The air snapped.
And Liam finally lost control.
Denise heard the crack before she understood what it was.
Bone.
Muscle.
Something beneath skin forcing its way free.
“Liam?”
His back arched.
A sound ripped from his throat.
Not pain.
Not quite.
Something older.
Something wild.
The creature approaching from the forest stopped.
Waiting.
Watching.
Like it had expected this.
“Liam!”
Denise rushed toward the stairs.
Below, Liam dropped to one knee.
His hands dug into the stone.
Cracks spread beneath his fingers.
His breathing became ragged.
Uneven.
Dangerous.
Then he looked up.
And Denise froze.
His eyes were gold.
Not glowing.
Not supernatural-looking.
Just unmistakably inhuman.
Predator eyes.
Focused entirely on her.
For one terrifying second she thought he migh
