Bound in Darkness by Cynthia Eden

stepped closer. “Allison?” 
    At his voice, her head rose slightly, and his heart started to race in his chest.  He could see the blood on her cheek. The scratches. She pushed up slowly as she stared down at the still form of Elsa.
    The witch hadn’t survived the fall. Maybe it was the stake in her chest that had killed her. Or the twisted angle of her neck. Either way, Elsa wouldn’t be hurting them or anyone else ever again.
    He reached for Allison and lifted her gently into his arms. He noticed that, hell, yes, dammit, his hands were shaking. Fear. “Don’t ever fucking do that to me again.” He’d seen the stake go into her chest.  Had thought for one lost, desperate moment that she’d been dying.
    Won’t lose her.
    He pulled her closer. Held her tight.  He’d seen what waited in the mirror. What the future held for him and—
    “ Werewolf.”
    And the fucking vampires were back. Could no one just leave them the hell alone? 
    Snarling, Cade pushed Allison behind him. He’d deal with these jackasses and then get her some place safe. Warm.
    Then he’d make love to her all night long. Until he forgot what it was like to fear that death could steal her from him while he was helpless to do anything but just watch her die. 
    One leap forward, and Cade had his claws at the big, blond vampire’s throat. Cade knew the lead asshole when he saw him. “Ready to lose that head?” One swipe, just one, and he’d be rid of the bastard.
    “I’m not here…” The vampire didn’t seem particularly afraid. Obviously a dumbass. “To hurt her…or you.”
    Bullshit.
    “Elsa said…” The vampire swallowed and Cade sliced his throat, a small, warning slice. More would come. “She said you were the threat…that you were sent to kill Allison.”
    Plans had fucking changed. Everything had changed for him from that first moment in the alley, when he’d looked into bright blue eyes and realized that he still had part of his soul left.
    A soul and a heart. He should have killed her, but Cade had only come alive when he met her.
    Allison slid her small hand over his shoulder. Cade forced himself to take a breath. The urge to strike was so strong that he trembled but…
    But the vampire wasn’t making any move to attack.
    “You got your Intel wrong,” Cade snapped. Okay, fuck, he had been hired to kill Allison, but that plan had changed day one.  He’d become the man who’d stand between her and any threat that might be out there.
    Kill her?  Hell, no.  He wouldn’t even so much as bruise her skin. Right then, all he wanted to do was take her away, give her his blood, let her heal—
    Then make love to her until he stopped being afraid that she’d slip away from him.
    Death, you can’t have her. So fuck off. 
    “No one takes her from me,” he said, the words a vow. He hadn’t found her just to lose her.  Wouldn’t happen. If he had to behead this vamp to prove it…
    He was ready to slice.
    “I mean her no harm.”  Blood dripped down the vampire’s throat. “I thought…that night in the alley, I thought you were the threat.”
    “He wasn’t,” Allison said as her fingers pressed against Cade’s shoulder. 
    Her voice was weak. She needs blood. His blood. But as much as he wanted to turn and scoop her into his arms, he didn’t move. Not yet. 
    Cade kept his hold on his prey.
    The only good vamp…
    “I have no quarrel with you, werewolf,” the vampire told him. The guy’s cronies had come outside, but they stood just in front of the house, wisely deciding not to interrupt right then.
    Smart. They might keep their heads.
    “I know who you are,” the guy went on. “And I know what you did to that nest in Oregon who made the mistake of fucking with your pack.”
    The rage built within Cade.
    “If you hadn’t killed them,” he added, “then my team would have.  We don’t tolerate rogue groups, and we’re sure as hell don’t make a habit of torturing children.”
    The guy looked