Vixen (Dark Protectors #11.5) - Rebecca Zanetti Page 0,20

attention this time.”

He turned fully to face her, that weird growling sound emerging from his gut. The room wavered and then started to spin around him dizzily. They had drugged him.

It was his last thought before falling hard into unconsciousness.

Chapter 8

A pounding not inside his head jerked Evan awake again, and he bolted upright on his bed. His bedroom was empty. He lifted his head, smelling Tabi’s alluring scent right before sensing threats. He shoved from the bed and yanked his jeans on, drawing his backup gun from his dresser and padding barefoot down the hallway toward the living room.

Raine and Tabi were at the door, and they let in a definite threat. The man had black hair, deep black eyes, and a wide chest. He was as tall as Raine and moved like he could fight. His expression was pissed off, without question. “Maxwell,” he said, his slight brogue Scottish.

“Who the fuck are you?” Evan snapped, pointing the gun at the newcomer.

The guy looked his way. One very dark eyebrow rose. “He’s got power.”

Ah shit. Another cult member. Evan sidestepped into the room, keeping all three in his sights. “Tabitha? Behind me. Now.”

She threw up her hands and strode toward him, letting him put his body nearer the men. “Evan. Listen to me.”

“Against the wall. Both of you.” Evan gestured with the gun, feeling in control for the first time that day, although his temples still thrummed. “What drug did you give me?”

The newcomer gave Raine a side-eye look. “You drugged him?”

“Of course not.” Raine pulled the guy inside. “What the hell are you doing here, Adare?”

Adare kept his focus on Evan. “I was on my way to fetch my wayward mate when the king asked me to detour here and lock down a threat until he arrived.”

Not another freaking cult member. “Do you guys have a size requirement, or what?” Evan muttered.

Raine paused and looked at Adare. “You’re working with the Realm?”

“No, but I’m not working against them, and when the king asks for a favor, it seems prudent to grant it. For now.” Adare’s brogue deepened and he tilted his head to look at Tabi behind Evan. “Who’s the demonness?”

Raine sighed. “Tabitha Rusko and Evan O’Connell, this is Adare O’Cearbhaill.”

Adare jolted. “Rusko? I thought you’d all died out. Aren’t you crazy?”

Tabi stamped her foot. “I am not crazy, and we did not die out. Well, I’m alive, anyway.”

This was too bizarre. “Where are my dogs?” Evan asked.

“Outside,” Tabi whispered.

Raine shrugged. “All righty then. I’m out of here.” He began to move outside, into what looked like late afternoon.

Evan had slept all day? “Stop, Raine. I will shoot you,” Evan growled.

“Listen, copper,” Raine said, looking even more put out than he had earlier. “No offense, but the Maxwells like to stay off the Realm’s radar, and they’re about to descend on you like moss on a river rock.”

Evan stiffened. “Are we in danger?”

Raine lifted a shoulder. “Probably.”

Evan had to get Tabi out of there.

She pushed to his side. “You can’t be leaving me with the Realm,” she protested.

Raine smiled. “I sure can. Good luck, you two.” He hustled away faster than Evan would’ve thought possible.

“Don’t shoot him,” Tabi said. “He didn’t do anything wrong, except leaving me for the Realm, and I’ll handle him later. Somehow.”

The Realm must be the name of the cult. Evan focused on Adare. “You said something about your wayward mate.” Was there a woman in danger from this guy? While Evan wasn’t a cop any longer, he couldn’t let this massive man harm a woman.

“Aye,” Adare said, holding up his right palm to show a faint tattoo. “The brat has sat on my last nerve, and I’ve allowed her enough freedom.” The tattoo was different from the one on Tabi’s palm and now on Evan’s ass. Why didn’t they have the same tattoo? The Scottish guy looked Evan up and down. “How are you feeling?”

What the hell? “I told you to get against the wall.” Evan aimed his weapon between Adare’s eyes.

The guy actually rolled them. Seriously.

Tabi hovered next to Evan. “Have you ever seen an enhanced male human? Especially one who got mated?”

Adare slowly shook his head, watching Evan closely. “Nope. I thought the Kurjans killed them all—mainly because there was something off with the biology of enhanced human males.”

Tabi audibly gulped. “Off? Like what?”

“Like when their chromosomal pairs grew to the immortal level, they became themselves times a hundred. Assholes became serious assholes, and so on.” Adare smiled. “I hope this