Pure, unadulterated menace rolled off of him. His claws grew, the iron glinting off the light of the moon as he pressed them under the other’s chin, lifting his face up. “When I was a boy, I looked up to you. Now look at you”—Thadd stared down at Kiplagat— “you don’t look as though you could whip your way out of a paper bag.” It was an exaggeration but taunting him felt good. Especially when the asshole’s face twisted in a rage instead of the calm façade he’d been presenting.
“Because you are an abomination like the man your whore of a mama lay with, you think you can best me?” The laughter he forced out of his throat would’ve fooled most, but Thadd smelled the lie, the fear. His lion was the superior one as they stood a foot apart.
The other man was over six-foot-tall, nothing like the hulking beast he’d been. Thadd was six-nine and had over a hundred pounds of muscle more. Mercy wasn’t going to come due to their size difference. “Shift, kuma nina,” Thadd ordered, calling him a motherfucker in their native language of Swahili.
At first, he thought they were going to battle as human and prepared to shift back from his half-beast. All of a sudden, the old king shifted, swifter than before, no snapping of bones, claws slashing across Thadd’s chest. The burn made him stumble backward even as he shifted into his lion. He twisted; the agile body of his cat averted the next attack aimed at his throat. The king hadn’t held the position he had for no reason. He was fast, he was cunning, and he was a deadly fighter. However, Thadd was better. He launched his larger body in the air, meeting his enemy head-on, wrapping his paws with claws extended around his head. They each grappled, fangs snapping toward their faces. Thadd saw the fear in the other animal’s eyes as he realized Thadd’s lion was three times as large as his. Without tempering his strength, he bit, slashed, and clawed, taking Kiplagat down. The old king fought, trying to get away. Thadd bit down on the back of his neck, shaking him, a warning. Paws dug at the pavement, stilling in defeat.
The taste of copper filled his mouth, memories rushing into his mind. Kiplagat’s mind opened to his in a rush. Fuck, he tried to stop the flood realizing what was happening. As alpha, the lion surrendering to him through a bite and blood exchange was giving up his memories so that the next leader was getting his power, his knowledge, and with it, he saw the horror of the day before he’d returned and what happened after he’d left.
He bit down firmer, severing the spinal cord from the body, shaking harder until the head was removed completely. A roar left him. So much anguish and pain filled him for what the monster had done. Thadd’s lion swatted the body with its paws, over and over, snarling at the atrocities he’d witnessed.
“Thadd, come back to me.”
He whipped his head around, hissing.
TORRANCE HELD HER HANDS out, shaking while she stared at the blood covered lion who was her mate. He had savagely killed more lions than she’d ever seen one do. She was sure he’d win until a handful more had slunk out of the darkness like the cowards they were. It was then her truck had been surrounded by more from the same Pride, their stink hitting her and Mr. Bixley who was muttering about getting out of Dodge. Her mate, her sweet, smart mate reminded her they had allies through their mental link, giving her hope. Plus finding that her Pride hadn’t been kicking her out, they’d been coming to her rescue had been a relief. Ridge and the Mayhem Pride, goddess love them, had shown up ready to battle. It was her turn to bring her mate back from the edge. Of course, afterward, they’d be talking about dragons, ‘cause holy buckets that was a sight to behold. Plus, she wanted to meet her darn it.
“Mate, I need you. Your brother needs you.” She took a step forward, ignoring the warning snarls behind her.
Thadd shook out his fur, paced a few times, swiped at the head lying on the ground. Torrance didn’t want to smile at the action, really, she didn’t. He was still angry but seeing him kick the bastard that was already dead and in two pieces was kinda funny in a sick and twisted way. Dang, what did that make her?
“My perfect other half.” Thadd’s human voice brought her eyes up to see him standing on two legs wearing the silver booty shorts.
She snorted, a giggle escaping. “I really do think those are the best shorts.”
He looked down. “Lula, that was the dragon you saw earlier, she gave them to me. I think they’re spelled or something.”
“Or something. Your dick is poking out the bottom.” She pointed out.
“Yo, brother, I really didn’t need to see that. Ever.” Ridge moved up next to Torrance.
“Dick envy isn’t becoming of a pseudo-brother-in-law, my friend. Besides, why are you staring at my dick?” Thadd pulled Torrance into his arms.
Since the moment they’d seen the lions across the highway, her heart finally settled, or rather it began beating in the same rhythm as Thadd’s.
“Trust me, there’s no dick envy needed.” Ridge grabbed between his legs.
Torrance rolled her eyes. “Can we not do this in the middle of the highway. Oh, my goddess, we just ruined the highway. Why are there no cars for that matter?”
Like she’d summoned the crazy with her words a gust of wind tossed up bits of rock on the side of the road, heralding
