“You’re okay,” a young girl’s voice said from behind her.
“I thought I told you guys to run.” She was something. Her entire body trembled from adrenaline, she supposed. Never in her life did she ever think she would have to shoot someone, let alone kill anyone.
“We couldn’t leave you,” Mia said.
“Are you guys okay?” Ronnie asked once she got stable on her wobbly legs. When they all nodded, she said, “Stay together. Let’s go this way.”
Ronnie and the kids stood at the cusp of freedom when shots rang out. The kids screamed and ran further into the trees to hide. But fear and worry over Oz, Kit, and Golden left her rooted out in the open. The whiteout conditions made it difficult to see Oz and Kit, but the exit through the trees was clear. Then a scream rang out that she knew better than her own voice.
Golden.
Under the cover of snow flurries, Kitty had taken out a few guards before the lions even knew what had hit them. Before Oz had taken Ronnie to the hostages, he witnessed a lion reaching for a snowflake, then being yanked into the tree-line. The bushes rustled, then nothing.
It was difficult to have Ronnie here in enemy territory. It terrified him to the core when he had to leave her to help that damned tiger. All the firepower in the world wouldn’t help if a sneaky ass lion caught her by surprise. They wouldn’t kill her. No, they’d use her, then sell her. This needed to end now.
Two lions had Kit pinned down. Oz ran full throttle and sank his teeth into the scrawny lion atop the large tiger. The lion torqued his thin frame and aimed for Oz’s underbelly. Oz had used this technique many times, but the only difference being, he was faster and better at it. Oz lifted his lower half, kicking his legs up higher as the lion’s paw swiped and missed. They hit the ground just as Oz’s leopard wrenched back in the opposite direction, snapping the lion’s neck. He gave another shake for good measure, insuring the limp lion was dead.
The leopard and tiger looked around at the dead bodies of lions, and humans covered in snow. An eerie silence fell over the compound.
We need to end this, now.
The tiger chuffed and through the blinding snow, Oz and Kit stalked in the direction of the mansion. The doors burst outward, splinters flying everywhere. A scarred, shirtless, dark-haired man lowered his leg and stepped out on the porch.
The leopard and tiger stopped their approach.
“You dare come into my house!” The scarred lion looked directly at Oz through the haze of whiteness.
A younger man with dark blonde hair who looked very much like King but dressed more like he belonged in Miami instead of Texas in his Versace-esque shirt, gold chains, and beige linen pants, followed him out onto the front porch.
A heavy pressure laid across Oz’s leopard’s back like a slab of concrete, causing his knees to buckle. None of the other lions had this type of power. It just poured off of this lion in waves.
King Leonidas.
“Your tricks only work on weaker minded lions.” He waved his hand dispassionately.
“Who are you talking to, Dad?” a young man asked looking around bewildered.
It became too difficult to maintain the illusion with this much strain on his body. The blizzard faltered. Oz had seen the King of the Demon Lion Pride a few times before, but he didn’t know the man wielded this kind of power.
“Did you come for her?” King snatched a nearly naked girl by her light brown hair from a man in all black tactical gear. He dragged her behind him as she twisted and struggled, hitting the man’s hand down the front steps.
He’s going to kill me. Oh, God. Oh, God.
Golden’s distress invigorated him. Oz’s joints cracked and his muscles throbbed as he pushed upward against the lion’s power. With a full body flex, the snow leopard stood tall. Oz didn’t wait for an invitation, he sprinted toward the two.
A crack of thunder sounded around them, then liquid fire burned through his hind leg. He tumbled ass over shoulders, then landed about six feet from King.
Golden’s screams reverberated through him and pierced his mind. What’s happening to me? It burns!
Hold on, Golden. Hold her in. Oz repeated.
“I can’t,” Golden screamed out loud.
Kit. How you doing? Oz turned his head to look at the crouching tiger.
He’s strong, but not strong enough to hold me. I’m ready when you are. Just say the word. The big tiger’s head nodded ever so slightly.
The stress of the entire situation must have been too much for Ronnie’s sister. Her eyes widened as they sparkled into a rich amber gold with flecks of silver. This couldn’t be happening at a worst time.
King pulled Golden up, inhaled her hair. “Not long now. I can’t wait to taste her.”
“Dad, you got her for me.”
“Shut the fuck up, Santi,” King growled out the name as he lifted his hand to hit the young man.
Oz eyed the cowering young man. This must be the infamous stalker boyfriend, Santiago.
Santiago flinched, then another wave of pressure spread out. Oz didn’t falter this time, but King’s son fell to his knees.
Tears poured from Golden’s eyes. “Ronela!”
Oz swirled his head around to see Ronnie walking up with both guns drawn. Goddammit that woman never listened. They were going to have to have a long talk about her listening to her man. Not that he was yet, but he was working on it.
“Let my sister go!”
“Big sister’s here.” King licked his lips.
“That’s the bitch who took Golden from me the last time,” Santiago said with a little growl in his voice.
“I can see. She’s tough, that’s going to make it even better when I take her and break her.” King threw
