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. What the hell?Killian passed by the kitchen window, his eyes shimmering bright and cursing with everystomp of his feet.A rage Quinn had never seen in the other shifter engulfed his expression.He hurried outside as Killian shifted and disappeared into the woods behind the house. Killian?He was already gone.Quinn, following suit, stripped and shifted.He sniffed the ground at the forest s edge,searching frantically for Killian s unmistakable scent.The instant his lover s essence entered hisnostrils, Quinn whimpered.He took off smelling the air and searching the woods ahead of him.What could have setKillian off like that? He d seemed fine when he left to grab the morning newspaper from the box atthe end of the driveway.Quinn sped up, overwhelmed by his need to make sure Killian was okay.As he entered a thicket, deep in the woods, Killian s scent became stronger.Quinn slowed tocatch his breath.White puffs of steam drifted up from his snout as his heated breath hit the crispmorning air.Killian was nowhere in sight though his scent infiltrated his nose.Quinn lifted his snout and howled, his concern rising by the second.A loud clap rang out to his left, and he recoiled out of reflex.The fur on his back stood on end.He sniffed the air again and crept in the direction where the scent was strongest, slowly making hisway through the underbrush.Killian had to be nearby.He wandered another twenty yards or so and stopped abruptly when another loud clickingsound rang out.What in the hell is that?To change perspective, Quinn quickly shifted back into human form.Goose-bumps pelted hisskin as a frigid breeze chilled him.He searched the woods, looking for the source of the strange noise.No animal he d ever head sounded similar. Killian?Quinn jolted when, from the corner of his eye, a sudden movement caught his attention.Without warning, he was slammed to the ground, and hit the forest floor with a thud as a heavy weightpressed down on top of him. Don t move, Killian whispered in his ear.Quinn froze and lay perfectly still with only the sound of his booming heart and Killian sheavy breathing to disturb the area around them.Footsteps stomped in the distance, and more clicking noises echoed through the trees.Killian remained on top of Quinn as though shielding him.He pressed his finger to his lipssignaling him to remain quiet.Quinn furrowed his brow, silently questioning the other shifter.Killian whispered in his ear,  Hunters.Quinn jerked away.His first instinct was to run despite the danger.Killian pinned him in place, shoving his shoulders deeper into the soft top layer of dampened,leaf covered soil.His jaw thumped, and he shook his head no.Quinn squeezed his eyes shut, hoping he was dreaming.He buried his face in Killian s chest,clinging to the strong sense of safety he felt in his lover s arms.Killian hugged him close as they laythere in the leaves and pine needles, cold and shivering.He stroked the back of Quinn s head, easinghis fears with each reassuring touch. Shh. Killian s warning was as subtle as an exhale, but Quinn felt the urgency behind it.They remained still, hidden under a cluster of yaupons until the sounds drifted off into thedistance.Killian slowly loosened his grip and eased up onto his knees, but kept his hand on Quinn sshoulder, holding him in place.The gesture reminded Quinn of the way his mother used to reach outand protect him when they crossed a street, or when he d wandered too close to the railing as theystrolled over the foot-bridge at the park near their house. Okay. Killian got to his feet, and motioned for Quinn to get up. Are you all right?Quinn swallowed hard and nodded, his heart still racing. There shouldn t have been anyone in the woods.This is private property. He ran a shakyhand through his long hair.His brow hitched, and he licked his lips. They were definitely hunters, butdeer season isn t for a couple for more weeks.Quinn dusted himself off. Did you get a good look at them? An older man and two, maybe three others. I, um, I saw some guys behind the diner the other day.I didn t think much of it, though. Itwasn t the whole truth, but there was no reason to make more of what he d seen, especially if it hadnothing to do with them. Think they could be the same guys?Killian didn t look happy. I don t know, but the longer we re out here like this the moredanger we re in.We should shift back so we can move faster.Okay?Quinn nodded.Quinn had a lot to learn about sharing.When he was on his own, keepingpossible important information to himself wouldn t be a problem, but having others to think about wasa game changer.He d have to remember that. Stay close and don t slow down until we get to the house.No matter what. Okay. An air of relief sifted down his back.It felt nice to have someone else to watch hisback, keep an eye out, and shoulder the some of the burden of trying to stay alive.Following Killian came naturally as they made their way back to the house.When they arrivedand shifted back, Killian jogged toward the main house, and gathered his clothes.Quinn watched curiously as Killian stopped and stared at a large set of bay windows on thenorth end of the mansion. Everything okay? He didn t expect Killian to answer, but he askedanyway.Killian breezed past him without a word and went into the guest house.Quinn picked up his clothes and followed [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]