Rune
The little shifter boy is cowering in the back corner of the kennel he’s in. His chin is on the floor and his shoulders are hunched, like he’s trying to block out the noise.
And this disgusting, trash-scented motherfucker is pointing a gun at him.
A gun. At a puppy.
The same gun he just shot us with.
I pretend my body doesn’t hurt from all those fucking bullets. The robe stopped them, but I need to work on my personal gravito layer to keep them from impacting.
“You know…” I keep my tone casual as I speak to Nix. “I really don’t like people who threaten kids.”
“Me. Either.”
“B-back the fuck up or he dies.” The man’s voice comes out weak.
“But what if I do that instead?” I point to the corner of the ceiling.
He looks up.
Nix jumps forward.
She knocks the gun out of his hand and grips him by the throat, pressing him against the wall.
“I cannot believe that worked.” I laugh as I stride across the room. “You have got to be the dumbest piece of shit I’ve ever met.”
He fights.
Struggles.
But… we’re strong.
Way stronger than this asshole.
I use some of my nifty new vampire strength as I grip one of his shoulders and slam it back against the concrete.
Nix pins his other shoulder, keeping a hand on his throat so he can’t speak.
I smile over at the little shifter in the kennel. “Your parents sent us. They’re worried about you but totally okay.”
The wolf lets out a crying sound that breaks my heart. But I force the smile to stay on my face.
His parents didn’t actually send us, but I do know that they’re both alive and recovered from the drugging.
“The pup down there?” Bridget calls down the stairs.
“Yes!” I keep my tone bright. “That’s our Aunt Bridget. She’s super nice. Will you go outside with her?”
The fuzzy little wolf lifts his head from the floor enough to give me a tiny nod.
“We’ll be right behind you,” I tell the pup as I hear Bridget enter the room. “Then our friend Barth will portal us all out of here.”
Bridget crouches in front of the kennel. “Hi.” Her voice is soft and kind. “Can you close your eyes for just a second? I’m going to break this lock, and I don’t want any bits to fall into your pretty eyes.”
The pup squeezes his eyes shut.
Bridget breaks the lock and pulls the door open.
“Okay, come upstairs with me, and we’ll wait for the girls. And if you see the big wolf up there, that’s Orion.”
The pup’s eyes widen at the mention of the Alpha. And even though he’s from a different pack, he must recognize the name.
The little wolf slinks out of the kennel, then shakes out his fur as he stands to his full height.
I keep smiling at him, knowing it would be inappropriate to hug him and press my face into his fur but still wanting to.
“We’ll just be two minutes,” Nix says brightly. “But real quick. Can you tell me, is this the man who kidnapped you?”
The puppy nods. Then he lunges forward, snapping his teeth.
One candle goes out.
He keeps his eyes on the man. And we keep the man pinned.
Then the little wolf darts to the second candle, chomping out that flame.
Leaving the room very dark.
Bridget and the pup jog up the stairs.
And the man starts to shake.
But since we can see in the dark, I smile at Nix. “It’s nice being the predator.”
She takes a deep breath. “It really is.”
“So… How should we do it?” I lift my free hand, pushing as much Fire into it as I can. “I haven’t really had time to practice. So it might take a while to burn him…” My palm starts to faintly glow. “But if I’m being honest…”
The man starts to struggle again.
He doesn’t get free.
And his cried words don’t even make sense.
But his fear fills the room.
Just like the little wolf’s did.
I drop my smile. “I’m kinda hungry.”
Nix and I both turn so we’re facing the man. “I could eat.”
“N-no d-don’t—”
I press my glowing palm to his stomach.
And as he starts to scream, we angle our heads and sink our fangs into his neck.