Davina (Davy Harwood #3)(25)

“Wolf,” she snarled, her nostrils flaring, as she hurled toward a tree, caught it, and flung herself right back at him.

Christian wasn’t ready for the quick counter-attack. She kicked him right in the chest, and he went down once again. This time, instead of being bucked off, she remained on his chest. Her feet were planted there and she knelt down, her sword immediately placed in position. The sharp edge of it pressed up against his carotid artery, and she knelt down, a warning hiss from her, “Move, Wolf. I dare you.”

Christian started to retort, but the words caught and held in his throat. He looked to Roane instead and sighed. “This is my greeting by both of you?”

Roane had tucked his knife away during their scuffle, and he held his hands up now. A slight grin was on his face. “We needed to know the hierarchy. Now we know.”

“Hierarchy?” Christian echoed, a scowl forming.

“I am above you.” Saren pressed her sword against his throat before jumping off him. She sprung backwards in the air, looking as if invisible strings suddenly yanked her from him. She lowered herself to the ground a few feet away, sheathing her sword back in place, strung across her back. She gestured from herself to Roane. “And the vampire and I are equal . . . for now.”

Christian got up to his feet, dusting off his pants. “I held back, whatever you are. Get that right.”

“Right.” She smirked, folding her arms over her chest. “Let us get on with it. Our group approaches, and we’re supposed to be scouting ahead.” She sent that last statement to Roane, a flare of disapproval in her tone.

Roane narrowed his eyes at her. “You’re making me want to snap your neck again. For a while there, I didn’t want to. Funny how that emotion is never far for long.”

Christian hid a grin.

The flames lit up again, but they were contained. They only filled half of her eyes, waving together in sync. “I’m sure we’ll have another disagreement. You can try at that point, but until then, I suggest you remember the reason you’re scouting ahead.” She stepped toward him, dropping her voice. “For Davy, remember?”

He was scouting ahead to keep the group safe, but he got her meaning. This was all about Davy.

Christian sensed the new tension and cleared his throat. “That’s why I’m here.” He looked at Roane. “Another family of wolves is coming.”

Roane frowned. “Who?”

“They come from Mother Wolf.”

Roane had killed their Alpha, but the younger wolf was second in line to the female wolf. “She’s allied with Jacith.”

Christian nodded. “More than likely.”

“How close?”

“Half a day behind us.”

Roane said, “Then we keep going. I’m going to fall behind to watch them. I want to study my opponent first.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No.” Roane shook his head, speaking to Christian. “You keep ahead. We’ll switch our teams. You had your wolves trailing us, and my vampires were scouting ahead. I’ll pull my team to trail behind. Your guys go ahead this time.”

“They’re wolves—” Christian started to argue.

“And they’ll react to other wolves,” Roane interrupted him. His tone was firm. The decision was made. “They won’t be expecting vampires.”

“If they bite you—” Christian warned.

“Then nothing. A wolf bite doesn’t kill us.” Roane started back to the group.

Christian turned, watching him go. He called after him, “Since when?”

Roane threw over his shoulder, “Since ever. You need to rip us apart to kill us.” He kicked forward with a sudden surge of speed. He was moving faster than the other two could see, and when he was gone from eyesight, and from within hearing distance, Christian looked at the blue-leather girl.

She was watching him back. She saw the questions forming and shook her head. “I still will not explain who I am to you. No one except one needs to know.”

“Why do I get a feeling that Lucas is that one?”

“Because he was. He’s the leader. You pretend you are, and may tell yourself that you are, but he’s the true leader. Even myself, as I am a more evolved being than he is, must acknowledge that he has the power in this situation. Your men follow you. You follow him. His men follow him. He is the one who needed to know.” Her top lip lifted in a sneer. “And even now, I am regretting revealing myself to him.”

“Why did you?”

Christian was more than curious about the girl. She wasn’t a witch. He thought that was all she was at first, but he was wrong. Witches didn’t fight like she did, and if there was an impasse between herself and Roane, which he doubted there was, then that said more about her fighting abilities than he found from his own little skirmish with her. He held back, as he assumed Lucas had as well. They wouldn’t really know who the better fighter was until there was a day, it was kill the other or die. Only that day would show the true winner, and as long as they were allies, Christian knew it wouldn’t come.