The gun digging into her ribcage apparently wasn't enough. Zane grabbed her by the neck, digging his fingers deep into her throat, cutting off her air supply. She struggled, but his hand only squeezed harder. Either by accident or on purpose, Zane would end up killing her.

Red hot rage seared her chest, or maybe it was the lack of oxygen. Things started to get a little fuzzy. Faking passing out, she let her body go limp. It must have caught him off guard because he gasped and let go.

“Molly?” Aw, his worried tone implied the asshole actually cared. How sweet.

Molly rolled, then skittered away from him. The distraction had been enough for Ivan to stand up and get off a shot, piercing Zane's upper arm. He dropped into a crouch with a curse, then aimed his weapon in Ivan's direction.

As she watched Zane take aim, fear paralyzed Molly. The scene before her seemed to play out in slow motion. Her throat closed, preventing her from shouting a warning for Ivan. The knot in her stomach tightened painfully until she thought she might barf all over the place. An explosion of sound cut the air as Zane fired his weapon.

Rage swirled inside of her like a tornado, and she just snapped. She ran at Zane, grabbing his shoulders and thrusting her knee into his gut with all of her might. He made a satisfying yelp of pain and doubled over, giving her fist the chance to make contact with his jaw. The gun clattered to the ground, and she kicked it away too afraid to reach over him and grab it. As Zane struggled to right himself, she kicked him again, slamming his head into a rock. She couldn't be sure if she'd killed him or just knocked him out, nor did she care. Without a second glance, she ran toward Ivan and Cole, screaming when she saw Ivan sprawled out on the ground, blood pooling around his head.

She hit the ground hard beside him, not even registering the dull stabs from the rocks under her knees. Staring down into Ivan's eyes glazed with pain undid her. Shifters were stronger and faster than humans, but they weren't indestructible.

Afraid to touch him anywhere that might make his injury worse, she grasped his hand. Warmth spread over her hand, and she realized blood seeped down his arm. No, no, no. Why didn't he have some sort of Kevlar vest? She couldn't locate the wound through his blood and the haze of her tears. Painful sobs tore from her throat as she tried to remember what little medical training she'd had.

“Please hang on,” she begged in a quivery voice.

* * *

Ivan struggled through a sea of murky shadows. Somewhere inside his mind, he knew he wasn't dead. Close...but not dead yet. His inner lynx padded over snow-covered mountains, but Ivan knew he needed to come back for something. Or someone.

Ivan?

A small hushed whisper. In his mind? Had he really heard it?

Molly. He pushed hard against the encroaching darkness. He had to keep fighting and protect Molly. His muscles tensed, his nostrils flaring to catch her scent. Chills raced through his body as weariness crept over him.

Soft hands stroked his face, as a sweet musical voice murmured in his ear. He couldn't make out the words, but he knew the scent. Molly. She was okay.

“Oh my God! Ivan!” Feet scraped over the gravel coming toward him, and someone knelt down beside him. Onyx. Ivan melted a little. The idea of Onyx worrying about him made him feel all mushy inside. Or maybe that was the blood loss. But she was also okay, and that made him happy.

Pain blew over his chest like a scorching wildfire.

“Hang on, buddy.” The voice belonged to Cole.

Ivan tried to clench his fist. Hang on to what?

Shakes rattled his body. Nerve endings shot little sparks of fire through his nervous system. One thought rose above all the others. He didn't want to die alone.

A giant, suffocating pulse of air settled over his chest, and he struggled to breathe through it. Chanting filled his mind. Damn, Cole and his spells. Ivan tried to follow along but got lost in the rhythm of the words.

Ivan groaned, or at least he thought he did. Pain had him by the balls so hard it was hard to tell the difference between reality and his imagination. Shifters were strong. They could take a lot. They healed quicker than full humans, but they weren't immune to bullets.

* * *

Tears burned and pricked Molly’s eyes as she held onto Ivan's hand. He couldn't die. She thought she'd lost him once already. It would be too cruel to actually lose him now.

“Cole, please,” She begged.

The wizard's pale, gaunt face set into grim lines as he looked down at Ivan. His normally icy-blue eyes had taken on a faded, steel-blue color. She could only imagine how much energy it had taken for him to heal Onyx. Her friend knelt on the opposite side of Ivan holding his other hand. Dirty and bloody, and with a ragged shirt, Onyx had survived.

“Use something to put pressure over the wound,” Cole instructed Onyx. She immediately ripped the bottom of what was left of her shirt, folding it into a square and handing it to Molly. With shaking hands, Molly found the bullet hole and pressed down.

Cole knelt behind Ivan's head. “Do you love him, Molly?” Cole asked.

She didn't hesitate to answer. “Yes.”

“Good. Take my hand.”

Reluctantly, she took one hand away from Ivan and pressed it into Cole's outstretched hand. “Onyx, let go and back away. You've been through enough. Lend me your crystal though.”

Onyx opened her mouth, then closed it and did as Cole requested. She unwound the dainty black crystal from her neck and handed it over. Cole set it on Ivan's chest. He stared up at Molly.

“Picture your love for him as a warm, comforting, white light. I want you to push that light toward my hand,” he squeezed her hand for emphasis. “If you start to feel weak or faint, take deep breaths to center yourself, but don't let go of my hand, okay?”

Molly nodded, eager to get the spell going. Ivan couldn't have much time left.

Cole placed his empty hand over Ivan's wound and began the chanting.

Nothing seemed to happen and hot tears of frustration slipped down Molly's cheeks. But as she watched Ivan, her eyelids grew heavy until they fell shut. Bright, warm light enveloped her, and she pushed it toward Cole's hand. An image or maybe a memory of Ivan carrying her through the rocky mountainside filled her thoughts. She heard him groan, and she tightened her grip on Cole's hand. More white light seemed to expand and spill from her chest, down through her arms.

Coughing broke the air around her. A sharp tug on her hand made her open her eyes. Ivan sat up, rubbing his chest with one hand, while staring at a flattened piece of metal in his other hand. She flung herself at him, knocking him back to the ground.

Above them, Cole chuckled weakly. “Take it easy on him.”

* * *

Ivan's chest felt like it had taken a couple dozen kicks...from someone wearing steel-toed boots. Molly stared down at him, her red hair spilling around his face. He lifted his free hand up and brushed his finger over her cheek. When his fingers came away wet, he pulled her closer.

“Are you hurt?”

Surprised laughter spilled from her lips. “No, you nut. I thought you were going to die on me!” She rolled off him and offered her hand, so he could sit up.

His chest ached as he struggled to name the emotions crowding his thoughts. Absently he rubbed his hand over his heart. Realizing he had something clutched in his hand he uncurled his fingers. A flattened, bloody bullet. What the hell? If he'd taken a central body hit, he should be dead.

He twisted around, finding Onyx and Cole huddled behind him. The wizard was not looking so hot.

“Cole, you okay?” he croaked out.

“Never better buddy,” he answered sluggishly, then flashed him a thumbs up.

Onyx reached over and patted Ivan's arm. “He healed both of us really close together; he just needs a little time.” She jerked her chin at Molly. “She did most of the work the second time. Cole just channeled it.”

“Thanks, babe,” Cole muttered.

Onyx turned away from Ivan, nuzzling against her boyfriend's neck and whispering something into his ear. Satisfied his friends were okay, he turned back to find Molly watching him with wide eyes. He cupped his hand behind her neck and brought her to him, kissing her hard enough to melt the rocks around them.

He'd known this emotion once before. Or at least he thought he had. Somehow this was much stronger than anything he'd felt in the past. Onyx didn't have to say the exact words for Ivan to know. Molly's love had helped save him.

Scuffling came from behind them. Ivan craned his neck to see Zane laying on the ground next to a decent sized puddle of blood. The fucker twitched and tried to reach for something.

“This asshole is getting on my nerves,” he muttered, nudging Molly back so he could stand up. The sound of a car coming around the corner froze him for a moment. What now? He reached down and picked up his revolver, motioning Molly behind the car again. Onyx tugged Cole out of the way as well. The truck stopped behind Zane's battered vehicle and Ivan put down the gun when he recognized Aspen stepping out of the vehicle.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Ivan shouted.

“Trying to watch your back, brother.” He glanced down at Zane, then back at Ivan. “Guess I'm a little late.”

Ivan huffed out a laugh.

“You know him?” Onyx asked.

“Yeah, he's okay. Stay here with Molly and Cole.”

“Time to take out the garbage,” Aspen remarked as he walked over to Zane and pulled out a semiautomatic. Without blinking, he put a bullet between the domestic’s eyes.

“Hey, that was my job,” Ivan protested as he walked up to greet his old friend.

“Sorry, brother. This asshole's had it coming for a while now.”

“I'm not surprised. I thought you went into hiding?”

Aspen lifted his shoulders, meeting Ivan's stare. “She okay?”

“Yup.”

“Are you?”

“Yeah. Now I know why domestics don't want magic makers around. They're mighty fine healers.”

Aspen tossed his head back in surprise, then stopped to observe Onyx and Cole.

“Ah, you're Onyx Knight, aren't you? The Elders are in a tizzy over your ascension to power.”

Onyx didn't answer, she raised her hand and waved, then walked Cole to his car.

Aspen grinned. “She's spunky. I like her.”

Better change the subject, Cole didn't have enough energy to kick Aspen's ass after everything he'd already done today.

“Thank you for warning us,” Ivan said in a gruff voice.

The words didn't come easily. They had once been close as brothers. Ivan realized now that Aspen had no idea what had happened to Allison. He hadn't chosen to stay with the Enforcers, knowing what they had done. When it counted, he'd warned Ivan and for that he was grateful.

Aspen held out his fist for a bump, and Ivan obliged. “You're welcome. Molly is quite a woman. Don't lose her.”

Ivan nodded. “I don't plan to.”

Aspen grinned. “I hope we see each other again. I've missed you.”

Things wouldn't be easy for his old friend. Ivan knew from experience how escaping the Enforcers left one steeped in shadows. Always watching your back. Ivan had lived in that lonely world for too long, thinking it was what he deserved. Then Molly burst into his life. An idea popped in his head.

“Where are you staying?”

“Haven't decided.”

“I may have a place for you.”

* * *

As Molly walked up behind the two ex-Enforcers, she caught part of their conversation. Ivan was offering to let Aspen stay with him in his lair.

Wow, how many different ways did he need to tell her to get lost? Sure, he'd come and saved her out of obligation she supposed. Then she'd saved him right back. So she guessed they were even.

She stepped up next to Ivan. “Hey, Aspen.” Taller than Ivan by a few inches, Molly wondered what kind of animal he turned into.

“That kill order has been lifted.” He nodded at Zane's body. “He talked your parents into it. When they came to their senses, they went to Xander and begged him to call it off. Unfortunately, Zane already had his two henchmen on your tail and had other plans.”

Molly shuddered. She could only imagine what they planned to do with her, but at least her parents didn't want her dead. Maybe in a few months, she could at least sneak into town and see her sister.

She'd be doing it alone though. Something else occurred to her. “Aspen, do you know where Anita Holiday is?”

“Where, huh, not who?”

“Well, you seem to know an awful lot.”

He cocked his head to the side and studied her for a moment before answering. “She's on the run again.”

“From who? Us? Or her family? I thought they were ready to let her and Kipp mate?”

At the mention of Kipp, Aspen's jaw clenched. A brief motion, but Molly noticed it. Then his gaze slid to the side and he lifted his chin in Onyx's general direction. “Anita knows you think she's the one who betrayed you guys.”

“But she didn't?” Molly knew they'd not always been the best of friends, but it hurt to think Anita would have betrayed her so badly.

“It's not my place to say.”

“You always were cryptic,” Ivan remarked.

“Look who's talking.” Aspen turned and stared at Ivan with a puzzled expression. Poking a finger into the hole in Ivan's shirt, he let out a low whistle. “You always were a fighter.”

“Get your fingers offa me, you creepy bastard,” Ivan said as he slapped his friend's hand away.

Not at all offended, Aspen laughed. “You gonna show me this lair or what, you big jerk?”

Molly could only imagine the way they must have carried on when they worked together.

“My truck is toast, so you're going to have to drive.”

Still smiling at their banter, she almost missed the implication. His words pierced her heart like a syringe. That's it. Ivan was going to leave her right, fucking now. You've got to be kidding!

Ivan turned to her, taking her hand. His touch burned, and she fought the urge to yank her hand out of his grasp. Aspen walked back to his truck, leaning his body against the door to give them privacy she supposed.

“I have to go take care of a few things, kitten.”

“Yeah, whatever,” she choked out, taking her hand back. This hurt. She just needed to breathe and get through it. She could break down later.

* * *

Ivan tilted his head and took a deep breath. He hated what he had to say next. Molly stared back at him, resignation in her eyes. Also, a hint of anger.

“Just say it, Ivan.”

Her soft voice settled over him, making what he had to do even harder. He owed his friend. He'd saved them, and he needed help. Ivan was in a position to help. Once he got Aspen settled in the lair, he could put his other place on the market, and return to Molly. It would give her some time to decide if she really wanted to be with him.

“I don't know how long it will take.”

Her face shut down. Her usually sparkling eyes became distant.

“Sure, we said this was casual, Ivan. It's fine. Go do what you've gotta do. I'll be fine here. Thank you for everything.”

Uh-what?

Hadn't seen that coming. She thought he was ending their relationship? Or was she trying to end it with him? He thought about the college campus and all the eligible guys her age she'd meet. Would she want to date a human? Didn't matter. If she decided to team up with Onyx, cat shifters would be lining up around the block to be with Molly.

What would happen if he walked away now? Went back to his cozy lair in the isolated mountainside? She'd meet someone else more appropriate for her eventually. Savage jealousy slammed into him.

“Do you want me to come back?” he asked finally.

Molly straightened her spine, lifting her chin and staring at a spot somewhere over his left shoulder. “No. Of course not. We agreed. No strings. I'm fine.”

“Ivan, we should get going,” Aspen called.

Ivan waved his hand in the air, without turning around. “Molly, I'll call you in a few days. I just need to get him set up and then—”

“Sure whatever,” she cut him off with an outstretched hand.

His jaw dropped. She wanted to shake hands? The fuck? He took her hand and pulled her against him for a hug. Rubbing his face in her hair and inhaling her scent made it impossible to leave her, but he had to.

Pulling away from her, he tried to look in her eyes, but she abruptly tore herself from his grasp and walked away.