Rebecca Zanetti - Shadowed

He’d die for any one of his brothers. Hell, he’d killed for them often enough. Yet for the first time, a possessive edge sharpened his every protective need to keep the limited people in his life safe. An edge just for Brenna.

He didn’t like it. Yet he couldn’t help but brush a soft kiss across her forehead.

The hair on the back of his neck prickled. Turning them, he opened his eyes to see Conn watching him from the far side of the ballroom. Thoughtful calculation narrowed Conn’s gaze, but for once, no concern lived in the metallic depths.

The ever-present guilt inside Jase flared to life. Because of his weaknesses, the Realm’s ultimate soldier had been reduced to a matchmaking babysitter. Conn should be out fighting enemies, not trying to hold Jase’s hand. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t be who they needed him to be. But no, now Conn watched him with hope in his eyes, hope that Brenna Dunne would save him.

She couldn’t.

He had to save himself.

For the first time in five years, he wondered if maybe he could. If maybe he should.

Brenna sighed and snuggled closer to him. The bittersweet moment cut through him with the sharpness of a blade.

Even so, he closed his eyes again and held her tight. He’d figure out the rest later. For now, in this moment, he just wanted to feel this woman against him.

Brenna maneuvered through tables and bodies, acutely aware of the vampire’s gaze on her backside. Her butt actually heated. She hadn’t expected him to ask her to dance, and she sure as heck hadn’t expected to be a puddle of hormonal randiness afterward. So she’d excused herself and headed to the restroom. Although tight, her dress brushed her aching nipples in a way that made her want to whimper as she moved.

The idea of mating Jase Kayrs was exciting and intriguing. The reality was frightening and overwhelming. Vampires exuded dominance, maleness, and strength as a species. And after what he’d gone through, Jase was in a class all his own.

She closed the restroom door with a sigh of relief.

A plush lounge area held a long sofa across from a makeup table. She took a moment to straighten her hair and apply lipstick. Her eyes were flushed, her cheeks rosy. Signs of the fire roaring through her blood. All from one dance with Jase.

The door swished open, and two men stepped inside. The lock engaged with a loud click.

Sighing, she turned around. “This is the ladies’ room.”

Henry’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he nodded. “I know, but the solstice is in three days, and we need to get moving.” He motioned for his hulking friend to sit on the sofa. “This is Albert McGillicutty, and he’s one of Brenna’s Warriors.”

Albert sprawled, overwhelming the feminine divine. At least six feet tall, the guy was all muscle. Even his neck. He was definitely an Irish farm boy. “Hi.” Dull blue eyes took her measure.

What in the world? “Hello? You’re in the ladies’ room.” Brenna inched toward the door.

Henry blocked her way with his skinny body. “Albert is here to mate you.”

Brenna snorted a laugh and then covered her nose. “Excuse me?” Henry cleared his throat. “You apparently like them brawny, so I’m willing to sacrifice my love in order to save you. To save our people.” He nodded toward a window in the far wall. “We have a vehicle waiting to take you to Albert’s place.”

“So we can mate.” Albert was missing one of his front teeth.

She shook her head, the bizarreness of the situation fuzzing her brain as she turned to Albert. “Forgetting for a moment that there’s no way I’m mating you, you’re a witch. Even if I wanted to mate you, my illness would kill us both.”

Albert straightened. “Henry? You said mating would cure her.”

“It would,” Henry assured him. “Don’t worry. Brenna’s a sweet girl, but she’s not scientific. She doesn’t understand the illness.”

“Oh. Okay.” Genius Albert sat back again.

Brenna dug deep for patience. She had to get the men out of there before Jase found them. He couldn’t discover how ridiculous her life sometimes became. “If you blokes leave right now, I won’t press charges or let the enforcers know you harassed me.” God, she longed for the days when she could just burn people with plasma balls.

Henry sighed and dug out a glowing green gun. “You’re not thinking clearly, and that’s okay. But you’re coming with us.”

Heat filled Brenna’s lungs. “Henry? If you shoot me, then you can’t save me. Got it?”

His eyes drooped. “I’ll just shoot you in the leg. Then, after you mate Albert, you’ll get your healing abilities back.”

The first tendril of panic stilled Brenna’s movements. Maybe the dumbass would shoot her. “Let’s talk about this.”

“Nope. Done talking.” Albert stood, hulking and strong.

Brenna settled her stance. A groin shot would take him down, but then she’d have to worry about Henry’s gun.

A knock sounded on the door. “Brenna? What’s taking so long?” Jase asked.

Blast it. Figured he’d come looking for her. Vampires never knew when to stay the heck out of the way.

Henry turned and aimed for the door.

Brenna instantly kicked up as hard as she could into Albert’s groin. He shifted at the last moment, and she caught his thigh. Rage filled his eyes. He lunged for her.

“Help,” she yelled.

The door shattered with the force of a battering ram. The pieces plowed into Henry, and he went down.

Jase stepped over him, his gaze on Albert. “Problem?”

Albert nodded to Brenna. “Mine.”

Jase’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t think so.”

Albert’s smile widened to reveal another missing tooth. He clenched his hands into fists.

Real panic ripped through Brenna. “No, no, no. We’re not doing this. Everyone out of the restroom.”

Jase brushed her to the side, his gaze steady on Albert. Wood crumpled under his shoes. “Apparently, we are doing this. Anyone care to explain first?”

She gulped in air and grabbed his jacket, not sure where to look. “Albert is a Brenna’s Warrior who wants to mate. To save me.”

Jase pursed his lips in anticipation, his eyes lighting up. “I see. Why don’t you go find your sister? I’ll just be a moment here.”

Albert swung one beefy arm, and Jase shoved her out of the way, taking the hit. He staggered back, shaking his head. “Guy hits like a brick building.” Twisting, he jabbed Albert in the nose before following with an uppercut. Albert smashed into the wall, and shot back, arms swinging.

Brenna yelped and sidled out of the way. Conn had appeared to block spectators from the doorway.

The fight was brutal.

Albert had size and a bit of strength; Jase had speed, training, and pure fury. In the end, there was really no contest.

Jase shoved Albert back into the wall, stepping into his space. Albert’s eyes glazed, and he tried to bring up his left arm for a weak hit. Jase trapped it with his, took a second, and nailed Albert with his elbow. Albert dropped to the ground, out cold.

Jase turned toward her. Blood flowed from a cut in his forehead, danger etched in every line on his face.

She swallowed at the devastation in the bathroom and shook her head. “You’re always fighting.”

His eyes narrowed. “Every fight I’ve been in lately has been because of you.”

Her spine steeled. Well, hmmm. That was true. “Whatever.”

He stalked toward her and tilted her chin up with one knuckle. “There’s only one way to solve this. Tonight, we mate.”

Brenna ditched her heels and padded from the kitchen, two tumblers in her hands. She gave one to Jase before sitting next to him on the sofa. “Kilbeggan whiskey.”