Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
~ Shade ~
The foxrets curve around as they advance, forming a semicircle of gnashing jaws as they move further into the clearing.
Their fanged mouths hang open as if they’re already imagining Raith’s blood on their tongues.
I don’t even let myself think about what they want to do to me.
I can’t think about that now. A kernel of power stirs inside me, but I know it wouldn’t be enough.
I back up closer to where I hope the cage is located, knowing full well that I’d only get in Raith’s way if I tried to fight.
“Watch out!” I shout as a foxret darts forward, snapping at Raith with his dripping fangs.
My mate is already moving, and he maneuvers his body, avoiding the creature’s teeth and plunging his blade into the foxret’s abdomen.
Blood sprays, and the scent of their companion’s blood works the other foxrets into a frenzy.
The remaining foxrets close in on Raith, snapping at the air.
Their eyes are wild as they attack, and this time six of the foxrets lunge at him at the same time.
They’re not as large as Raith, but they’re incredibly fast.
I can’t watch. Oh, crap. I can’t watch. I lift my hands to my face, but I can’t stop myself from looking through my fingers.
Raith’s shadows shoot out, wrapping around two of the foxrets and squeezing them until their necks break, but the other foxrets dodge out of the way, still sprinting for him.
My mate snarls, his blade slicing through the air as he moves with lethal precision, his sword glowing in the moonlight.
He plays with them as he carves through the creatures, never stopping. It’s a brutal dance of steel and blood.
Despite their incredible reflexes, the foxrets can’t keep up with my mate. One after another, they fall to his blade. More foxrets move to replace their slain brethren, but none of them can lay a fang or claw on him.
I watch transfixed, until the foxret leader, who had been waiting at the back of the pack, sets his sights on me. He breaks from the semicircle, curving around and moving with purpose as he slips away, heading straight in my direction.
Oh, crappity crap. I stumble backward, frantically fumbling around, my fingers slicing through open air as I search for the cage.
Come on. It has to be around here somewhere.
Raith had told me to get in the cage if he was clawed, but going in there to escape this maniac sounds just as good.
Adrenaline pumps through my veins, and I try to reach for the power in my system, but I can’t focus it.
Not when fear is curling around my neck and everything inside me is telling me to flee rather than fight. Oh, why couldn’t I still have my wings!
More foxrets fall as Raith carves through his attackers, but they’re getting smarter.
The remaining creatures are learning how to dodge his counterattacks.
Raith is busy defending off a foxret, when another jumps at him with its claws aimed at his throat.
At the last second, Raith’s shadows wind around the ribcage of the second foxret, lifting him into the air and squeezing until his bones crack and the foxret goes limp. Raith snarls, tossing the foxret away.
I turn my attention back to the advancing leader, and I slide a dagger from my belt. “Nice zenali creature,” I singsong nervously. “Your kind are dying. Why don’t you tell them to retreat? It’s not too late.”
The leader doesn’t seem to care, and he ignores the sight of one of his friends being beheaded. Instead, he stalks toward me, his dark eyes filled with lust as the moonlight shines down on us. “If we can’t kill the shadow demon, it’s better that the foxrets die rather than face his wrath.”
“Whose wrath?” I ask. “Who gave the order to kill my guys?”
The foxret ignores my questions. “But maybe I’ll be spared if I claim a mate with such…curious magic.”
“Curious?” I give him a nervous smile. “You don’t want me, buddy.” I continue backing up, still searching for the cage. “Like your friend said, half-breed kits might not be such a good idea. There could be, I don’t know, abnormalities or something.”
The foxret keeps walking toward me.
“And have I mentioned I’m clumsy?” I add. “You don’t want clumsy kits, do you?”
“If you’re the answer to sparing my life, I’m willing to risk a litter of half-breeds.
Twelve bastards won’t affect our kind. Besides, how can I resist when you smell so fucking delectable?
You wouldn’t smell this delicious if you weren’t a good match for me.
We’ll be gone before the shadow demon even notices you’re missing. ”
I choke on my own spit a little. “I’m sorry, did you say twelve?”
“If not more,” he replies. “When I’m done with you tonight, I’ll make sure there are kits left in your belly.” He flicks out his long tongue, sliding it across his snout.
“Wow. Just wow.” I grimace. I bet the vixens must be falling over themselves to get to this one. “So if we’re to be mated, then you won’t mind telling me who ordered you to kill the shadow professors, er, demons,” I say, continuing to back up.
“Shade!” Raith’s sharp call reaches me as he looks back to see the advancing foxret.
The forest floor is slick with blood and littered with bodies.
Seizing the moment of distraction, one of the remaining foxret lunges at him.
I scream a warning, and Raith reaches out just in time, grabbing the foxret by the throat and lifting it into the air.
It thrashes in his hold, and his shadows tear it apart.
It’s only after that Raith looks down at the bloodied claw marks striping across his chest. He blinks, shaking his head as if he’s trying to clear it, and when his gaze connects with mine, panic enters his eyes.
“The cage,” he croaks, and the next time he tries to speak only a roar comes out. The fear disappears from his face, and a wild, untamed look takes over his expression.
Oh crap. Oh crappity crap. Cage, Shade. Get in the damn cage.
The leader foxret snarls at me, no doubt realizing he’s out of time because Raith has seen him.
My fingers hit metal at the same instant that the foxret lunges for me, his claws outstretched.
Blood pounds a frantic beat in my ears, but I’m too slow.
Just as the foxret is about to grab me. As his claws are about to dig into my flesh, he’s torn away.
His claws cut through the fabric of my clothes before he’s pulled backward, and a strangled, whimpering noise escapes the foxret’s mouth before he’s torn to pieces.
A scream builds in my throat as I stare wide-eyed up at the creature who’s towering in the foxret’s place.
Raith still has his tattoos, and his eyes are the same deep set, inky black, but that’s where the similarities end.
Instead of the professor I’ve grown familiar with, he’s now a hulking monster.
Thick bands of muscle cover his naked body, and tattoos cover every part of his skin, patterns and swirls forming an artistic display.
Long black claws extend from his fingertips, and massive curved horns sit atop his head, black shadows flickering on the ridges like black fire.
“Raith?” I whisper, terrified. Fear pounds into me, because he’s not staring at me like the shadow daddy I’ve come to know. No, he’s staring at me like he’s a predator, and I’m nothing more than prey.
My gaze lowers to the claw marks gouged across his muscular chest, and I remember what Raith told me.
That if he gets clawed by a foxret, he’ll lose himself to pure mating instinct.
That I must get into the cage. I swallow hard.
Okay Shade, don’t freak out. Raith said you’ll be safe in the cage, so get your ass moving.
I slowly start shuffling backward, but before I can enter the cage, there’s a rush of air by my ears.
Like he knew what I’d been trying to do, Raith’s monster moves frighteningly fast. The cage shimmers into view a second before Raith sends it hurtling across the clearing.
Oh, well that’s just great.
Raith’s monster moves closer, and I don’t dare move.
I stare up at the beast, and now that the cage is gone, I decide to try plan B.
Opening my mouth, I go to scream, because I’m shameless, and I’m still hopeful the others will turn up, but before any sound can come out, shadows wrap around my mouth, and I gape at Raith’s smirking shadow beast.
The monster leans down, slicing his claws through the straps of my clothes that were barely hanging on. My outfit falls from me, pooling by my feet. He’s even sliced through my panties, and I stand there just as naked as he is.
His gaze slowly trails down my body, his eyes devouring the sight of me before he stares at my face again.
A confusing mix of fear and anticipation goes through me.
I should be absolutely terrified, and I am, but there’s a part of me that knows this creature is Raith.
He’s my mate, and my body still responds to him.
That is, until my gaze lowers, and my fear wins.
My guys are huge down there, but Raith in monster form…
I shake my head. Nope. No. Definitely not.
If I could, I’d put an Out-of-service sign on my vagina, because I’m pretty sure Raith would destroy me with that monster between his legs.
“You can’t,” I rasp to Raith, true fear going through me, but he doesn’t seem the least bit concerned. Nope, there’s only desire in his eyes.
The monster lifts his thick fingers, brushing them down my cheek, and a single word slips between his lips. “Run,” he growls. His voice is a hardly recognizable guttural sound.
I’m too shocked and terrified to move. There’s no way I could outrun him. I couldn’t even before when he was in his more human form.
“Run, shadow mate,” he repeats, frowning at me.