The Mark of the Leopard

Come Back to Me

Warning! Minor-ish sexual content in this chapter! Be prepared!

~~~~Birayn's P.O.V.~~~~

The stranger takes Nala into a clump of trees and I tend to Kazi. A while later Patty bursts through a different glathering of trees, with a girl. He runs up to me. "Why did Nala scream?" He asks. "A guy threw her over his shoulder and took her into the trees." He gawks at me like I'm crazy. "You just let a stranger take Nala? What's this guys name?" I shrug. "I don't know. He just appeared out of nowhere holding Kazi's bag. Nala said he was there the whole time, but I didn't see him."

"Who's she?" I ask through the link.

"Jenna." He grins.

I smile too. "I'm happy for you."

"That sounds like Samael." Jenna says to him. "Who is he?" Patty inquires of her. "The Grim Reaper." She answers. My heart freezes and my lungs close up, stopping all oxygen. I look down at Kazi. "Pat, before you chased me, Samael had said that the man lying here is dying, fast." I hear Jenna whisper. My head whips around to her.

"He's not dying!" I snap at her and she hides behind Patty. "Don't bark at my mate." Patty growls at me. His words don't register though, all my attention gets drawn to Kazi when his heart rate speeds up and he rolls over, coughing up blood. Edmund hurry your butt up! He lays on his back again and I feel his forehead. "He's burning up. Patty get some water."

"That won't be necessary." The voice of the only vampire that comes close to me trusting states and I stand. He tips his head to me. "Birayn."

I nod. "Edmund."

He stands next to Kazi. "Him?" I nod again. "Him." His nostrils flare and disgust takes his features. "Leopard. The only thing worse than wolf." I cross my arms. "What's that supposed to mean?" He crouches down, lifting Kazi into his arms. "Drinking from him will be morbid." His fangs seep into Kazi's neck.

My wolf takes over and I shoot forward to get the threat away from our mate, but someone holds me back. Growling, I glare over my shoulder at Patty. "You'll thank me later." He assures me. I snarl, knowing he's right. "Don't touch my brother!" Nala yells running in, just as Edmund is extracting his fangs. He lays Kazi down. "This isn't a guarantee on his life." He informs me. "My debt is payed." Then he vanishes and I rush to Kazi's side.

Come on, Kazi. Come back to me.

Hoping he hears my silent plea, I kiss him softly and lay my head on his chest. Everything is dead quiet as I wait. His heart beat speeds up then stops.

"Kazi?" I sit up, tears threatening to spill, taking his face in my hands. "Kazi!" I pound his chest, pissed that he thinks he can leave me.

His eyes fly open and snap to mine, bright silver.

I sigh, relieved he's still alive, but gasp when his hands shoot up and bring my face to his. Kissing me like I'm the one who just came back from the dead. I run my fingers through his hair and he purrs. I break away laughing.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that." I cough out. "You'll have plenty of time to." His voice is so husky and playfull, yet serious that my laughter dies. "Only if you don't get killed again." I round on him, standing up. "Why didn't you tell me a vampire bit you? Do you have any idea what I would do if you died?" He sits up, but I don't give him a chance to answer and continue. "I'd murder anything in sight before someone put me out of my misery! I'd go crazy with blood ra..."

"Has anyone ever told you, you're hot when you're mad?" Kazi interrupts. A smirk plastered on his face. I gape at him, not knowing if I'm angry that he's not listening, or flattered by his statement. Deciding neither will do, my eyes narrow. "Are you okay?" I ask. "Not really. I'm feeling rather hot and bothered. And I'm dying to jump you right now." What's scary is he gets to his feet, looking quiet severe. I move back and his eyes flash like a predator about to give chase.