Page 23 of Crimson Shifter

It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening. Talon’s panther form leaped atop Archibald, his impressive teeth sinking into Archibald’s throat and tearing.

Blood sprayed over my body, and Archibald barely had time to scream before his body went limp, his head detached from his body.

The panther turned his head to look up at me, his eyes practically glowing yellow and the fur around his teeth soaked with blood.

I didn't know what to say, didn't know what to do, as I looked down at myself. “You ruined my dress,” I said out loud, the only thing I could think of to say.

“And you've made a mess,” my mother's voice sounded from the end of the hallway, and I cringed. She glanced at Archibald’s lifeless body, then at my panther, and then at me. “I never liked that pompous ass,” she said. “But gods, this will be hard to get out of the marble.” She snapped her fingers and Joffrey appeared. I had the decency to flash him an apologetic look.

“Please see to it that this mess is cleaned up,” she said to her talem, then she smoothed the folds of her elegant ball gown. “Isuppose I’ll have to drink a little more of Reginald tonight than usual. We can't have him trying to enact any form of justice.” She seemed completely delighted by the idea. “I'll give you one thing, my darling, you certainly have made this place less boring.” She gave me a sinister wink and disappeared.

I nodded toward my mother's talem again before hurrying to my bedroom, Talon on my heels, before locking the door behind us.

He shifted instantly, yanking on his sweats like he always did, just angrier than usual this time.

“What the hell was that?” I snapped.

Talon wouldn't turn around to face me, instead he flexed and unflexed his fingers into fists at his side, his muscles shaking.

“Talon, what the fuck was that?” I asked again.

“He touched you,” he said, his voice scraped raw.

“He’s not the first vampire who has tried to take something from me that I didn't consent to. I would’ve eventually gotten away?—”

“He was about to drink from you!” Talon shouted, whirling around to finally look at me.

I went wholly still. He was everyinchthe Viking hunter that I’d heard stories about.

His pupils were fully blown out, his fangs bared, the evidence of Archibald’s blood caked to his chin even in his vampire form. He looked like an animal. More like his shifter self than vampire in that moment.

I spared half a thought as towhyI wasn't afraid when I absolutely should’ve been. The vampire had joked about killing me no less than a dozen times, but for some reason, all I could feel wassorry.

I stepped into his space, slowly, deliberately, arching my neck as I looked up and up at him.

“I'm sorry,” I said. “I'll be faster next time,” I assured him.

I hated that he’d had to kill for me. I hadn't expected him to, but of course, it’s what Shadow would’ve done. She would have ripped Archibald to shreds without a second thought. But Talon wasn't Shadow. Talon wasn't an animal that viewed things in black and white.

He was a hunter who was used to carrying outjustice, not killing in cold blood.

“Don't be sorry,” he said, leaning down so close that I could smell the blood on his breath. “I’d do it again, only I’d make it last longer. You saidno. You told himnoand he didn't listen.”

“That's not exactly new for me,” I said.

Talon bared his fangs again, every muscle in his body flexing like he had too much energy trying to escape his body.

“Talon,” I said, unable to form the string of words I needed to. I had too many emotions flying around, and I couldn't tell which were mine and which were his thanks to that connection he’d fashioned between us. I was being catapulted from anger and possession and desire and fear.

I had no idea where I would land.

I reached up, gently gliding my hand along his cheek, almost petting him like he was still in the panther form. His eyes instantly closed, and he leaned into my palm like he would do when he was intimidating Shadow. He let out a long, heavy sigh that had some of those coiled muscles un-bunching.

I'd never seen him as vulnerable as he was now, and I didn't have a clue how to handle him like this. When he was throwing insults my way or accusing me of being a spoiled rich vampire, it was normal, expected. This?

This raw exposed side of him?

We were in uncharted territory.