Drantos(149)

Another shifted beast bounded over the same bush and it almost struck the log she stood on. All four legs of the big furred body skidded on the loose leaves covering the ground until it came to a stop. It didn’t stay put. It snarled and lunged at her.

She gasped and almost fell off her precarious perch. Emotion flooded her though and she froze. The furry body hit hers but she didn’t hit the ground. One of the VampLycan’s limbs wrapped around her and she landed on Drantos’s big body after he twisted in the air.

He shifted forms, his fur receding to be replaced by skin. His other arm wrapped around her, almost crushing her to his big body. Something dark sailed over them then stopped. She lifted her head. The phone and gun had been torn from her grasp when she’d fallen. The dark shape of another shifted VampLycan stood near their heads.

How could you go against my orders?

She flinched as Drantos yelled inside her head.

She braced her hands on his chest and lifted up. “Did Lake make it back to the village with his niece?”

“Yes,” his father answered. “We passed him on our way to you.”

She jerked at Velder’s harsh tone.

Dusti? Drantos yelled at her again. Answer me!

“Where’s Decker?” Velder snarled.

That’s what I want to know. How did you get away from him? I was told he had you.

“Is she alright?” She recognized Red’s voice.

“Answer,” Velder demanded.

Dusti? I told you not to go, damn it. Are you injured? Hurt? Where the hell is that bastard Decker?!

“Enough,” Dusti shouted. “You’re all talking to me at once. I just had the wind knocked out of me from being tackled.” She took a deep breath and blew it out, staring down where she knew Drantos’s face was from the sound of his heavy breathing. “I’m okay. Everything is fine.”#p#分页标题#e#

“Where is Decker?”

She flinched. Her new father-in-law still sounded furious. She stared up at his hulking shape. He wasn’t on all fours anymore. He stood tall and was just a big silhouette in the shadows.

Dusti wiggled her hips and Drantos released her. She stood. “I killed him,” she admitted.

“What?”

“Um, I took the gun from your nightstand drawer. I shot him. Trust me. He’s dead. I hit him in the chest four times, and twice in the stomach after he had fallen down.”

“No fucking way,” Red gasped.

“Way,” Dusti muttered, turning to try to make out Drantos’s cousin. She could barely see anything at all so she gave up, blindly turning to Drantos again. “He didn’t know about the gun until it was too late. I hid it. Then I bluffed so his men ran away instead of killing me.”

“What?” Drantos gasped again.

“What part of that is confusing you or so hard to believe? I shot my grandfather and then yelled at his men that the GarLycans were flying in, told them the shots were my signal for them to attack. I can’t see a damn thing but I heard them running for their lives.”

“Son of a bitch,” Red muttered.

Drantos yanked her against him, nearly crushing her in a bear hug. “You could have been killed!”

“He thought I was Bat at first. He needed her alive. He didn’t know it was me until I told him—by then it was too late and we were close enough for me not to miss him when I fired the gun. I would have shot him more but I didn’t know how many bullets were in the gun. I didn’t exactly count them. I think there’s eight, right? I wanted a few to spare in case not all of his men ran away.”

“Unbelievable,” Velder rasped. “Where’s Decker’s body, Dusti?”

“In the clearing. It was freaking me out, standing so near it.”

Drantos shifted his hold on her and lifted her up his body. They left the trees and her vision got a little better with the moon to help. She saw two large shapes next to them. Red and Velder, staying close.

Until Velder suddenly sprinted forward.

She could make out enough to see her father-in-law wasn’t sporting any clothes. The sight of his bare ass wasn’t something she wanted to see but she couldn’t help it. He walked over to a spot in the longer grass and crouched.

“Damn it,” Drantos hissed.

“What?” Dusti gripped his shoulders.

“His body isn’t here.”

“I smell a lot of blood.” Red walked away to go to Velder.

“What do you mean his body isn’t here?” Dusti shook her head. “He was dead! He wasn’t breathing.” Drantos eased his hold and let her slide down his body. He clutched her hand, holding on tight.

Velder rose and walked a little. Red followed him.