Summon Toren(70)

“Pfffft!” Skylar slapped her leg and cackled like a sick chicken. She tucked her chin down and raised her brows, staring at him. “I know just what you’re about Mr. Jerusalem.” She flicked a finger toward him, “But don’t worry, I won’t hurt you, I promise.” She winked.

His face went even redder with his fury. He looked at Toren. “We’re not even married.”

When the angel spoke to him, his voice was smooth and cold. “You’re about to be. You, of all people, know what constitutes a marriage. Two willing humans, and a consummation. Now, put your differences aside. This is a war. Not a game. And I won’t. Be bothered. With babying you. Soldier.”

Ezekiel's mouth tightened and his shoulders squared. He clearly understood a direct order when he heard it. He forced his fingers to relax from his fists, breathing carefully.

"Brace yourselves! They're headed your way!" The male voice warned from one of the hallways.

Somewhere out of sight, a flurry of nails clicked on tile accompanied by a cacophony of hisses and grunts with an occasional yelp thrown in. So, dogs. Skylar let herself relax. She loved dogs. From the sound of it, they were very large.

The first blur skidded around the corner, followed hard by several more. Skylar had an impression of strange-looking dogs with thick dark fur before the first one tucked into a ball and hurled itself at Ezekiel's chest.

He grunted hard and tried to push it away, but the thing clung to his arm and shoulder, growling ferociously. An avalanche of a half dozen more struck his midsection, bearing him to the floor under their combined weight and momentum.

Well, they certainly weren't dogs. Some kind of cat? Skylar made out enough details to get a better impression. Chimps. Why in the world did they have nearly a dozen young chimps?

Ezekiel managed to push one free and it sat back, poised to launch into the fray once more.

Definitely not chimps. What then? Bears? That must be it.

A bigger one lumbered into the room and paused to glare around, lifting its massive head to sniff the air.

Holy. Cow. It was something like a cross between a grizzly, a chimp and… human? It was terrifyingly similar to the monkey men things from back at the ranch.

No. That wasn't possible. Surely.

The big one rose to stand on hind legs and made a chuffing noise. The smaller ones immediately abandoned Ezekiel and crowded behind what was obviously their mother.

She dropped back to all fours and glared around the room, then strolled toward Ezekiel. The young watched with mouths gaping in awe. The smallest whimpered a little and stuck a thumb in its mouth.

Ezekiel stayed prone, wide eyes watching the creature's progress. That he remained perfectly still and heart-poundingly silent as the thing planted a huge hand on either side of his knees and dropped its head to sniff him seriously impressed Skylar. He might be a jerk but he had nerve, for sure.

Skylar looked to Toren, waiting for him to stop whatever was happening. He acknowledged her unspoken question with a surreptitiously raised hand signaling silence and nodded for her to watch.

Even when the beast curled back her lips to show insanely huge teeth, Ezekiel didn't make a sound. It head-butted his leg roughly then pressed its broad muzzle against his groin and inhaled deeply with a sort of whuffling whistle.

And still he didn't move.

Apparently satisfied, the big creature moved on up his body to pause at his throat. After a quick inspection there, it switched to his head, sniffling, poking with long claws, even licking. Tilting its head as if curious, it opened its mouth wide.

With a suddenly snap it had Ezekiel's entire head in its mouth.

"Toren!" Skylar hissed. She wouldn't stand by and watch even Ezekiel mauled to death by something straight from hell.

But Toren was already in action.

He touched the big beast's shoulder gently. "Hey, Peggy. Come on now. Let go. He's a good guy."

The beast dropped Ezekiel and turned toward Toren. With another huff, it turned and strolled out of the room, the young ones following.

Ezekiel levered himself to his feet in a graceful movement. "What the fuck?"

"That was Peggy and her brood." Toren shrugged as if no further explanation were needed.

Ezekiel leaned down to look at his pants. "Huh. Guess I was too scared to piss my pants."

Toren grinned. "Man, there for a while I thought she had plans for you." He clapped Ezekiel on the shoulder. "Gotta give it to you, you handled that like a pro."

Skylar couldn't prevent the little spark of admiration, though she refused to mention it.

"Okay, I hate to rush things, but it's really important that you go ahead and get business taken care of."

Skylar closed her eyes wishing the little delay could have gone on.