Xavier's blood was hot.

He no longer noticed the chill of the wind. No longer felt anything but a wild, ravenous thrill in his bones and a laser-sharp focus on what had to be done.

Everything he cared about was at stake. And he was willing to do whatever it took to protect it.

His finger was on the trigger. His eyes on the dark figures in front of him. They'd been careless. Much too noisy. And neither of them were prepared for an attack.

Or ...