Bones clears his throat. “We come from Dryndara. Two of ours were murdered recently and found on your side of the border.”
“I see,” the woman says, gliding closer to Bones. She reaches out and graces a long, shapely finger along the side of his cheek. Bones doesn’t react, and she laughs. “Ah, an incubus. Too bad. You would have been fun.” The other hounds make small yapping noises, almost as if they are…laughing?
“Did you or yours sanction the attack on us? Can you account for how they were killed?” Bones demands.
“Can you account for how you found them on our side of the border?” she retorts, her large, lapis-colored eyes now menacing slits.
“That was my fault,” Kieron says, stepping forward. “I’m a Latros. I was tracking the victims’ scents and crossed onto your lands unintentionally. I was unaware of the boundaries, as I am only temporarily visiting Dryndara as part of another job. Please forgive me.” He bows his head slightly toward the woman.
The beauty laughs, a tinkling sound that makes chills race down my spine. “Ah…such a handsome young man. And not an incubus. Yes, you will do quite nicely.”
My eyes narrow.
Do what?
Chapter 18. Lucky
“We have done nothing to provoke unwarranted trespassers on our lands,” the beauty continues. “But, we demand a sacrifice for your transgressions. A penalty of sorts.” She appraises Kieron thoughtfully, a sly smirk crossing her lips. The hounds yap again.
I raise my dagger to my face and catch her eye. She smiles at me menacingly. “Oh, what have we here? You claim to come in peace, yet this lovely young creature possesses a weapon of death. How interesting.”
“I have a right to defend myself,” I say.
She laughs. “Yes, my love, of course you do. Just as we have a right to defend ourselves.”
“We want to know who killed our friends,” Jax shouts, startling me. “They were found here, on your land. You’ve broken the treaty. That gives us a right to investigate.”
The four hounds circle us like sharks. Bones, Jax, Kieron and I press our backs closer. The blonde creature floats over to Jax and puts her face mere inches from his. “We have broken nothing,” she hisses. “It is you who have violated the law. And for that, one of you must pay.”
My heart races even faster, and I steal a quick glance at Bones. His face is hard, his jaw set. I peek at Kieron, who appears to be struggling internally, but his expression is impossible to read. “I believe you,” he says. “I don’t think that one of yours is responsible. I think it was a different—”
But his words are cut off, and we are all knocked forward by Jax’s massive body as he suddenly transforms into a hellhound. I feel like I’ve been hit in the back by a bus, and fall to my knees. Kieron and Bones stagger forward, but then regain their balance. A ferocious growl is followed by loud barks as Jax lunges at the woman, pinning her down.
Instantly the other hounds pounce, and before I can even blink, Bones shifts form. Kieron grabs my arm and yanks me away from the bloody fracas. “Stop it!” I scream, but it’s too late. Bones and Jax are both embroiled in the vicious fight; fur is flying, and it’s impossible to tell who is who.
The blonde beauty lies motionless on the ground, her eyes staring vacantly, her throat ripped out. “Bones!” I scream again, and watch in horror as two hounds jump him at once. I hear his painful yelp as he twists and turns, fending off the duel attack.
“Kieron, help him!” I plead desperately.
“Do you know which one is which?” he asks, a terrified look on his face.
“That one is Bones…” I say pointing. “I think Jax is the one with the grey tail…I don’t know!”
“You just have the one dagger?”
I nod, my eyes wide as my fingers grasp the smooth hilt. But I can’t use it. If I get anywhere near the brawling hounds, I’ll be torn to shreds in seconds. And my powers are of no use; using demonic fire against a hellhound is only slightly more effective than punching an ocean’s waves.
“You’ll have to throw it,” he says. “Aim right between the eyes. It won’t kill it, but it will stun it long enough to give Bones a fighting chance.”
“Impossible! They’re moving too fast…there’s no way…”
“It’s our only chance right now. You have to try…!”
I take several long, deep breaths and steady myself. A few more moments of this one-sided fighting and Bones and Jax will both be dead.
I grip my dagger tight, cocking it behind my ear, waiting…I need one of them to turn and face me, if only for a second.