He had to be stopped.

Eve’s nails dug into Cain’s skin. “You’re killing Trace!”

The werewolf was already dead. Cain had known that with one look. The beast had taken over. “The man is gone. Only his animal remains.”

“And when you come back from the fire, only the phoenix remains in you!”

Her words had him tensing, mostly because he knew how true they were. But, so far after his risings, he’d still managed to cling to the barest edges of his sanity.

Because of her.

She was looking at him with desperation in her gaze. “I haven’t given up on you when you stare at me with a stranger’s eyes, and I won’t give up on him!”

An alarm was sounding in the distance. A shrill beep that wouldn’t stop. Help would be coming for Wyatt, too late. The flames had burned so bright, Cain knew there was no chance of survival for Wyatt.

“When I stare into the eyes of the phoenix”—Eve snarled and her fist slammed into his chest—“I don’t give up on you. I fight to get you back. I fight for you.”

And he was fighting to protect her. Wyatt would use her. Abuse her. Lock her in a lab and slice her open. Cain wasn’t going to let that happen. Even if she hated him for what he had to do.

Better her alive, free, and full of rage than having her stone cold dead.

She pressed the barrel of her gun against his heart. “Stop it,” she ordered, voice trembling.

He didn’t stop the fire. It was too late. Didn’t she see that? “Shoot me if you must.”

“Damn you.” Eve jerked free of his arms, and spun to face the flames.

Then she jumped into the fire.

Instinctively, he killed the flames. He knew the fire wouldn’t hurt her, of course, but . . . he stopped the flames before he could even think.

He heard the low rasp of breathing. The fire had savaged Wyatt’s body, but the guy—he was still alive? How in the hell?

Hurt, in agony no doubt, but still breathing.

Eve glanced up at Cain with tears in her eyes. “He’s an experiment, too,” she whispered.

Cain had thought nothing else could surprise him. “He experimented on his own damn self?”

Eve’s hand hovered over Wyatt’s burned flesh. Flesh that was slowly starting to heal as Cain watched. “I don’t know.”

The alarm was louder. Shriller. But no guards had stormed inside yet to rescue Wyatt. Why the hell not? Wyatt had to be their first priority in this place, but no one was coming to save his ass.

Cain stared at Eve. Wyatt wasn’t a threat. Not then. But he still said, “If he comes at you, shoot him.”

With the gun cradled in her hands, Eve nodded.

But would a bullet stop him? Bullets hadn’t slowed Wyatt down before.

The guy’s breath rasped out as his body shuddered.

Cain heard a scream echoing up from the hallway, a long, pain-filled cry. He rushed out of the room. Looked to the left, the right—

A woman stood in the middle of the hallway. Flames danced around her. Her long, blond hair twisted around her shoulders, and her eyes were as red as the flames that surrounded her.

Phoenix.

He’d found Ryder’s lost lady, and she sure looked pissed.

She stared at him, not advancing, just watching. “Am I supposed to kill you, too?” Her voice was soft, barely rising over the fire, and completely without emotion.

Cain shook his head. “I’m not here to hurt you.”

She laughed at that. “Of course, you are. They’re all here to do that. To kill me, again and again.” Her chin lifted. “I’m tired of dying. Maybe it’s your turn now.” She sent a line of flames right at him.

Cain lifted his hand. The fire stopped. He knew the red flames had filled his eyes when the woman staggered back. “You’re not the only one who’s tired of dying.”

Her lips trembled. Then she turned and ran from him. More screams echoed up the hallway. Yells. Growls. Snarls.

Wyatt’s “subjects” were loose. And from the sound of things, they were tearing down the place. Good. He hoped they ripped it all apart, brick by freaking brick.

As he watched the phoenix flee, Cain saw a dark shadow step away from the wall. Ryder. The vampire lunged forward and grabbed the woman, pulling her against him.

He got blasted with fire for that little move. Before Ryder could grab her again, a roar shook the hallway.

Trace burst from the stairwell. His claws slashed across Ryder’s neck and the vampire’s blood flowed.

Hell. Cain hadn’t wanted to kill that werewolf. He knew Eve wouldn’t forgive his death easily, even though the bastard had hurt her.