Page 45 of Toward Immortal Ruin

“Either that, or Nero’s pet panther is one hundred percent tame,” came Luna’s voice, echoed by a laugh from Key who stood beside her.

“All of this—it’s just incredible!”

And yet, Eden couldn’t seem to stop combing through his midnight black coat. With the big cat patiently letting her caress him, she couldn’t fathom wanting to direct her attention anywhere else.

Luna came to sit beside her. “Nero’s cat has been a fixture on our island since we came here centuries ago. I’m glad you’re here, Eden. It’ll be nice to have someone who can convince him to take a few vacation days every once in a while.”

“Now that, I can definitely do,” she replied. “Especially given how handy teleportation is. What a phenomenal gift.”

“It truly is,” Key echoed. “How was Paris?”

“How did you know we were there?”

“I, too, have a gift,” she said with a wink.

A tingle of electricity skittered up Eden’s spine, and while she could brush away the sensation, the panther below her hands stiffened. Luna immediately retreated, and Eden, uncertain of what was happening, followed her lead.

Within seconds, Nero shifted, and his eyes met the trio of women. “TheCitizenshave released more wolves.”

“Where?”

“St. Louis this time.”

“Do you need to go, Nero?” Eden asked, worried for the humans who were in the path of the rabid animals. He’d been there for her when it’d happened in Chicago. Given his reaction, it was clear he’d done it more than once.

“There are others who can go in my place …”

The hesitation in his voice made her frown. “You saved my life, Nero. Don’t let me be the reason you don’t save someone else’s.Go. Be safe.”

“Forgive me. I’ll come back to you as soon as I can.”

And then he was gone.

Chapter Fifteen

Wolves ran wild inthe streets. TheCitizenshad unleashed twenty-five infected beasts this time, and the group that’d been sent to round them up was struggling. Nero had called for backup several minutes ago, but reinforcements had yet to arrive.

Jeremiah, struggling with an air shield around the half mile radius, was also concentrating on maintaining the optical illusion that rendered them all invisible.

A savage snarl yanked Nero’s attention back to the current fight with a grey wolf, her jaws frothing with the incurable disease. Whispering an apology, he snapped her neck with his bare hands.

Another one down.

Just a few feet away, Zeke had one in a strangle hold, attempting to keep the wolf alive. A mere glance into the animal’s emotional state told Nero it would be impossible to save him.

“He’s gone, Zeke,” came the command. “End his misery.”

Anger tightened the other sovereign’s features, but he complied. A savage snap sounded moments later. The wolf slid to the ground, his pain finally over.

“We have to assist the others.” Nero jerked his chin toward the street. “Aidan is in pain, and Jeremiah is struggling to hold the optical illusion over such a broad area.”

They passed the corpses of three slain wolves, dead before Nero had even teleported in. Kane, Aidan, and Riaz, having more experience with rogue and rabid werewolves, were cornering a larger group, picking them off as they attempted to stray.

“Over there, Nero!”

Jeremiah’s voice caught the attention of two wolves that’d come out of another alleyway and had locked their sights on the Elemental. Paws sprinting over wet cement, the snarling animals bared razor-sharp teeth in preparation.

The teleport took seconds, placing Nero directly in front of Jeremiah.

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