Moonlight and Magick. Isobael Liu

with anger as she beat on his back with her fists and kicked her legs out. He gave her a swat on her upturned butt, sharp enough to sting, and carried her out to the waiting truck.

      Tiberius climbed out of the truck with a grin on his face. All of a sudden, he went flying away from the truck. He snarled in anger and surprise as he hit the pavement hard.

      “That wasn’t very nice,” Matthias said to her, his voice calm with a bit of male amusement. “You could have done this the easy way and just came with me. Oh, no. You had to be stubborn and willful. Now I’m kidnapping you.”

      He opened the passenger door as Tiberius was getting to his feet. Although he was glad she hadn’t tried to use her abilities on him, he was sure it was because she might have hurt herself in the process. Tiberius had made a better target.

      “What the hell?” Tiberius demanded.

      “Explanations later,” Matthias replied. “Let’s just get back home.”

      Lilian renewed her struggling as Matthias tried to put her into the truck.

      “Let me go! Put me down, Matthias! I’m going to report you to the police! Kidnapping!” she screamed.

      Tiberius shook his head. “You are your father’s son, my brother.”

      Matthias chuckled. “It’s the Roman DNA.”

      Matthias waited until Tiberius got back into the truck, behind the steering wheel and tossed Lilian in beside him. He quickly followed, sliding in so she was trapped between the two men.

      As the truck drove away, she remained silent, fuming. Again, he was grateful she didn’t try to use her abilities.

      * * * *

      He watched as the wounded male carried Lilian out of the motel room. He was very careful to remain in the shadows, to keep his thoughts centered and normal, in case she tried to scan the area. She hadn’t wanted to go, he saw, but had little choice.

      Of course, this meant getting to her would be much more difficult with the shape-shifter involved. He’d have to wait and see how this ended up and how he could get close to her.

      He had little time, as did she.