Lucien arrived at the car, his knuckles rapping sharply against the window. Leia jumped, quickly putting distance between herself and Kieran before throwing the door open.
"Kieran is inside," she said breathlessly, stepping out.
Lucien moved to the other side and opened the passenger door. He reached in to help Kieran out, noting that the boy was already baring his fangs, his eyes clouded with a primal haze.
Leia worked fast, slamming the car doors shut and clicking the locks. Once they were clear, Lucien grasped her hand, and he teleported them all back to the safety of the mansion.
Inside, Lucien guided Kieran onto the couch, keeping a firm grip on his shoulder to steady him. Leia stood back, her gaze fixed on Kieran's erratic movements.
"That's how ruts are," Lucien said, his voice calm but firm. "I'll be taking him to the cottage."
"I want Leia to be with me. Her pheromones make me calm," Kieran rasped, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that bordered on desperation.
