Tanner smiled, then said, “Trust me, she likes my animal side.” He’d been worried that he might scare her, but he hadn’t. Marna had been just as wild and fierce when they came together.

His gaze lifted to the stairs. He heard the roar of water and knew that she’d turned on the shower. She’d be up there now, naked.

Wet.

He dropped his hold on Riley and walked straight for the stairs.

“You really think she’s just gonna turn and greet you with open arms?” Riley’s voice mocked him. “That was one very angry angel who stalked up those stairs.”

Tanner tossed a glare over his shoulder. “Don’t worry about what happens between us.”

Riley laughed. “You are one clueless ass**le. Go on up there. She’ll toss you right back down.”

Jaw clenching, Tanner grabbed for the thin stair railing. The day he needed romantic advice from a vamp—

I’ll be cold in the ground.

He took the steps three at a time. There was no lock on the door to Marna’s room, so he pushed it open and hurried inside. Steam came from the small room near the bed. She’d left the bathroom door ajar.

But Tanner didn’t rush inside. He stopped. Shut the bedroom door behind him, and took a deep breath.

I could have lost her.

He understood the game that the killer was playing now. The sick prick. The guy had set things up perfectly, and Tanner had been the one forced to choose.

Save the angel or save the demon.

Bastard.

Tanner had managed, just barely, to save them both. But what would happen next time? He couldn’t just let his own brother die.

He wouldn’t let Marna slip away from him.

So next time . . . he reached for the edge of his bloody shirt and tossed the garment aside. Next time, Tanner would make sure he was the one hunting—and the one killing.

He’d keep both Marna and Cody safe. He had to. There just wasn’t any other option for him.

He kicked off his shoes. Finished stripping. The water continued to pour from inside the shower. The steam rose, and drifted into the room like smoke.

Tanner glanced down at his arms. He’d shifted a few more times, trying to push his body’s natural healing powers into overdrive. The burns and blisters had all but faded. Now there were just faint lines, scars, left to remind him of how close he’d come to death.

More scars. More pain. At this point, his body was a mess of memories. Most days, he just wanted to forget them. But these new marks . . . the ones that reminded him that he’d gotten Marna out of that blaze, that she was safe . . .

He wouldn’t be forgetting them anytime soon.

Tanner stalked toward the bathroom. The old hardwood creaked beneath his feet. A few more steps, and his hand pushed the faded bathroom door open all the way. Marna stood behind a thin, clear shower curtain. He could see a perfect outline of her body. Water dripped down her curves. Such a gorgeous body. He’d touched and kissed every part of her.

I want to do it again.

“I was wondering if you would come in.” Her voice drifted to him, but Marna didn’t turn to face Tanner. “You sure took your time about it.”

He swallowed and realized he could already taste her.

“How’s your brother?” she asked. Still under the water. Still so perfect she made him ache. His c**k couldn’t swell any bigger.

In her. That’s where he wanted to be.

He was almost drooling. Right. Way to be in control. Tanner cleared his throat. “He’s stable.” For now. The doc, a lady who’d barely looked twenty—but then paranormals were good at hiding their real ages—had patched Cody up the best she could. He was resting, and as for surviving, he’d better.

Marna faced him. Finally. She pushed the curtain aside and stared at him through the steam and pouring water. Her gaze dropped to his chest. Lingered. “You’ve got blood on you.”

He’d always had blood on his hands. It would never wash off. He took another step toward her.

She lifted a hand. “You were an ass.”

His angel and her dirty mouth. He rather liked that. When she cursed at him, he always got turned on. How screwed up was that? “I was . . .” He cleared his throat and managed to drag his gaze off her br**sts. Want them in my mouth. “Jealous.”

Her brows rose.

Did she really think they were just gonna stand there, naked, and talk? If so, Marna didn’t understand a whole lot about shifters.

He was managing to keep his claws in and the beast on a leash, and that was pretty much all he could handle.