STIFFLY

Mark tried to hold her, but whatever power she was emanating didn’t allow that to happen.

“This isn’t your fault,” he said sternly. “The heads-up you did give them will have helped, and so can we.”

“Oh, yes. We’re going to fucking help. Help unlike anything they’ve ever seen.” With those final words, Lia charged forward, shifting into her pearl-colored unicorn as she ran.

Mark ran after her, his hickory-colored wolf quickly coming into appearance as he gave chase.

I glanced at Atlas once more. “Should we join them or search for Johnathon and Hazel?”

“Join them,” he answered, then added, “for now.”

Before we took off after our friends, his hand wrapped tightly around the back of my neck, jerking me forward until I was pressed flush against his chest. Our eyes locked in a battle of mixed emotions.

“Be fucking careful,” he demanded before his mouth crashed down onto mine.

My fingers gripped his shirt tightly, bunching the fabric until my hands began to hurt.

I pulled back first, knowing