Savage Craving - Cecilia Lane Page 0,5

with Jasper, then grimaced. “That won’t be possible.”

“It’s fine,” Jasper said over Cedric’s next objection. “We shouldn’t expect anything else for animals, should we?” He turned cold eyes on Lilah. “My, my, your heart is beating as fast as a hummingbird’s. Do I make you nervous, little bird?”

Lilah sat back. A slight gesture from Cedric kept her from fleeing entirely. Safe, he said. She couldn’t be maimed or injured when the shifter was under lock and key. She was there to do a job. Personal feelings had nothing to do with performing her duties.

Fighting against the tidal wave of fear cresting inside her, she reached for her pen. Her knuckles turned white under the force of her grip, but she put tip to paper and stayed in her seat.

Cedric dove right in. “As we near the date of your trial—”

Jasper cut Cedric off with a jangle of chains and a raised hand. “I will be changing my plea. Not guilty doesn’t sit right with me.”

“I’m sorry,” Cedric said after a beat. “I want to be clear. You want to plead guilty on all charges?”

Jasper leaned back and folded his hands over his stomach. “I do not recognize your laws,” he drawled. “I will not be judged by my inferiors.”

A shiver worked down Lilah’s spine. She’d heard similar words before. Taunts about her unworthiness and her weak human body. The message had been the same. Humans and shifters didn’t mix.

And yet, there she was, seated across from one. All the years of therapy and being told she was crazy, that no such man-and-beast combination existed, all the hurts and feelings of betrayal, all of it had been for nothing. Shifters existed.

They’d ruined her life.

Cedric shook his head. “I have to tell you, Mr. Crowley, declaring yourself a sovereign citizen doesn’t end well. Regardless of your recognition, this trial is happening—”

“Ah.” Jasper flashed a tight smile. “I fear you misunderstand me. When I say I will not be judged by my inferiors, I mean I will not even allow them in my presence. I won’t be attending any part of this circus.”

“Then what—”

Crack.

Lilah jumped out of her chair as Cedric slumped against the table. Her shoulders hit the wall, and she slid down to the ground, her eyes locked on his lifeless face. The guard reached past the twisted, broken neck of the man she respected and slid a key into the shackles of the creature behind his death.

Her chest tightened, and she struggled to breathe. A roar sounded in her ears, drowning out everything else. She could see mouths moving, but she couldn’t hear a damn word they said. Black fluttered at the edge of her vision. She wanted to embrace it and let herself tumble down the hole it offered.

Too much. It was all too much.

The scent of dirt filled her nose, transporting her to another time. Another place. Other faces flashed through her mind as panic dumped into her veins. She wanted to run, but they’d catch her. Hide, and they’d find her.

She squeezed her eyes closed, but that only forced the past to play out in full color on the back of her lids.

Shifters were dangerous. Vicious. Deadly. There was no escape when they set their sights on a person. She’d learned that lesson well when she faced furred attackers as a teenager.

This time, no one was coming to save her.

No. She balled her hands into fists and dug her nails into her palms. Falling apart wasn’t an option. Tears and fears waited in her bed. She needed to survive to get there.

“What about this one?” the guard asked.

Lilah grabbed hold of herself with a deep, shaky breath. She snapped her eyes open to see Jasper stalk across the room.

He’d changed out of the jumpsuit and collar. Her skin crawled to see him wearing Cedric’s clothing.

“Two entered the room. Two need to leave. I won’t have a stray camera give us away.” He snapped his fingers and pointed for her tote bag, then rummaged around inside for her wallet. A mocking smile spread over his face as he glanced at her license. “You won’t do anything stupid, will you, Lilah McKenna? I’d hate to need to pay 1612 Sycamore Circle, Unit 21 a visit.”

Lilah fought through a fresh wave of panic. He knew where she lived. Holy hell, she could never go back there. All the therapy and security in the world couldn’t convince her those walls were safe. She’d already left one town because the fear of