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Such hate. “Callen isn’t responsible for his mother’s death.”
Tavish reacted without missing a beat, slapping me. Pain exploded in my cheek, and blood trickled over my tongue. Inside, I screamed with fury.
“Say that again, and find out what happens,” Tavish bit out.
I looked him straight in the eye, unwavering. “Callen isn’t responsible for his mother’s death. You are. I’m guessing you didn’t perform the ceremony to make her harder to kill.”
His second slap sent my body flying to the floor. A good thing. The car jerked to a sudden stop, Angus banging into the steering wheel with such force he was knocked unconscious. The momentum shoved me against the back of hisseat while Tavish flew forward, banging his face on the back of the passenger seat. Confused thoughts battled for dominance until a fist punched through a side window, glass shards flinging.
With eyes glowing vivid blue, Callen ripped a door off its hingesand yanked Tavish from the vehicle. I watched, shell-shocked, as the two tore into each other. Well, Tavish tried. Claws extended from his nail beds, but not Callen’s. Buzz’s teeth lengthened and sharpened, his bones more prominent, baring the true animal nature of his berserkerage. But not Callen. He appeared double the size, yes, but he exhibited no animalistic traits. Once again, pure power pulsed from him.
He easily blocked Tavish’s attacks and landed bone-crushing blow after bone-crushing blow.
The switched shifter was losing, his motions slowing. “How are you doing this?”
Ponytail groaned, and I scrambled to check on him. A pulse! I tugged off my sweater to press the material into his wounds, which shrank before my eyes.
He blinked and frowned, confused. “What happened?” he demanded.
“Tavish switched bodies with your pal. Someone switched with Angus, too.”
His attention shifted to the snarling, fighting men. Izoomed my attention to the combatants as well. Tavish dodged Callen’s next series of strikes, doing his best to lick blood from a gash in his arm. Took me a moment to reason out why. The potion in Buzz’s blood. The wolf king was trying to switch souls again. Tavish’s body must be nearby.
Fake Buzz went still. Callen landed a punishing blow, shattering the other man’s face. If he wasn’t stopped, he would kill his soldier and hate himself.
“Callen!” I sprang from the car. Ponytail reached for me, but I avoided him, sprinting over. “Callen,” I repeated. “Help me. I need you.”
His head whipped in my direction. Utter stillness came over him, different tendons stretched to the max as I approached. I threw myself at him just as before, putting myself between him and his opponent, who collapsed.
“What’s wrong?” Callen demanded, his gaze darting. “Threat?”
“Calm down for me,” I said, stroking his cheek. “That’s what I needyou to do. The danger is gone, Buzz has switched back. I’m all right.”
“I’ve never been calmer.” He brushed the tip of his nose against mine. “You are good?”
“Sore in a couple places but otherwise tiptop.” I rose to my tiptoes and kissed the corner of his mouth. “Where’s Sorcha?”
“Long gone, I’d bet. I left her as soon as I heard your scream.”
No doubt she would return. Like Tavish, she treated her selfish desires as a treasured lover.
“Elle,” Callen rasped, bowing his head. “You’ve been hurt on my watch again and again and again. If you wish to leave me, I understand. I will follow you wherever you go, no matter who I must defy, but I will understand and protect you with my life for the rest of yours.”
I poked him in the shoulder. “I’m staying. You are mine, and don’t ever forget it.”
A smile broke free, lighting his entire being. “I donna deserve you, but I’ll cherish you always.”
“What will we do about Buzz and Angus? And me! We have an ingredient for the soul switching potion in our blood.”
“I will never harm you,” he vowed. “I’ll reassign the men, keep them and others safe…and I’ll keep you by my side forevermore.” He held out his hand to me. “Come, let’s go home.”
I twined my fingers through his. “Home. Yes.”
For now, Tavish was defeated, and Sorcha was out of the picture. Soon, I would marry the billionaire berserker king who’d fallen in love with me. I would build a life here, standing with my husband, making every day better for our people. I’d get to watch Mirren grow up and maybe, just maybe, welcome a few more wee little ones–that’s what the Scottish say, right?
Would there be problems? Yes. I doubted Buzz and Angus were the only soldiers Tavish and Sorcha had tainted with the potion. And how many other sentinels also hid potions? How would anyone know who to trust?
Measures must be taken. What, I didn’t yet know. But every fiber of my being understood my new life started today. Our forever had just begun.
