Primal Law

Suddenly, he shifted and was a man again. An extremely sexy man kneeling by the stream, stroking her soft fur in wonder. Can you hear me now?

Yes! Guess it works.

“Good,” he said aloud. “Shift back for me, baby.”

A ripple of fear went through her. How?

“Focus all your thoughts on your human form. Imagine your limbs reshaping, reversing the process.”

Will it hurt as bad as before? Because I don’t want to do that again.

“No, it shouldn’t. And it gets easier every time. Trust me.”

Okay. She concentrated hard, but nothing happened.

“You’re too tense. Relax.”

It took several more tries, and then without warning, it worked. The process began, her limbs, torso, and face morphing in reverse. She cried out, dismayed that it was nearly as painful as the first shift, her bones feeling as if they were being ground into dust. Pulling her into his lap, he held on, murmuring soft words of encouragement until she was herself again. Her breath sawed in and out of her lungs and the pain gradually dissipated. After a while she became aware that she was a very naked woman being held tightly by her equally buck naked and horny mate. His erection pressed against her rear.

“Thank you,” she said hoarsely. Eyes wide, she felt her arms and legs.

“Everything is back to normal. You did great, angel.” Worry clouded his expression again. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“Much better,” she assured him, cupping his face. “I’m so glad you were with me when it happened.”

“Me, too.” Moving in, he kissed her soundly, urging her back onto the spongy loam.

She pulled him down with her, spreading her thighs, beckoning him inside. “Here,” she whispered. “Right where you made me yours.”

Settling over her, careful to keep his weight from crushing her, Jax kissed her jaw, her neck, using a bit of fang and making goose bumps rise on her skin. Shifting his hips, he positioned the head of his cock at her entrance and pushed.

“So hot and wet for me,” he murmured.

“Yes.” Kneading his glorious ass, she pulled him inside, impatient to have him fill her completely. Inch by inch, he slid deep, groaning in pleasure. “Feels so good.”

“Like that, baby?”

“Love you inside me.”

“And I just love you.”

She stilled. “You mean that?”

“It’s not the sex talking. I love you, Kira,” he said softly.

Even without the waves of emotion pouring over her, she read the truth in his eyes.

“I love you, too.” Her throat closed, tears pricking her eyes. “Don’t stop.”

He didn’t ask whether she meant loving her or making love to her. He just murmured “Never” in her ear and started moving. Shafted his cock in and out, slowly at first, driving her mad with the delicious sensation of being filled over and over, driving them closer to the peak. When his thrusts became faster, more forceful, she tried to hold off her orgasm, but it was getting impossible. Her nails sharpened to claws that dug into his back, fangs lengthened, and she found she liked this new side of herself.

“Bite me,” he demanded. “Claim me like I claimed you.”

The idea called to the most primal instinct in her body—to leave her mark on her mate.

Without hesitation, she struck, sinking her canines into the curve of his neck. His shout was one of pure rapture as his blood splashed her tongue, hot and rich. His release exploded inside her and she clung to him, her orgasm matching his. They rocked together for what seemed an eternity, and yet wasn’t long enough.

After a few moments, she released his neck and peered at the puncture wounds, an absurd sense of pride swelling in her chest. My mate.

Yes. All yours.

Rolling to his back, he pulled her on top of him and they lazed for while. “This is perfect. I wish this moment would never end,” he said in contentment.

She propped herself up, looking into his sated, sleepy face. “It doesn’t have to. You could use that Timebending thing you can do and relive it over and over.”

“True. But I can do that in my memories just fine.” He kissed the end of her nose.

How sweet. She gave him a leisurely kiss and rested her chin on his chest. “If you could go back and relive any perfect moment in your life, which one would it be?”

His smile took her breath away. “You know I’m forbidden to use that ‘gift’ except in the direst of circumstances. And it doesn’t work like that—remember, I can only bend it to gain back the last few minutes.”

“I know, but if you could. Humor me.”

He thought for a long moment. “None of them.”

Disappointment stabbed her. “Why not?”

“Because the perfect moment can never be improved, and should be remembered, cherished, just the way it was. Like every moment I spend in your arms,” he said. “We should just go forward and make more of them.”

“Oh,” she breathed. A tear slipped down her cheek. “You had to make me cry, didn’t you?”

“Only happy tears, baby.”

“I’m holding you to that.”

“Same goes for you.”

His arms tightened around her, and they didn’t speak again for hours.

They said it all without words.

Sixteen

Their idyll lasted exactly one more week.

Three weeks after he’d mated with Kira, their guys in the field reported movement at both NewLife buildings in Las Vegas and Dallas. Aric and Ryon flew home from Vegas, while Zander and Kalen stayed put since most of the action seemed to be centered at the Dallas site. The minute Aric and Ryon got in, Nick called a meeting to discuss what they’d learned and what action to take next.

Everyone settled in, and he got to the point.

“Dr. Gene Bowman and Orson Chappell are moving their operation to the Dallas site. Aric and Ryon reported that they’d spent last week with a small crew, moving equipment out in the wee hours while most of the regular staff was gone. Two nights after the last load was moved, Zan and Kalen watched the same crew arrive in Dallas and spend the last few nights moving it all into the Dallas building.”

“Any sign of captives?” Jax asked, body tense. He had a bad feeling about this op. Real bad.

“A couple of large square containers have gone in, but they were covered. Could be cages, or they could be nothing. In light of the information we recovered from their computer, not to mention our rescued shifters, I’m betting on the former. And one more thing.” Pausing, Nick looked right into Jax’s eyes. “There was a woman with them.”

Jax’s blood froze. The room tilted slightly and he had to remind himself to breathe. Beside him, he was aware of Kira’s sudden tension. He had to ask. “Was it Beryl?”

“Zan said she fit the description—tall, long dark red hair. But her skin wasn’t burned.”

Jax clenched his fists, barely aware of Aric’s loud curse. “That can’t be. I threw her into the fire and I saw her burn. Unless . . .”

“Unless her powers were greater than you thought,” Nick finished. “She was a witch, right? Or is.”

“Fuck.” This couldn’t be happening. That conniving, murderous bitch could not still be alive and working with Chappell on his sick scheme.

But she was, and had been all along. The truth was unavoidable, forming a knot of fresh guilt and shame in his gut. And now he knew he’d have to revise what he’d told Kira.