Ethan howled, but his skin closed up after each lash of my claws. Freshly fed, he had the energy to heal quickly. He whirled around the room with Vampire speed and slammed me against the wall.
My vision went black.
I hit the floor. A heavy numb feeling spread through my body and I staggered to my feet in time for Ethan to clutch my hide and fling me across the room. This wall was as hard and unforgiving as the last; my body bounced off and fell to the cold hardwood.
Ethan tackled me before my brain could process the need to move. He flipped me over and pinned my back to the ground. An awkward and uncomfortable position for a mountain lion. His knees dug into my thighs so I couldn’t use my legs or my sharp claws to rip open his body.
“Full of surprises.” His head plunged down.
His teeth punctured my skin. The draw of blood sent a cold shiver through my body…and then he stopped.
My eyes fluttered opened and I struggled to maintain the cat form unsuccessfully. I groaned as my fur folded and I lay in my human body, limp under Ethan’s control. Ethan pulled back, his face inches from mine, his mouth dripping blood onto my cheek.
“What are you?” His voice softly hit my face.
My chest felt hollow as aches and pains hammered my nerve cells, and heavy, fatigued muscles remained unresponsive. Developing a new super power right now would be helpful. Or what about an old one? A power so raw and furious, it remained buried deep inside after the night I broke Dylan’s hold. I reached for it. Hidden in the depths of my core, it waited, coiled and poised to strike. Something monstrous answered my call and rose up within me. The beast.
Like hot lava flowing over fields, it consumed my center.
No! What was I thinking? It took years to find my humanity after the last time. I doubt I’d find it a second time, if it happened again. And that kind of vacuous life wasn’t worth living. I tried to push the monster back, but fluid fury bathed my cells, overpowering my will.
My mountain lion responded first. Pressing down on the feral monster within, she stemmed the flow. The wolf and falcon joined, containing it, leashing it.
When my eyes opened, the vision my own. The control, my own. What seemed like an eternal battle lasting hours, must’ve passed in mere seconds because Ethan still watched me in wonder. Where was Wick? I could use him right about now.
A shard of glass glinted from the corner of my eye. I snaked my hand out and clutched it. Ethan blocked my arm and pinned my hand behind my head. He squeezed until I let the glass go.
My muscles tensed as Ethan’s face dipped closer. I shut my eyes, but the second bite never came.
Looking up, I found Ethan still, in that freaky way Vampires were capable of. His eyes shifted to the right, where I caught a blur of motion. What the heck was that?
Whirling around in his crouched position, Ethan avoided the decapitating swing of Clint’s sword. It glanced off his shoulder.
My breath hitched, caught in my throat. A flush of adrenalin tingled through my body, moving in waves, revitalizing my energy. Clint! I watched him move around the room, dodging and weaving to avoid Ethan’s grasp. I stood up and whispered thank you. He’d saved my life. Now, I might have to return the favour. In a movement, too quick for the human or cat eye to follow, Ethan disarmed and pinned Clint.
Ethan hovered over Clint, eyes glinting. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
I threw myself on his back and forced my body to change back to the mountain lion. Legs pumping, I used them to shred at the lower half of his body. Ethan grunted and straightened up, releasing Clint.
Ethan reached around and grabbed me by the scruff off the neck. Tearing me off his back, he flung me across the room. Again.
Dazed, I looked up from my curled, fetal position in time to see Ethan drive the sword through Clint’s body.
No!
Staggering to an upright position, I limped up to Ethan’s exposed back while he dropped his head back and relished the glory of his kill. He licked the sword.
“Are you going to try again, little kitty?” He spoke with a calm voice without turning around. “Third time’s the charm?”
I hissed and sat back on my haunches. He had a point. Attacking his back had already proven fruitless twice. Maybe a frontal assault would work? Maybe I could use his confidence against him.
Maybe my death would be quicker.
Ethan glanced over his shoulder with a smirk before he turned around and studied me.
My tail swished back and forth with a mind of its own.
A dark figure moved silently up the stairs behind Ethan.
On all fours, I barred my teeth and let out a yowl that would raise the hairs of any wild animal in a five mile radius. Ethan blinked and then smiled before taking a step closer.
“I wish I had more time to play with my food, but there’s a battle going on downstairs. I don’t think my team’s winning.” He shrugged. “It’s of little consequence. Progeny is easy to make. But you…” His head tilted to the side. “You are rare, unique. I wish I could keep you.”