Free Her Warrior for Eternity by Susanna Shore Page B

police.”
    She allowed him to escort her back to the car and they took the back seat. Jas got behind the wheel, as usual, but when Nick sat in the front seat next to him, Jeremy had to work not to growl. He didn’t hate the bloke, but a power stronger than him was operating him now.
    Hunger seized many vampire males when they found their mate. The irresistible force was meant for countering vampires’ violent tendencies, to subdue the Rider, their second nature, so that the vampire race could go on. It was temporary, but necessary. When in the throes of powerful emotions, vampires had trouble controlling their second nature. And they couldn’t let the Rider roam free.
    Well, warriors could. It was an indication of their strength that they were able to control it again after it had been freed, so it was surprising that hunger would be affecting him. Then again, it had caught Jas too. Perhaps it was in their blood.
    That a mysterious force would think Cora was his mate was self-evident. He had been obsessed with her since he met her. He admired her beauty and he was impressed with her strength. Hunger knew she would be ideal for him, even though she was human.
    She could be a vampire . But he hushed his Rider’s tempting voice.
    While he could reason everything to himself, it would be another matter to explain it to her. The short drive to her hall wasn’t enough for him to come up with anything plausible. Jas pulled over behind Jeremy’s car, left outside her hall when he followed Cora on foot. Jeremy scanned the neighbourhood before he allowed her to exit, but it was clear of renegades. Jas and Nick drove away and he followed her in.
    “I can manage just fine from here.”
    “We’re not staying.”
    “What?”
    “Look, you’re a renegade magnet. I can’t protect you here. I’m taking you to a safer place.”
    “The fuck you are. I have my job and my studies here.”
    “It’s only temporary. And you can still work and study. It’s in Mayfair, and that’s not so far.” It was tempting to simply charm her to obey, but he couldn’t do that to her. Not with hunger demanding he didn’t harm her. So he just placed a hand on her shoulder. “Please. You saw how angry I got when I thought Nick had risked your life. How do you think I’ll fare if I know you’re here, unprotected?”
    She regarded him quietly for a long time. “Fine. But that doesn’t mean I trust you.”
    “Fair enough.” He ignored the snort his Rider made. They both knew that while he was affected by hunger , she could absolutely trust him. He wouldn’t be able to harm her. He would harm himself first.
    He watched her pack a small bag. “You should take more clothes.”
    “I’m not planning to stay longer than a week, till the end of the Easter holiday.”
    He had no intention of letting her move back here until the serial killer was caught, but he nodded. One battle at a time.
    As far as hideouts went, Corynn could live with this one. A Mayfair luxury estate with a private car park under the building, a security guard, a lobby of marble, and a huge top floor flat decorated with taste and style. And all this with a view over Hyde Park.
    “Stay out of the park after dark,” Jeremy commanded, as if reading her mind. And maybe he was. She couldn’t trust him not to do that.
    “Why?”
    “It’s the territory of three different wolf-shifter clans. We have an understanding with them, but that doesn’t mean we should test it.”
    “Does that mean Toby can’t go running there with me either?”
    He frowned. Bringing up a male friend wasn’t smart after the testosterone display earlier, but she wasn’t about to put her life on hold just because he was behaving irrationally. “Yes.”
    She feigned nonchalance. “Oh, well, we can still run in Regent’s Park.”
    “If you want to go running, I’ll go with you.”
    She swept her gaze down the length of him. Despite her upset, the sight affected her, his wide shoulders that stretched