Lara’s head whipped toward Dani. Dani rolled, her hands clenched around a glowing ball of light that crackled with lightning. She heaved a breath and flung her arm, sending that angry ball of intent straight at Lara’s face. Lara screamed and attempted to dodge, but the ball hit her in the back. The sheer force of it sent her muscles into seizure. She sagged to the ground, writhing in pain as Dani’s weapon did its work.

Keeping an eye on Lara, Zed knelt next to Dani. He slid his arms under her legs and shoulders, scooping her off of the ground. “Come on, baby.”

Zed stumbled back to the magique safe line as fast as his legs would carry him. Dani’s nose was bleeding freely, but her heart rate, while fast, was steady.

“Ow,” she murmured as he set her on the ground. “I can taste blood and . . . artichokes. Is that bad?”

Zed burst out laughing, bumping his head against hers. “Nah. I’d say that’s to be expected.”

“Pretty sure I love you. I’m so sorry,” she murmured, kissing his mouth, despite the nosebleed.

“Pretty sure I love you, too. Now, you just stay right here. I’ll be right back, okay?”

“Yep.” Dani let the “p” pop and she let her head drop to the ground.

Zed struggled back over the magique line, forcing himself toward Lara’s crumpled body, step-by-step. And when he finally reached her, he picked her up by the arms. This woman had nearly taken Dani from him. She’d hurt his woman. She’d put his people in danger. And he could not allow that to stand.

She sniffed, waking from unconsciousness and blinking warily at him. She snarled. “You won’t hurt me. You don’t have the balls. What would your maman say? She’d be so disappointed in you, betraying your redneck roots and hurting a woman.”

Zed bared his teeth at her and using all of his upper body strength, he tossed her like a rag doll toward the shimmering color. She screamed, disappearing into the tornado of light with a sizzle. To his surprise, the rift simply danced on without so much as a blip, as if Lara had never been there.

“My maman would have kicked your ass and then tossed you,” he muttered.

Zed shuffled back to Dani, eager to put distance between them and the rift. He lifted her gently, tucking her head against his chest. “Just sleep, abeille.”

As he carried her back to where he’d left his motorcycle, he called Bael’s number. Bael picked up without a greeting. “What in the fuck are you doing, Zed? You have Jillian completely freaked out. She can’t find Dani and she’s gone all flame-y over it and—you ran through her front door like a damn cartoon character!”