“I never got the chance to fully talk to you about the antiserum, but it will reset your DNA to what it was before any of the hybrid stuff ever happened to you,” she continued. “You’ll still have the PTSD to deal with, but at least you’ll have a chance to focus on that without worrying about the claws and fangs.”
Tanner’s eyes tracked the injector as she placed the tip carefully against the thickest, most muscular part of his left shoulder. “There might be some side effects we didn’t talk about, too.”
His eyes narrowed as if he understood.
She forced a smile to her lips, wanting him to be as calm as possible before she triggered the injector. The canister of the unit had a two-inch needle, and if he jerked away too quickly, he wouldn’t get the full dose of the antiserum into his system. She had no idea what a half dose would do to him.
“The worst side effect of the drug is you might not be able to remember me when you wake up from this,” she whispered, tears running down her cheeks even though she still had that fake smile pasted on her face. “That’s not really a problem, though. It just means we can start all over again.”
Then she shook her head, knowing things were never that simple. “But just in case it doesn’t work out the same way the second time, I guess I should tell you now that I love you. More than I ever dreamed possible. I have since the first day I met you. My only regret is that I never told you sooner.”
She took a deep breath, starting to apply pressure to the auto-injector. She knew exactly what she was risking by doing this, but there was no other choice.
Tanner reached over and gently wrapped his fingers around hers, taking the injector away from his shoulder. Zarina stared at his nails for at least ten seconds before she realized his claws had retracted. She lifted her head to see Tanner’s beautiful blue eyes gazing back at her.
“You didn’t tell me,” he said quietly. “But I always knew.”
* * *
“If it’s okay with you, I’d prefer if we skip the antiserum,” Tanner whispered. “The idea of forgetting even one second of my time with you isn’t something I’m interested in.”
Zarina knelt there on the stone floor, staring at him like he was a pig wearing a Rolex for so long, he wasn’t sure she heard him.
“You’re back,” she finally breathed. “You’re really back.”
He nodded.
She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. “I thought your hybrid half had taken over and wasn’t ever going to let you come back.”
He hugged her back just as fiercely, inhaling deeply as he buried his face in her silky hair. “It’s complicated, but I think my other half and I have worked out our differences. I don’t fight so hard to keep him trapped away in the dark, and he doesn’t seem so interested in destroying everything he sees. It’s not as simple as saying I’m completely in control now, but we have an arrangement of sorts.”
“Simple or not, its sounds like a good deal to me,” she said against his neck, bathing him in her scent and making his hybrid half nearly delirious with pleasure.
“I think I have you to thank for this new arrangement,” he admitted, pulling away to gaze at her. “Everything changed the moment I finally believed you truly accepted me for what I am—a veteran with PTSD as well as a hybrid.” His mouth edged up. “It also doesn’t hurt to know you love me, too.”
“You heard that part, huh?” She smiled. “I wasn’t sure.”
Tanner grinned. “Yeah, I heard. I love you, too.” He gently cupped her face and kissed her. “Are you okay? Did Ryan hurt you? Or Anton?”
She looked confused for a moment, then glanced over at the blond man she’d shot. “Oh, you mean him. No, he didn’t hurt me. I’m fine. Because of you.”
Tanner sighed in relief and hugged her again, so damn grateful he’d been lucky enough to hear Zarina calling out Cam’s name in panic. If it wasn’t for that, he likely would have never turned around. He’d been so focused on chasing after Spencer that he’d nearly let the woman he loved die. But he’d gotten there in time, and she was okay.
He glanced at what was left of Ryan, having a hard time finding even a small part of him that regretted what he’d done. Maybe later, after this was all over with and he’d had some time to reflect, he’d be able to remember a time when his friend hadn’t been completely evil. But not right now.
Tanner still had his arms around Zarina when he heard a groan a few feet away. Zarina had obviously heard it, too, because she pulled away with a concerned look.
“Cam!” she said.
Shit.
Cursing silently, Tanner scrambled over to check on his brother, Zarina at his side. He’d heard Cam’s pulse and rhythmic breathing, so he knew his brother was okay, but it freaked him out to think he’d forgotten him even for a second.
Cam was already trying to stand up by the time they got there, but Zarina pushed him back down, leaning over to examine the wound above his ear.
“Don’t try to move yet,” she said. “You could have a concussion.”
“No kidding I have a concussion. I’m lucky I still have a head,” Cam said with a snort as he pressed his hand to the gash along his temple. “But unless that blow to the noodle screwed up my hearing, I’m pretty sure all the shooting has stopped. Which means this place is likely going to be overrun with cops soon. We need to round up everyone else and get the hell out of here.”
Tanner silently agreed as he carefully helped his brother stand. He’d been preoccupied at the time, but he thought the shooting stopped about
