sensation was burned away, only she mattered. The path they took became as clear as a glowing thread.
Ana, I'm coming.
Danielle was thrown to the ground scraping her arms and chin, her bound wrists wrenching behind her as she instinctively tried to break her fall. The men didn't ask questions, didn’t demand knowledge; they seemed to be waiting for something or someone. They laughed and spoke in a foreign language as Danielle lay motionless on the ground.
The sound of metal being ripped apart made the men jump to their feet, quickly falling back into an attack formation. Whatever they had been waiting for seemed to have arrived. Danielle shuffled on her knees into the corner; something was tearing through a solid steel door with the roar of an approaching tornado.
A wet crunching and painful wale from the entry of the building made her cringe and try to work her cuffs under her legs. This was a nightmare and she desperately needed to wake up. The sounds kept coming in all directions as if a war had broken out in the ware house. Moments later it was silent; but she had no intention of looking. She'd rather not see her death coming, fear was always worse than pain.
"An…Danielle?" The familiar voice was soft and probing. "Are you hurt?"
Danielle jerked around at the sound of Michael's voice. She was now certain that she had fallen down the rabbit hole. Michael had arranged for her kidnapping, stood by and watched it happen, then he came to her rescue. What the hell would he do next!
"You're all right now Rhamah." He stroked the dirt from her face and smoothed her hair. "Don't look." He warned as he reached behind and quickly snapped her cuffs in two.
She cold clocked him the moment her hands were free. His face barely twitched, but her knuckles felt like they'd been slammed into a brick wall.
"Ow! Get away from me!" She shook her fist out and staggered to her feet.
Michael's face was concerned and he reached for her again.
"Don't you dare touch me! I'm not falling for the whole I'm your hero crap. You planned the whole thing! I saw you at the hotel!" Danielle tried to get around him, but he stepped in her way. She changed direction and he matched her.
"Where is everyone else?"
"It's just me. Keep your eyes closed." He needed to shield her from the carnage he had just wrought. He couldn't chance her seeing his world as humans assumed it was; needed to give her the necklace so she could see how it truly could be. He lifted her easily then traced to the hotel room. Carrying her to the bed Michael noticed Orlando and Cassie embracing near the window. Hope rippled through him as he laid Danielle on the bed then looked her over quickly, making sure she wasn’t injured.
"You vowed to take us." Orlando's voice was unwelcome as he stared at the face of his mate, so close .
"And I'll keep my promise." He glared at Orlando. Now was not the time to make demands or force Michael to do anything; timing was critical in securing her safety. He'd been this close to saving her a number of times, and the familiar panic crept through his chest. He needed to explain everything to her; needed to protect her. "Who is after you?" Michael demanded in a tone more gruff than he intended.
"Your kind." Werewolves and vampires used to be enemies, but over the centuries, their feuds died along with their hatred for one another.
"Why do they seek you?" Michael needed to know what he was up against since he was going to be aiding a wanted wolf.
"I turned down a proposition." Orlando hung his arm over Cassie's shoulder, pulling her small form against him. Knowing there was more to the story; Michael narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to probe the subject further when Danielle began to stir.
"Danielle?" Her eyes fluttered open. It seemed she was the center of attention as Orlando, Cassie and a brooding Michael peered at her. For a moment, she shrunk back against the mattress before shooting from the bed; slamming her back against