Chapter 30
Chapter
Thirty
Devanna
I patrolled my territory looking for signs that the demon had gone hunting, but found nothing. From what I could tell, the bitch hadn’t left her cave since I’d rescued her victim. She must cover her tracks better than I anticipated. I’d almost made it back to my truck when a familiar scent blew through the forest, catching my interest. A scent that had no business here. He wasn’t safe here. Stupid human.
Spinning on a back paw, skidding in the slick leaves, I changed directions. I charged down the mountain, mouth open to catch more of the alarming scent. Had to get to him before she did, otherwise he was as good as dead. No matter how I ran it through my head, I couldn’t think of why he’d come back here. How had he gotten out of the hospital? I’d kept tabs on him the best I could, since I rarely shifted back to my human side anymore.
Slowing as I neared the edge of the treeline, I scanned the roadway. Here somewhere, I needed to get a visual of him immediately and make him leave. Not safe, my instincts kept screaming at me. Must find him. Movement finally caught my eye and I focused in like the crosshairs of a sniper.
The human climbed out of a vehicle with a petite woman. She smelled like earth, lightning, metal, and gunpowder. Witch. A witch likely armed to the teeth if the smells coming from her were any indication. They pulled a couple of packs and duffles from the back seat and walked up the path that broke off from the edge of the dirt road. Where in the Summerland’s name are they going?
I tracked them through the woods, keeping out of sight until I figured out their destination. Once I knew their plan, I could run them off and then monitor the area to make sure they didn’t return. They were still miles away from Uttu’s den, but still too close for comfort. I kept as far back as I could without losing sight of them, and stayed down wind. His little human nose didn’t have a snowballs chance in a volcano of catching my scent. But the witch could use magic to enhance her senses if she figured out she was watched.
Suddenly, the little witch stopped in her tracks. She grabbed a fistful of the human’s backpack, bringing him to a halt. Turning, she put herself in front of him. A knife appeared in one hand, and flames licked between the fingers of the other. Her eyes scanned the treeline as if she could sense my presence. For all I knew, she could.
“Show yourself shifter!” The little witch called in a clear, forceful voice, though her volume remained the same. She knew enough about shifters to know she didn’t need to yell to get my attention.
I crept through the brush and slipped onto the path a few feet away from them. The human’s eyes widen, and I absently wondered if he remembered me. It’s not like mountain lions roamed in numbers like squirrels in these parts. Without waiting for an invitation or an attack, I shifted. Dark tawny fur receded, black claws became human nails, my sense of smell decreased, and I went bipedal. My sun streaked blonde hair fell around my shoulders, the breeze blowing it into my face.
Cricks, knots, and pinches pulled at my muscles and skin, demanding I stretch my human skin back out. Stretching could wait until I wasn’t in such a vulnerable position. I watched both of them warily as I continued to scent the air to make sure we stayed the only three predators in the area. Impatience vibrated the air coming from the witch. She planned to try to wait me out, so I’d talk first. Not going to happen unless our standoff got interrupted by a sadistic demon bitch.
“Why were you hunting us?” It only took her five minutes to crack. The flames still danced in her palm, curling up from the tips of her fingers for an inch or so. I wondered if she thought she looked badass flipping that blade around in her other hand. Probably. It might have looked badass to someone who didn’t have blade like claws and a bone crushing bite force with inch long incisors. The cocky little witch would get them both killed.
Hands on hips, I glared at them. “I could ask the two of you the same thing. Not that it matters, you’re in my territory. Trespassers.”
“I remember you.” The human spoke for the first time since I’d burst through the clearing. Not sure if it was shock from my cat, my shift, or if my presence had triggered his trauma, shocking him into silence. His eyes stayed trained on my hairline. “You dragged me out of that hell. I would’ve died if you hadn’t saved me. What’s your name, so I can say a proper thank you?”
“Devanna and you don’t need to thank me. I want that bitch out of my territory and away from my prey. When I caught your scent in the evening air, I knew I had to warn you. She’s still in the area. If I caught your scent, I’m sure she did as well. She’s not hunted humans to my knowledge since I rescued you. But instead taking small prey and deer. Coming back here is a suicide mission. Leave now and never come back.”
The witch scoffed. “I’m not leaving here without her ass back in Gehenna or her head on a spike. Suicide mission or not, she’s going down. I tried to leave him behind, but he doesn’t know ‘stay’ yet.”
“I’d watch the dog remarks when you’re speaking to a feline shifter because I’m no canine nor tamed. All it takes is two minutes.” My face pulled in harsh lines, teeth gritted to keep from hissing.
“Two minutes to do what?” The guy said, clearly oblivious to the line we drew in the sand.
I tossed my head back, indicating a branch above and just behind my head. “For me to shift, leap across this no man’s land, suffocate her, and drag her body up that tree to cache it for later.”
“Jesus!” He looked alarmed and a little disgusted.
Not that I’d actually cache her body or eat her the way I’d implied. Flexing my fingers, claw tips broke through the skin of my fingertips. “Isn’t any Jesus around these parts. Well, unless you count the plastic Christmas decorations the humans of the south so love. Now, you need to turn around and go back to wherever it was you came from.”
“I don’t think so.” The little witch tossed her knife in the air, a stream of fire wrapping around the blade. It flew across the space toward me frighteningly fast. I dropped as I shifted, and the blade embedded itself in the tree behind where I’d stood.
“E, keep your ass out of the way!” She never took her eyes off of me.