “You want me to call the cops?”

Cyn and Tabby exchanged a look. “Could you get them to send out Gabe Anderson?”

“The sheriff? Why?”

“Just tell him Tabby and I were attacked again. He’ll understand.”

Mrs. H. nodded, but her expression was anything but reassured. “I’ll do it. You need to put in security cameras back there.”

“We tried, but the landlord wouldn’t let us. Said it would damage the brick facade of the building.” Tabby shrugged.

Mrs. H. grunted. “Who’s your landlord?”

Tabby rattled off the name while Cyn fisted her hands at her sides. She didn’t give a crap about that fat asshole. Her jaw was getting worse, and she thought one of her teeth might be loose. “Tabs? Call Bunny.”

Tabby waved off Mrs. H. after reassuring her they were both fine, then pulled out her cell phone. “Alex? Cyn and I were just attacked again.”

The roar forced Tabby to pull the phone from her ear. “I’m fine. Cyn was the one who got beat up.” Tabby’s brows rose and she glanced at Cyn. “Yeah, I’ll tell her. No, Glory’s not here; she’s got afternoon to evening tonight.”

Cyn unlocked LA’s back door and let them into the shop. Fuck. Her head was pounding, she was nauseated and her jaw was feeling even worse. Was she going to have to go to the hospital? She didn’t think her jaw was broken, but she wasn’t a doctor. It was entirely possible the son of a bitch had broken something in her face. She headed for the front of the store and sat gingerly on one of the chairs. She tilted her head back, listening to Tabby’s soft voice as she tried to calm her frantic mate.

A few moments later Tabby was unlocking the front door. Alex burst through, his eyes wild. If he had any hair on his head it would have been standing on end. He scooped Tabby up as soon as he saw her, cradling her in his arms like she was a child, setting himself down on one of the guest chairs and checking every inch of her with his hands and eyes.

Cyn didn’t really care if they stripped naked and danced the hula. She just wished the pain in her head would fucking stop. She closed her eyes and ignored the pair, focusing instead on disregarding the pain.

A warm, gentle hand caressed her cheek. “You get into more trouble, I swear.”

She opened her eyes to find Julian hovering over her, his eyes silver, his hair pure white. The pain in her jaw immediately eased away to nothing and her nausea receded. She was still woozy and shaking, but at least she no longer wanted to chop her own face off. The fierce frown on his face worried her. “I broke your car.”

“Shh.” He stroked his finger along her jawline and she felt, actually felt the loose tooth firm up in its socket.

“Is she all right?” Alex’s voice was rumbly, a sure sign his Bear was close to the surface.

“Her jaw was broken, some teeth loose. I fixed it.”

She worked her jaw back and forth, never more grateful for the lack of pain. “Thanks.”

His brow quirked. “You’re welcome.” Then he crossed his arms over his chest and ruined it. “Why didn’t you call me immediately?” His gaze focused on her burned hand and immediately it felt better, the burn fading away as she watched.

She stood and faced him, just like she had her attacker in the parking lot. “My jaw was broken. Didn’t feel like talking. Besides, you should be resting. You did enough yesterday.” Julian took way too much on himself. Someone had to make sure he didn’t get hurt using his powers, and it wasn’t going to be him. He’d already proven that.

Cyn heard his teeth grind together. “I. Would. Have. Come.”

“How? Super Bear would have thrown on his cape and tights and flown?”

Tabby threw up her hand. “I’d pay to see that.”

Julian ignored Tabby, his gaze never leaving Cyn’s face. “I have my ways.”

“I have your car.”

He took a long breath. “Don’t push me right now. You were attacked, your jaw broken.” He turned to Tabby. “Was it a shifter?”

“Yeah, but one I’ve never smelled before. It was fast, way too fast for me to track or I might have gone after it.”

Alex growled. “You think it was the same people Gary worked for?” When Tabby squirmed in his lap he tightened his grip. “You’re not going anywhere, baby.”

Tabby rolled her eyes but stayed put. “I keep telling you I’m not a dog. Sit and stay doesn’t work on me. Besides, it wasn’t me they wanted this time.”

“They?”

Tabby nodded at Julian’s barked question. “There was more than one. I’m certain of it.”

“And you were going to go after them? Alone?” Alex’s hazel eyes turned dark brown. Six-inch claws sprang from his fingertips.

“Down, sugar.” Tabby patted Alex’s chest, but it did little to calm the Grizzly.

“You think that this time they wanted me?” Cyn shared a confused look with Tabby.

Tabby shrugged. “I have no idea.”

Alex pulled out his cell phone. “Dad. We have a situation.”

Cyn bit her lip as she stared at Tabby. She was getting sick and tired of this bullshit. If she were a shifter she could have changed and defended herself better rather than relying on her pregnant friend. Maybe if Tabby bit her she could—

“Don’t even think about it.” Julian grabbed her jaw, pulled her face around to his and kissed her so deep and so hard she was surprised her lip didn’t bleed. His silver eyes sparkled down at her. “You’re mine. No one else gets to change you.”

Cyn swallowed. She shouldn’t feel relieved, damn it. She was an independent woman who could take care of herself.

Of course, she’d be able to do it a lot better once she was fuzzy.

His lips drew up in a sly smile. The kiss he gave her this time was softer, more sensual, a hell of a lot more bone-melting. Cyn clutched his shoulders, his hair brushing against the skin of her hands. She moaned into his mouth and he pulled her closer to him, pressing his hands into the small of her back until they were practically inside one another.

“I think I might be too young to see this,” Tabby muttered.

“I think I might be too young,” Alex chuckled. “Get a room, people.”

Cyn flipped them the bird even as she refused to allow Julian to end the kiss, grabbing the back of his head when he tried to pull away.

She had no idea you could smirk while kissing someone else, but damn it, the son of a bitch managed it.

She was breathless when she finally let him go. Julian nuzzled her cheek before releasing her and settling her back on the chair. “Gabe’s here.”

“How—”

The bell jingled, and Halle’s sheriff sauntered into the shop, took one look at the four of them and put his hands on his hips. “Can’t leave you people alone for a second, can I?”

“Cyn was attacked by shifters.” Julian wasn’t pulling any punches. He placed himself slightly in front of Cyn, almost as if he was ready to defend her against Gabe, of all people.

Gabe shook his head. “Any idea why, or who?”

“Or what.” Tabby got up off Alex’s lap and wandered over to the counter, picking up a pen to tap on the glass. “I got a whiff, but I didn’t recognize the type of shifter.”

“So not Wolf, Bear or Puma.” The men exchanged worried glances. “The college?”

Cyn winced. “What other types of shifters are there?”

“Lots and lots.” Julian sighed and sat next to her, still in the seat closer to Gabe, but it was an improvement. Not overprotective my well-padded ass. “There are Lions, Tigers, Bears, Pumas, Wolves, Foxes, Coyotes, you name a predator and odds are good they’ve got shifters.”