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If I wasn’t fighting for my life and had more experience with my new magic, I could call on my wolf spirit or maybe a lion and freak these fuckers out. But sadly, I couldn’t do that without serious focus, and that wasn’t something I could spare right then.

I swung again, and this time when he reared back, I spun and sprinted for the forest. Pounding footsteps followed, and the other demon’s obnoxious laughter grew louder as he joined the chase.

It cut off suddenly, and a gurgling sound followed.

I didn’t dare stop or turn around. I kept running.

A scream came next, and then the pounding of boots started again.

I’d almost made it to the tree line and the cover of the forest when an arm hooked me around the waist, and I was yanked off my feet with a snarl. I struggled, swinging the tire iron wildly. Another hand grabbed my wrist, stopping me.

“Stop,” a deep voice growled before planting me back on my feet and spinning me around.

Draven.

He stood there covered in demon blood, so much of it soaking into his clothes and splattering his handsome face.

“What did I tell you?” Draven snarled, his large hands gripping my shoulders. “I told you to fucking watch yourself, and as soon as I turn my fucking back, you’re almost eaten by fucking demons.”

And going by all the blood, they were no longer a threat. “You’re angry,” I said stupidly. Not that it wasn’t hard to figure out with all the F-bombs he’d just dropped.

“And you’re a reckless fucking idiot.”

I tried to yank out of his hold, but he held me fast.

“Reckless? I got a flat tire. How the hell could I know that was going to happen?”

“Well, if you’d waited for me and hadn’t taken off in the city, I could have told you I’d seen one of those assholes tamper with your car.”

Anger pulsed through me now, thick and fast. “Why would I do that? You told me to stay away from you. I was only doing what you asked.”

He bared his teeth, his canines sharp and extended. “You’re a pain in my ass.”

“And you’re a major asshole,” I fired back.

He leaned in. “An asshole who just saved your life.”

Goddammit. That’s exactly what he’d just done. “Well…thank you, I appreciate it,” I said, still yelling.

He opened his mouth to fire something back, then shut it again when my words registered. He blinked down at me; the wind momentarily knocked from his sails.

He didn’t let me go, though. If anything, he held me tighter. His green gaze flickered, then changed, going wolf, and he made a low, rumbly sound. Shifters, especially wolves, loved touch, affection, and the way he pulled me closer, as if controlled by his wolf, then drew in a breath, scenting me, I knew that part of him was still drawn to me.

I held his animal gaze. “Still want to kiss me, huh?”

What the hell is wrong with you?

I mentally kicked my own ass. The male scared the shit out of me. He was unstable, dangerous, and he hated me. Yet when I was around him, the urge to goad him, to push him, was damn near irresistible.

“You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”

“I’d sooner kiss that demon’s half-severed head.”

His snarling lips curled into a vicious smile. “If I kissed your devious mouth, you’d drop to your hands and knees and offer up your cunt like I know you’re desperate to. You’d beg for it.”

I wanted to slap him hard, and my face heated because right then, I was turned on, which was twisted and humiliating. What did that say about me? Nothing good, that’s what.

When I didn’t reply, he laughed darkly.