Chapter 27

" Y ou're one crazy motherfucker," Krys said as he hovered over Archer. "This is worse than putting a woman's name on your ass."

Khalid, the tattoo artist working on him, flicked a glance up at Archer. "Are you sure you want the liquid fire? People test out my designs all the time. I don't mind."

Of course he didn't mind. Tattoo artists in the Breed world had skills they refined for centuries. Their images were flawless and unique, but not one of them complained if an immortal only wore their design for a short while before their body absorbed the ink. That meant more money in their pocket if the customer decided they wanted to change it or get something else.

"That's permanent," Krys said.

"Do you think I've been dragging your ass to Austin for the fun of it?" Archer tucked his right hand behind his head. "I had to find an artist with my vision."

"You made the right choice," the tattooist said.

Krys merely grunted and walked back to his chair.

On the last trip, once they agreed on the design, Khalid inked the outline so Archer could make sure the position and size worked. His shirtsleeves always covered his left upper arm, and because the ink had faded since then, no one had seen it.

"Why not put a wolf on there?" Krys stretched out his legs and pierced Archer with his crystal-blue eyes.

"What the hell do I want a wolf on my arm for?" Archer stared up at the ceiling. "A wolf is the reason I don't have this arm, and I sure don't want to commemorate him with permanent ink to remind me."

The tattooist flicked an inquisitive gaze up but didn't ask the burning question he must have been wondering about the amputation.

Archer had a bow and arrow tattooed on his right arm. After he lost his arm, he had an artist modify the bow limbs to make them into wings. Even though the Relic had given him a prosthetic grip that worked with a bow, it wasn't the same. The precision, agility, and speed for which he was once revered was off. Aside from that, it stirred up bad memories. The thorns around his neck symbolized his pain. All of those marks were depressing reminders, and he wanted something inspiring.

Khalid wiped the tattoo several times and leaned back. "All done. Take a look."

Archer swung his legs over the chair and walked up to the mirror. He had decided on a profile image of a horse's head, its tousled mane twisting away as if caught in the wind. It wasn't a realistic or heavily detailed image. But man, was it beautiful.

Archer had never seen Cecilia's horse, so his tattoo was a drawing that represented her spirit. Cecilia was on her own path to healing, and her resilience made him want to be a better person. She was discovering her voice and finding her worth in the world—a challenge for a woman who had lived a sheltered life.

Yet he couldn't take for granted that she also might be masking her pain. Thinking back to his struggles with self-harm and depression, Archer never wanted her to experience that. He wanted to be there for her.

It had been foolish to think he could stave off the inevitability of her learning the truth about his past, but the way it all went down last night made him want to crawl into a hole. Still, she needed to know what she was signing up for. So that moment in the truck when she leaned into him was everything.

She had chosen him.

For the first time, Archer felt love. He always knew he was capable, but in his one hundred years, he'd never felt he deserved a woman's love—even before he lost his arm. How could anyone love a sinful man?

"Well?" Khalid tapped on a large jar. "You want to wear it for a while? Maybe you'll change your mind and put it somewhere else or want adjustments. I don't like using this on someone who isn't sure."

Archer returned to his chair. "Let's do it."

Krys cursed under his breath and repeated, "It's permanent."

"So is your charming disposition, but you don't see me complaining."

Khalid snapped on a clean pair of black gloves and rolled up his stool. After unscrewing the jar, he measured out a scoop of what resembled thick petroleum jelly. "Brace yourself. Don't be afraid to cry."

This guy didn't know what pain was.

When Khalid slathered on the substance, permanently sealing the ink, it burned like flames consuming his skin. Archer thought how weak it felt in comparison to the pain he'd once suffered.

"You're a brave man," Khalid remarked while smoothing it over the ink. "I once had a Mage come in who was a prominent leader many centuries ago. He screamed like an eagle when I sealed his back tattoo. In my experience, women handle pain better. I guess they're built differently than we are."

Once Khalid wiped off the excess, he used a wet rag to clean the area while explaining how tattoo artists had to use more liquid fire than you would normally use for a scar. "It'll never change, fade, or bleed," he said. "If you ever want to add color or modify the design, call me."

Khalid removed his gloves, put on a new pair, and repeated the cleaning process. Archer didn't know where liquid fire came from but guessed it was made in secret to protect those with the special knowledge. Probably Relics.

While waiting for Khalid to apply the bandage, Archer got a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. An icy chill swept over his body, and all his hairs stood on end.

"What's wrong?" Krys asked. "Pain just now hitting you?"

Archer shot out of the chair. "Something's wrong."

"Yeah. You got a horse inked on your body."

"No. Something's wrong with Cici."

Khalid stood and applied the bandage to Archer's arm, but Archer was feeling a massive kick of adrenaline flooding into his veins.

"We need to go."

"Go where?" Krys stood.

"Avoid shifting for twenty-four hours," Khalid cautioned him. "Just in case. If you do, examine the ink and make sure it doesn't require a touch-up."

Archer pulled the money out of his wallet, and instead of counting out the tip, he dumped every bill he had on the counter. "It's badass," he said robotically before marching out the door.

Krys caught up when they entered the parking lot. "Do you mind filling me in?"

"I don't know. Something's wrong with Cici. I've got a bad feeling I can't shake. Call her number. It's in my contact list." He tossed Krys the phone as they got into the truck .

Archer peeled out of the parking lot so fast that he barely turned the wheel enough to get them onto the road.

"No answer." Krys put it on speaker and made a second attempt, but it went to voicemail.

Archer put the pedal to the floor. It seemed like a lifetime before they arrived at the warehouse. Both of them got knocked around when Archer jerked the wheel too soon and they plowed over the road verge. After putting it in park, he ran up to the building and pounded his fist on the door.

"Cici! Open up."

When he didn't hear anything, he pressed his ear to the door. The unmistakable roar of a large cat made his chest tighten.

Archer sprinted back to the truck and jumped in. He threw it in reverse, backed up to the road, and positioned himself in front of the garage door. "Check for a gun."

Krys opened the glove compartment and retrieved a pistol. "Are you sure about this? That'll be one hell of a repair bill if you're wrong."

Following a deep breath, Archer looked at his cousin and said, "Last chance to bail."

Krys reached over as if to give Archer a hug but instead put the seat belt on him. "Safety first." After buckling his own, Krys aimed the gun at the floor, his finger off the trigger.

Archer accelerated at top speed. For a few breathless seconds, it felt as if the tires were off the ground. Then they crashed into the roll-down garage door. The impact was as loud as a shotgun, and most of the door pushed in and broke apart. Archer backed out and rammed it once more until the vehicle was inside.

When he spotted the tiger astride Cecilia's back, he took off his seat belt and jumped out.

Krys rounded the vehicle, his gun aimed. "You wanna play, kitty? Let's play. "

Cecilia was struggling to breathe from being pinned beneath the giant cat.

Archer stalked toward him, his only goal to lure the animal away from her. "Come on!"

The tiger unleashed a spine-chilling roar as they closed in from opposite angles. Archer's heart galloped in his chest at the sight of blood staining the animal's neck.

"He's wounded," Archer warned Krys. "Be careful."

Cecilia met eyes with Archer. She curled her arm and, in a quick motion, slid something toward him. A shiny dagger skated across the concrete floor and stopped a few feet short.

Archer shot after it, and as soon as his fingers wrapped around the handle, the tiger lunged.

Krys fired a shot in the air. As the pop reverberated off the walls, a tremendous force of magic erupted when Cecilia transformed into a magnificent black mare.

Archer rolled out of the way, dodging the cat, but it reared around and swiped its massive paw. Archer barely registered the pain of the tiger's claws ripping down his right lower leg.

The motion of everything was too fast to track. He heard the clip-clop of hooves on concrete before the black mare reared up and brought her front legs down on the tiger. She screamed and snorted, the whites of her eyes a chilling sight.

The tiger hissed and swiped his paws. Cecilia's mare turned around and kicked the animal so hard that he flew across the floor several feet.

Krys fired the gun, but it only grazed Noah's back when he moved out of the way. The sound spooked the horse, and she reared up on her hind legs and let out a shrill scream.

Realizing he was trapped, the tiger fled through the open garage door.

Archer hopped to his feet and gave his bleeding leg a cursory glance. "He'll kill someone if he doesn't shift. "

Krys paced in circles. "One of us needs to stay human so we can shoot him, but the truck tire's flat. I can shift, but I can't take down a fucking tiger by myself. We need a pack."

Cecilia's horse snorted, her heavy breaths demanding Archer's attention. She nodded her head and watched him closely.

The first meeting with a Shifter's animal was momentous, but how would she respond to a predator? Determined to win her trust, he offered Cecilia his hand.

The gorgeous black mare approached, her powerful muscles rippling. Not only was she graceful but incredibly strong.

No wonder Noah tried to break her.

The mare stepped forward and nuzzled him as if they had known each other for a lifetime. He ran his hand across her dark coat and stroked her neck as she nickered. Archer sensed no fear from her.

"We have to go," Krys urged him.

Cecilia's mare knelt, inviting him to ride her. He looked at her back with hesitation, uncertain if this was wise. But she snorted and whinnied, coaxing him on.

"I've never ridden a horse," he admitted. "I don't know if I can hold on with no hands." Archer looked at the long, sharp blade. He couldn't fight a tiger without a weapon, but carrying it meant he couldn't grip her mane without either dropping the dagger or cutting her.

Throwing caution to the wind, he climbed astride the animal and clenched his thighs as she stood.

"Goddammit," Krys muttered. "She's gonna throw your ass off."

Archer leaned forward against her neck. He kept the blade pointed away to hug her with his right arm while using his left shoulder and upper arm to stabilize himself. Archer had never used all his muscles this intensely and prayed like hell he wouldn't get trampled beneath her hooves .

"Shift," he told Krys. "You track the tiger, and we'll follow."

"You need the gun."

"The gun will spook her. Besides, I'm a lousy shot."

Krys morphed into a brown wolf. He had a menacing look about him, but when he looked around and sensed no threat, he took off after a scent.

Holding on tight, Archer felt Cecilia's unbridled power as her animal followed the wolf.

He recalled her once mentioning that she only held consciousness for a few seconds. Their animals were in tune with their human counterparts, so her horse must have comprehended the urgency.

Running across the parking lot and street was the easiest part, but when the scent took Krys's wolf off-road, Archer held on for his fucking life. One sharp turn and he would slide right off. Her hoofbeats were like a battle drum as they rode through the open field.

Once she found her stride, Archer found his balance. The city lights drew closer. If Noah's tiger made it onto the streets, he would maul anyone in sight. As long as his animal felt the impending threat of wolves giving chase, he wouldn't shift.

Krys's wolf bayed up ahead, and a roar filled the night. The closer they got to the lights ahead, the easier it was to see.

Archer raised his head, his thighs gripping tightly as he caught sight of the tiger to his left. Krys gave chase on the other side, but the tiger's endurance was quickly diminishing.

When Cecilia closed in from the side, running a few paces ahead, Archer bit down on the dagger's handle and managed to get his feet on top of the horse's back in a crouching position. Before he fell off, he gripped the knife in his hand and jumped.

The instant he landed on the tiger's back, he shoved the blade into his neck twice as they tumbled in the grass .

Krys's wolf savagely attacked while Archer stabbed the flailing tiger. At some point, Archer lost the knife as they tumbled.

The wounded predator staggered to its feet, and when it turned toward him, Archer knew he was about to die.

Cecilia rose up on her hind legs. Both tiger and horse stared at each other for a breathless second before the hooves came down. The death blow crushed the tiger's skull, killing him instantly.

Agitated and sweating, the mare paced back and forth.

Krys shifted to human form and assessed the situation. "I always miss out on the fun."

"Careful," Archer warned him. "She's spooked." When Archer touched the mare's back, she rose up again. "Easy, girl. Easy. It's just me. You're okay now. Everything's okay."

The glint in her eye said otherwise.

The night Noah left town, he'd mentioned how his tiger would torment her animal. This was her first time out in a long time, and she had faced her abuser. Now fear, anger, and a taste of victory were mixing together in a confusing soup.

"You got him, Cici," Archer said, soothing her with his tone. "He'll never hurt you again." While stroking her neck, he directed his words to Krys. "Find the knife. We need to call Tak and get cleaners out here fast."

Picking up the blade, Krys flipped his long dark hair out of his face. "Stay here. I'll go back for the phone."

"See if you can clean up the mess we made before the warehouse owner gets back. I don't want him having a bad impression of Cici."

Krys scoffed. "That ship has sailed."

Once alone, Archer stroked the midnight mare and noticed the way she put herself between him and the dead tiger.

Her protective instinct made him weep, for in that moment, Archer knew with certainty that they were life mates. For whatever reason, the universe had decided that a wolf and horse were destined for love.

Archer pressed a kiss to her muzzle while calmly stroking her head. "You're free now. But this isn't a safe place. You can shift all you want when we get home, but right now, I need Cici. Can you let her out?"

Their animals didn't understand words, but they did pick up on intent. In a swift motion, the large animal shifted into a lovely brunette.

Cecilia frantically scanned her surroundings. When she spotted the tiger, she drew back.

"He's dead." Archer braced his hand on her shoulder, uncertain of her state of mind.

Cecilia turned toward him and kissed him hard. Archer stirred with amorous feelings that always followed a battle, and they were tenfold after fighting alongside his mate.

The thought of Cecilia as his life mate made him want to do bad things, like turn that tiger's pelt into a rug and make sweet love to her on it.

He softened the kiss, his hand on her hip and the smell of victory in his nose. A soft gust of wind rustled through the grass and lifted the ends of her long hair.

Cecilia looked at her wrist. "My charms."

"We'll fix them."

She turned her gaze to the open field and city lights. "Where are we?"

"Together."