Page 21 of Savoring Her Snake

“Better,” I rumble. “I don’t know how that doesn’t hurt your ears.”

“Listen, motherfucker—”

“No, you listen,” I hiss, facing them. They have formed two groups on either side of the room. “Who hit the fox?” I ask. They tell me without thought, looking at a tall, brown-haired coyote with his arms crossed. I crook my finger, “Come here.” I tilt my head, trapping him in my gaze. His friends are shocked as he steps forward.

“What are you?” another asks.

“I’m really getting sick of being asked that,” I say and strike out. My cane transforms; the whip zings through the air and takes off the head of the coyote who dared touch Rylee. The room is in shocked silence as they watch his head roll. “No one can touch my sister. Who grabbed the bear?” I ask, and the bear runs. I flick my wrist on his second desperate step, and his head joins the other, his body dropping. “I don’t like men who use their strength to abuse women. It’s pathetic and shows what a piece of shit you are.” I recoil my cane, tapping it on the ground.

“They asked for it,” a blonde-haired coyote says. He’s the closest to my right.

“I’m glad you said that,” I hiss, transferring my cane to my left hand. I strike with my right hand, grasping his throat, pulling him close, and arching my cane in the air, taking the head of every bad shifter left alive. I ignore the gasp Juliana can’t contain. “You asked for this,” I whisper and rip out his throat. Silence descends, and I feel the stares directed my way. Shaking my hand, blood flies. “Cut them loose.” I take out my phone with my clean hand and hit Quinn’s name. “Come and get your sister-in-law. She was held in a house and assaulted.”

“What the fuck?” he growls.

“She’s fine.”

“Did you kill the assholes?”

“Of course. I will send the hotel's address.” I hang up and find the contact for the dragons. “Kingston, come get your mother.” I hold the phone to my ear with my shoulder and clean my hand with a towel on the bar.

“What did she do?” he sighs.

“She killed a shifter who touched Gabby. I killed the rest.”

“Jesus.”

“They are fine. I’ll send you the address.” I hang up as the women get to their feet and rub their wrists.

“Jules?” Sally asks, and Juliana looks away from the head closest to her.

“Sally, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

I narrow my eyes, looking from Sally to Juliana.

“You missed a killer party,” Sally retorts. Only the rabbit can joke about the situation.

“You know each other?” I ask, moving toward them.

“We met at the hotel where I work,” Juliana explains.

“I had a feeling,” Sally whispers.

“She’s my mate,” I state.

“Hmm…” Sally nods slightly and I narrow my eyes. The rabbit always knows more than she says.

“You’re giving her a crash course on dangerous shifters,” Rylee says, touching her eye.

“Are you alright?” I ask instead of acknowledging her comment.

“Yes. Asshole got in a lucky shot,” she replies.

“Did you just speak to Kingston?” Roxanne asks in disbelief.

“I did.” I look at all the dead bodies and back to the line of women.

“So you called my sons on me,” she says, glaring.

---