“You almost killed him for that?” she broke in, stunned. Tanner was behind her, swearing, and . . . she could smell his burned flesh.

Jonathan’s lips curved. “I’ve killed for less.”

Monster. “That’s not the way of our kind.”

Jonathan glared back at her. “I thought you’d understand. I thought you’d appreciate all I’ve done.” He shook his head and looked sad, but determined. “I see the truth now.”

The truth? What? That she was standing between him and Tanner, determined to keep her lover safe?

“You don’t see a f**kin’ thing,” Tanner growled, “but in a few minutes, I’ll be makin’ you see plenty.”

Marna glanced back quickly. Tanner was on his feet. Burned. Bloody, but not out. Not by a long shot. The floor creaked as he stalked closer.

She focused back on Jonathan.

He smiled. “You still think this can end well for you?” His furious gaze was on Tanner.

“I know it will.” Tanner pushed to her side and weaved a bit. He needed to shift, but if he did, he’d be vulnerable. Could she keep Jonathan busy long enough for Tanner to make that shift?

I’ll have to.

“Your brother is bleeding out in the back of a patrol car.” Jonathan spoke casually as he wiped his bloody hands on his shirt. “You’re both dying today, shifter. The only question is . . . which one of you gets to hell first?”

“You do,” Tanner promised him. “Then when we . . . get there . . . Cody and I will take turns kicking your . . . ass.”

Jonathan laughed. “Want to taste that fire again?” A ball of flames rose above his hand. “I’ll burn all your skin right off your body.”

No, he wouldn’t. She just had to get him away from Tanner long enough for her shifter to heal. To heal . . . and then kick ass. He did that so well.

“You’re not killing us,” she told him. “We’re killing you.” Not a lie. Promises weren’t lies.

But he laughed and sent his blasts of fire all around the room. The fire licked its way up the walls.

Marna pushed out with her own energy, whirling around as she tried to fight the blaze. Why was he so strong?

While she was still so weak?

Every time she put out the fire, he started it again. Bones were snapping near her, popping, and Tanner was shifting. Yes. She just had to keep battling the flames and keep Jonathan fighting her long enough for Tanner to—

Something sharp pressed into her side. Pain stabbed through her—no, she’d been stabbed.

The flames rose higher. She turned, and found Jonathan inches from her. “You disappointed me,” he said and sounded so sad. “So I have to punish you now.”

No. She shook her head. The flames were so hot.

Bones were still popping. A panther was growling and . . .

“Your lover wasn’t the first shifter I met,” Jonathan told her. “So many beasts over the years. So f**king many. Those animals begged for their justice, and I gave them just what they deserved.”

The pain twisted in her side. Marna glanced down. Her blood spilled down her clothing.

“At death, a shifter’s body always goes back to its human form.”

She knew this crap. Pain pulsed through her. The fire was rising again, and she couldn’t seem to muster the energy to fight the flames.

“But if you can cut off a shifter’s limbs before it dies, those pieces don’t ever change back. They freeze, and you get a real nice souvenir.”

He was a sick freak.

He yanked his hand back. Marna gasped at the agony. And she saw it wasn’t a knife that had stabbed into her. Heavy claws had dug into her flesh and torn her muscles.

Claws?

Her gaze rose to meet his.

“I took these from that panther shifter in the swamp. Russell. The guy thought he was such a badass, but you should have heard him crying when I sliced off his hand. I took my time with him. I tore that animal apart with his own damn claws.” He smiled. “Then I kept my souvenir, because I knew just how well a shifter’s claws could work against the other supernaturals out there.”

Other supernaturals . . . me. Angels could be killed by those claws. So could every other supernatural beast that walked the earth.

Her body trembled. The scent of flowers deepened. And . . . was that an angel she saw? Slipping into the room?

“I didn’t want to use these on you. But you gave me no choice.” He lifted his hand and drove the claws into her chest. “If you’re not with me, angel, then you’re dead to me.”