Therian Promise(79)

“You can’t do this!” The guard yanked against Kyle’s hands, arching and twisting in a futile attempt to escape. “They’ll kill me this time! Please let me go.”

Kyle had been so focused on the task that he’d barely glanced at the guard’s face. Motioning Quinn forward he traded places with the other Therian so he could move in front of the guard. This was one of the guards he’d run into when he was lost on this mountain with Ava. “Who are ‘they’?”

The guard shook his head and panic clouded his gaze. “No one fails them twice. I’m already dead.”

“Heard enough?”

Kyle nodded and Quinn punched the guard then steadied him as he collapsed onto the leaf-strewn ground.

“Which one was in charge?” Payne moved closer, looking at one guard and then the other.

“I’m not sure, but I had a run-in with this one already. He’d be more than happy to get his hands on me and Ava.”

Quinn bound the guard’s wrists and ankles with zip ties as Payne knelt at his side. Kyle had heard of skinwalkers, had even known Payne inherited the rare ability from his mother, but he’d never seen the transformation before. Was the process significantly different than any other Therian shift?

“I need his uniform.”

“That would have been nice to know before I restrained him,” Quinn muttered then snapped the sturdy plastic so he could undress the guard.

Ian held his position, but he was obviously curious as well. Payne took the guard’s head between his hands and closed his eyes. For a moment it seemed as if nothing happened. Then the wind stilled and silence spread over the area like an insulating blanket. Kyle felt energy streaming around and into Payne. The currents were warm and softly sizzled.

Bending closer to the guard, Payne whispered words Kyle didn’t understand. Payne repositioned his hands as his arms began to tremble. The chant grew louder, his lips moving faster.

A spark, like an ember escaping a campfire, floated out of the guard and into Payne’s mouth. Kyle thought he’d imagined the manifestation until it happened again. Payne inhaled deeply and more sparks followed, forming a shimmering stream. His features blurred, the angles smoothed and his skin paled.

This must be how Ava felt when she saw a Therian shift for the first time. His respect for her grew with each passing moment. It was amazing that she hadn’t run screaming in terror. It really was rather grotesque. Kyle watched the undulation of Payne’s flesh, heard the crack of joints and crunch of bones as he assumed the guard’s smaller shape.

Payne finally released the guard’s face and struggled to his feet. Though he was shaky and a bit dazed, the likeness was absolute. Quinn handed him the uniform then knelt and restrained the guard as Payne put on the uniform.

“We’ll carry these two closer to the vehicle shed then incapacitate the rest of the guards,” Ian told Kyle then he turned to Quinn and added, “I know you’d rather keep Carissa out of this, but we could use the cover.”

Quinn reluctantly nodded and they turned their attention to the unconscious guards.

“You good to go?” Kyle asked Payne. “We need to secure the complex before they reach the shed.”

Payne rolled his shoulders and stretched out his back. “Lead on.”

Rather than backtrack, Kyle reached across his link with Ava and told her they were ready for phase two.





Chapter Eleven




Ava looked at her sister and smiled with a little more confidence than she felt. “Time to go. Kyle needs me.”

“Yeah, Quinn just called me too. Be careful.” Carissa hugged her tightly.

“You too.”

“You’re both in good hands,” Erin stressed. “Trust your men and trust yourselves. You’ll be fine.”

“Says the woman who’s staying behind.”

Rather than being insulting, as Ava feared, Carissa’s comment made Erin laugh.

“Get!” Erin waved them on. “They’re waiting for you.”

Using their link like a beacon, Ava followed the signal to Kyle. He stood with a uniformed guard in the trees to one side of the complex Ian had described. Her steps faltered and her gaze shot back to Kyle.

“It’s all right.” Kyle looked at the guard and smiled. “Damn convincing, isn’t he?”

“Payne?” The guard inclined his head and a shiver raced down her spine. He looked exactly like one of the guards they’d encountered during their first trip to this area. No visible trace of the lion-shifter was left. It would be so easy to misuse such a powerful ability.

“Remember, we’re his prisoners.” Kyle coached. “Don’t fight your nerves too hard. You should be afraid and upset.” He took out his pistol and handed it to Payne, who also held the guard’s rifle.