The Moonlight Breed 8: Leap in the Dark by Gabrielle Evans (chrysanthemum read aloud .txt) 📕

Growling in clear frustration, the goblin dropped him to his feet, spun him around by his shoulder, and backhanded him right across the cheek. It hurt like the seven shades of hell, but Braxton remained on his feet, letting the pain fuel his anger.

A horrifying screech ripped through the night, and both goblins looked as though they’d piss themselves. “Get him in the truck,” the larger of the two ordered in a loud, panicked whisper as he flung open the passenger door.

“Move your fucking ass.” Blood ran down the fucker’s face, and Braxton couldn’t stop the smirk that curled one side of his lips.

“No.”

A fist descended toward his throbbing cheek, but Braxton was ready for it this time. Dropping to the ground, he lunged forward into the goblin’s legs, using the idiot’s own momentum to topple him. Being the smart man he was, he didn’t stick around to see the results. Tucking his arms against his sides, he propelled himself across the parking lot, pumping his legs as fast as they would move.

An enormous white tiger sailed over the hood of a car directly in front of him, and Braxton shrieked like a little girl as he dropped to his hands and knees to avoid a collision. Logically, he’d know Xander was coming for him, but it wasn’t every day that a guy had seven hundred pounds of snarling, pissed-off cat come flying at his face.

“Fuck!” one of the goblins shouted. “Go, go, go!”

An engine revved, tires squealed against the asphalt, and the truck swerved as it peeled out of the parking lot. For a moment, Braxton thought Xander was actually going to chase after it like a stray dog, but he slowed to a stop when he reached the main road, jerked around, and trotted back to Braxton’s side.

“Are you okay? Let me see. Lift your head.”

The adrenaline from the fight was beginning to ebb, and Braxton was barely hanging on to his composure. His hands trembled, his muscles quivered, and his abused cheek ached like a bitch. Throwing his arms around Xander’s neck, he buried his face in his lover’s soft fur and breathed deeply through his nose.

“I’m okay. I’m okay.” He kept repeating the words, unsure if he was trying to convince himself or Xander. “They just came out of nowhere.”

A rumbling purr vibrated in his ears as the cat nuzzled against his shoulder. “I shouldn’t have left you alone. I’m so sorry, baby.”

“Stop it. None of this was your fault.” A sudden thought struck him, and he released Xander to fumble in his pocket for his cell phone. He dialed quickly and pressed the phone to his ear, absently stroking Xander’s fur as he waited for Keeton to pick up on the other end of the line.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on a date?”

“Keeton, are you okay?”

“Huh? I’m fine. Are you okay?”

“No, not really, but I’ll explain when I get there. Get everyone inside, lock the doors, and stay away from the windows. I’m on my way.” He hung up without giving Keeton a chance to question his demands.

“Smart thinking,” Xander praised him. “I’m sorry our date was ruined, but we need to go.”

“I agree.” He jumped to his feet and brushed the sand and pebbles from his backside. “Let’s go.”

“You drive. The keys are still in the ignition.”

They didn’t run, but they did move at a fast clip back to the car. Braxton’s found his lover’s clothes in shreds near the entrance of the restaurant and shook his head as he gathered them up and tossed them in a the nearby receptacle. Then he hurried to the back passenger side to open the door for Xander.

There was something different about his partner, something he felt should be obvious, but it wasn’t until the huge cat leapt onto the bench seat that he finally put the pieces together. “Xander!”

“What?” There was alarm in his mate’s tone as it drifted into Braxton’s mind, and his ears stood up straight while his muscles coiled in preparation for a fight.

“Your leg! Well, I mean, I guess it would be your arm, but holy shit! Look at you. How does it feel? Does it hurt?”

The tiger lifted his front right paw and tilted his head down to examine it. “I didn’t even notice until now. It seems fine. No soreness or pain. It’s not numb, which is definitely a good sign.” Then he lifted his head and pinned Braxton with his yellow gaze. “Don’t get your hopes up, though. It might not mean anything when I shift back.”

Maybe it would and maybe it wouldn’t, but Braxton could sense Xander’s growing excitement. Even if his arm was still paralyzed in his human skin, he had use of all four legs as a tiger, and that was definitely something to celebrate.

Unfortunately, their current dilemma cast a dark shadow over the happy news. He’d never been one to charge into battle, but he wasn’t going to be a prisoner in his own home, nor would he sit around while the people he loved were threatened. There was no doubt in his mind that the assholes would use his friends and family to get to him.

Rounding the vehicle, he climbed behind the wheel and snapped his seatbelt into place. “Hold on tight, love.” Putting the transmission in reverse, he looked over his shoulder and paused before releasing the brake. “Uh, not too tight, though. Logan will shit kittens if you destroy his leather seats.”

The big cat chuffed as though he was laughing. “Just don’t fling me into the floorboard, and we’ll be good.”

“No promises,” he warned. “We have people to see, things to do, and a fight to plan.” He pulled out onto the road and pressed the accelerator to the floor. “You know, the usual.”

Chapter Eight

The sun was making its slow ascent over the eastern horizon when everyone finally trudged off to bed. Their friends had been appropriately outraged on Braxton’s behalf, but after hours of deliberation, they were