The dark-cloaked figure falls to the ground limply as Callyn scrambles away from its descending body. He looks at me as I stand above the figure. I flip the blade in my hand before throwing it back toward Callyn. I won't let the Interitus or anyone hurt what's mine any longer. The Records and the Library are mine to protect. They may have wrecked this area and ruined my precious books, but I would rebuild, and the Interitus…they would pay.

A large mutated shifter roars as it rushes toward me from the Library entrance. My power flares waiting for the oncoming attack, ready to defend myself against the beast. But just as it reaches me, it halts, its movements frozen, and its eyes widen with terror and agony before it quickly drops to the ground. Its back now blackened with a crater at its center, and a large chunk of its back burned, with its skin flaking like ash around the cavity.

I turn toward the figure standing behind the beast.

Cole. His eyes are pure silver as his face twists in fury, staring at the dead creature below him. His brows narrow in disgust toward the beast, a look on his face as if he wants to revive it to kill it again. He breaks his stare and turns to me, his brow furrowed and eyes pinched as he scans my body for something.

“Did he hurt you?” He scowls, his eyes searching every inch of me, a slight nod to his head when he sees I’m unhurt.

“I can handle myself,” I tell him as I nod to the dead being by my feet.

His eyes widen slightly before a small tilt spreads across his lips. ”Impressive.”

A soft look spreads to his eyes, a warm tingle stretching across my chest with his gaze.

My brows narrow with the familiar feeling.

“Cole—” I’m cut short by a large dark figure jumping over my head and knocking another beast, edging near us, to the floor. The large wolf's paw lays its weight on the defeated beast underneath him. The beast flails, trying to escape, and in one swift move, the wolf rips out the creature's neck, black blood pouring from its teeth.

Jace’s wolf turns around toward Cole and me, a savage look in its eyes.

Cole places himself between the dark brown wolf and me.

The wolf growls at the move, stalking closer.

I place my hand on Cole's shoulder, giving it a small squeeze as I move beside him.

The wolf moves directly beside me, his large nose nuzzling my hip. He turns to Cole, a small tilt to his head as his eyes soften. His feral eyes from moments ago are completely gone, replaced by a warm gold as he gazes at me. His nose nuzzles closer to my chest, sniffing the area under my breasts. I push his face away. “Down, boy.”

He chuffs, a small soft glint in his eyes, as I hear a deep chuckle beside me.