Jude unlocked the door and flicked on the light. He shouldn’t have—the room didn’t scream liaison with its beige walls and dubious worn brown carpet. Double homicide was more the décor, but without the spatter. He shut the door. “It’s not much.”
“This is the better motel. There’s also a bed-and-breakfast on the outskirts if you want something nicer. Mrs. Hall should be able to squeeze you in.”
“Thanks, I’ll look into it.” He wouldn’t need to. He wouldn’t be here. He’d be on a plane to somewhere else. He didn’t even care where.
Mack watched him. One of them had to make the first move. It should probably be him since it was his room. He took a step closer and tilted his head. He’d never been with such a tall man.
He could try that out another night, too.
He traced his fingers up Mack’s arm. If this went wrong, the bear was going to break him into matchsticks. Bear shifters were known to get a little crazy at times—contrary to popular belief regarding Vikings, the word berserker had come about because of the bears’ fighting ability—but he couldn’t imagine Mack hurting anyone, or anything. Let alone tearing apart a cow for kicks.
But he didn’t look like he could shut down the entire East Coast more effectively than a category five hurricane—not that he’d ever tried it, but the power was there. Growing inside him no matter how much he tried not to use it. Of course, Mack wouldn’t run around town scaring people. If he did, the Coven would’ve dealt with him years ago.
Mack put a hand on Jude’s hip and pulled him closer before he could work out what wasn’t right. He pressed his lips to Jude’s taking the kiss Jude was more than ready to give. It shouldn’t have felt so right. His blood had been hot before, but now it was molten metal scouring his veins. The moment their tongues touched, something else happened. Something more than lust. A ringing formed in his ears, and for a moment he saw the binding of threads as the Fates worked. He blinked and stepped back with a gasp.
Oh hell no.
That was most definitely not right.
Chapter Three
Mack blinked and rocked back. With the door right behind him there wasn’t far to go. He stared at Jude and fell into his hypnotic green gaze. It took a wrench of will to look away, and he was still off-balance. He tried to shake off the feeling that something had just snapped around and bound him but couldn’t.
It was another moment before he realized it wasn’t alcohol on Jude’s lips that Mack tasted. It was magic.
“What are you?” Mack wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, but the taste was still there, and he wanted more. “What have you done to me?”
“Me?” Jude took several steps back.
“I don’t see anyone else in the room,” he snarled. He needed to get out of there.
“You’re the rogue shifter mutilating cows. By the Coven’s authority, I’m taking you in.” Jude’s eyes took on an odd glow, and Mack was sure sparks danced over Jude’s hands.
Every hair on Mack’s body stood on end as if a summer storm were about to hit. It didn’t matter what Jude was, he wasn’t going to get a chance to do anything to him, and no one was taking him anywhere. Least of all the Coven.
“I killed nothing.” But he wanted to throttle Jude in that moment. The lust had been fake, a lure to get him alone. The kiss had felt real. There was something about it he couldn’t wipe away.
Jude lifted his hand and sparks leaped between his fingers.
Adrenaline flared. He didn’t know what Jude was, or what he was planning, but it wasn’t going to happen. Mack threw a hard punch before Jude could act. Jude blocked, and a jolt of electricity swept through Mack. He stumbled back. Jude didn’t tear his gaze away, and the static around him grew.
Mack was about to get electrocuted or something. Shifting heat raced up his spine. But then he would be the crazed bear Jude thought him to be. Jude tossed something toward him, and Mack dodged, just.
“This doesn’t have to hurt. But I have to bring you in.”
Another blast of something zinged past. The scent of his burning arm hair filled his nostrils. The bear was very close to breaking free. He was not going anywhere with Jude. “It’s not me.”
The static tugged on Mack’s hair. If Jude hit him with those bolts, he’d be knocked out. He had to get in first. Before he could think about it too hard, he charged Jude.
Jude had the decency to open his mouth and looked stunned. Then Mack threw a punch that knocked the man off his feet. The static vanished, and Jude crumpled to the floor as though boneless. Mack flinched as a jolt that felt suspiciously like electricity contracted his arm muscles. He kept his hands fisted in case Jude got up, but there was nothing sparking around Jude now. He was out cold.
Mack’s lips twisted into a grimace. He rarely went for men that pretty, or fancy, and now he knew why. They couldn’t be trusted. Whatever the hell Jude was, or was into, Mack didn’t want any part of it.
Authority of the Coven. Mack shook his head. Jude thought he’d been responsible for the cow mutilations? His stomach turned, and he wished he’d never won the coin toss. He wished he’d never set eyes on Jude. He stood there a moment longer, staring at the man on the floor, his breath coming in hard pants. The adrenaline
