My jaw fell hard enough to splinter the twigs at my feet. My tigress wanted to rip her throat out with my human teeth. And yet my human side wanted to change and dart away. It hurt to see him with anyone.
Aric jerked his jaw to the side when she tried to kiss his lips and forcibly unclasped her hands from his neck. He stepped away. “I told you. It’s over.” He glanced over his shoulder. His hard scowl softened when he caught me watching. He held out his hand. “Come on, Celia. I want you with me.”
I walked to Aric’s side, neither too fast nor too slow, keeping my sights on the she-wolf. I tried not to react to her threatening glare—an easy task once Aric’s hand encompassed mine. He stiffened at the same time his soft warmth spread through my body. I studied our interlinked fingers. This connection between us seemed more tangible than mere body heat.
Aric squeezed my hand, pulling me closer. Koda took up my left, stopping only to glower at the she-wolf.
Petro waited at the top of a small incline, carefully wiping his brow with the handkerchief while he stared hard at what hissed below.
“Stay close to me,” Aric reminded me again. He approached Petro. Petro didn’t seem surprised to see me and barely glanced in my direction. “What are you doing here?”
Petro handed the handkerchief to his driver, his voice shaking as he spoke. “My brother has fallen from our grand master’s favor.” He rose to his full height, trying to demonstrate bravery his trembling form professed he lacked. “I thought perhaps in coming here, I might see or do something that could help.”
Aric frowned. “Like what?”
Petro shook his head, his demeanor growing so sad I could practically taste his tears. “I don’t know…I just want things to go well.”
Aric ignored him to address the other were. “As soon as Celia identifies the vamp, the leech dies.”
Petro’s eyebrows shot up. “I assure you I’ve already made a positive identification.”
Aric growled. “Yeah. Like I’d trust a vamp.”
I glanced apologetically at Petro as Aric escorted me down the incline. The horrible roars intensified, as did the aroma of bloodlust. The circling wolves licked their chops and snapped their powerful jaws, eager to get the evil-killing started. They parted upon seeing Aric, allowing us through to view their prey.
The bloodluster faced away from me, held down by thick black cord strong enough to dig into her green skin and tattered clothes. She forced her head around as I neared, scraping her face against the netting. Her breathing deepened; her cries grew hungrier; her fangs elongated. “Celia,” she hissed.
Okay. That didn’t sound too psycho or anything.
Aric yanked me back. “I take it we have the right vamp?”
Her infection had advanced enough that her muscles bulged against the fabric of her clothes, but not enough to alter her face. Judge Malika still kept her beauty despite the sickly green of her skin and eyes. It was almost sad to see the once regal vampire reduced to nothing more than a dangerous animal.
I nodded. “Yes. That’s Antoinette Malika.”
Aric draped his arm around my shoulders and led me away. “Kill her,” he ordered without bothering to turn around.
Aric rushed me up the incline and back through the field. Snarling and hisses echoed behind us. There was a scream, but not from Malika. Yelps replaced growls. Whimpers replaced snarls. And shrieks ripped through my eardrums. We whipped around. Malika was free and bounding toward us at full speed, arms pumping, eyes fixed on me. “Celia. Celia. Celiaaa!”
Aric and Koda exploded into wolf form, changing as they leaped. Aric went for Malika’s throat while Koda gutted her stomach. A snow white wolf tackled me when I bolted toward them. I’d been tackled a lot lately, but the grace and gentleness she used threw me for a loop. Her obvious concern and lack of aggression kept me from shifting her or worse. She held me in place and shook her head, making it clear to stay put.
More wolves joined Aric and Koda, piling on the judge like she had the damn football until the popping sound of a balloon signaled the end of Malika. Aric raced back to the other wolves, but when he disappeared beneath the incline it was his human voice that roared, “What the hell happened?”
“That female you brought worsened her hunger,” another voice yelled back. “She broke through the net and charged after her. You shouldn’t have brought her, Aric.”
Growls replaced voices. Aric changed back to communicate with his pack…so I wouldn’t understand the argument that ensued. An argument I likely triggered.
The white wolf climbed off me and sat beside me when I stood. Petro appeared in the arms of his driver, bleeding from a head wound. He must have stepped into Malika’s path. I moved toward them, but the driver held out his hand. “No. Let him keep what pride he has.”