Page 21 of Claim My Soul

“I honestly don’t know, given you seemed immune to my influence.I only thought to give it a try.”She remained quiet a moment as if thinking then opened her mouth but closed it again without saying a word.

“Tell me your thoughts, Alexia.”

“Maybe since our joining, since you bit me ...could that have altered something between us?Formed a bond?”

“Like vampires?”She gave a careless shrug.“Alexia.”Her bright eyes told him she’d heard him in her mind.“I rather like this and the idea we are ...bonding.”

She smiled broadly as she placed a hand on his chest.“I do as well.”

Before either could say more, a ruckus was heard in the corridor leading down to the fight club.Herleif watched Dax, the man he knew as a panther shifter, sprint in that direction.

“Let’s go,” Alexia said, pulling him in that direction.“Must be serious if Dax is headed down there.”

They moved through the growing crowd, making their way toward the steps when they saw two men fighting and Dax trying to break it up.Another joined the melee, and they all managed to tumble down the stairs, crashing to the floor below.Herleif removed himself from Alexia’s grasp and jumped down the stairwell.He saw Dax had shifted and was fighting a wolf while not far away were two more wolves biting and clawing one another.

Spectators began to form a semicircle around the fighters even as the two other arenas carried on as if nothing unusual was happening.Herleif shoved his way past the onlookers to grab ahold of the Lycan ready to jump Dax.Once held firmly, he commanded, “Shift.”

Herleif found himself holding a burly man, but he was no match for troll strength.The guy continued to yell, fighting his restraint so that Herleif had no choice but to knock him out and let him crumple to the floor.Dax shifted back to human form just as Alexia reached Herleif’s side.

The roar of the crowd drew their attention to the other two Lycan.The beasts, bloodied and ragged, were now circling one another, growling and snarling.No one seemed to mind that a third arena was now open for bets.

“Who are these wolves and why were they fighting above?”Herleif asked of Dax.

The panther shifter shook his head.“I have no idea who they are or what caused their fight.More and more Lycan have been showing up, causing trouble.Tonight, of all nights, we’re packed to the rafters, and more than half the patrons are wolves.We’ve had to turn many away, and I’m sure you saw the waiting line out the door.”

“Uncle said more of the fights lately have involved wolves.Are the other clubs experiencing the same?”

Dax nodded.“Yes, in fact, it was Tor, from Oba’s Manhattan club, who contacted us to give us a heads-up.They had their share of instigators as well, said a group talked about making the rounds to all the clubs’ parties before heading to the fights.So, we brought in even more help for the evening than we had already planned.Fucking Halloween.”He swiped a hand through his hair and sighed.

Alexia stepped to him, touching his arm.“Dax, you’re bleeding.That’s a nasty looking gash.”Dax turned his arm and cursed.“Go get that cleaned up.”

He looked at Alexia and grinned.“Yes, ma’am.Guess that’s another raincheck on the drinks.”Looking at Herleif, he asked, “Are you here to fight?”

“Hadn’t planned on it.”He looked at Alexia then back at Dax.“We have another mission tonight.”He wrapped his arm around Alexia’s waist, drawing her closer.

“Okay then, well, good luck.Catch up later.”

Herleif nodded then watched the man walk away before looking at Alexia again.“Shall we?”He indicated toward the wolves who were now locked together as one held the other’s throat.“Doesn’t look like it’s going to take long.”

Her eyes held sadness, and Herleif wished he could spare her the grief she felt.Yet he knew she was strong and didn’t need him sheltering her from experiences she’d dealt with before and would no doubt deal with again.

Alexia gave a nod and marched closer.They came to the edge of the crowd when howls split the air–one clearly in misery, the other louder, signaling victory.One of the wolves stood over the other, flesh hanging from his jowls as blood pooled around the prone wolf on the ground whose throat had been ripped out.The victor snarled and slung the trophy from his mouth, causing viewers to scream as they tried to avoid being hit.The wolf then seemed to lock eyes on its next victim, a woman who stood next to Herleif.

“Watch for the soul,” Herleif said to Alexia.“I’ll take care of this fucker.”

She looked as if she wanted to protest, but Herleif turned away and focused on the bloodthirsty Lycan.“Ready to face a worthy opponent?”He taunted, gaining the wolf’s attention.“That’s right, let’s go.Unless you’re too much of a pussy to fight me.”

His words had the desired effect when the wolf bared his teeth and leapt at Herleif.He easily skirted the attack while landing a punishing blow to the animal’s skull, sending him crashing to the ground, whimpering.Herleif then caught sight of the expected light ascending from the first fallen wolf.Alexia stood over the creature as his soul wound its way toward her.

As with the first time he witnessed it, Herleif wanted to warn her, protect her, but knew he shouldn’t.Wouldn’t.He watched as Alexia absorbed the light, her eyes flashing as bright as the sun.Just as the soul began to spiral upward, a piercing screech jerked his attention to the wolf he thought he’d only knocked out.But an eerie light of murky gray oozed out of the body and blasted toward Alexia.

“No!”Herleif bellowed as he threw himself between it and his lover, wrapping his arms around his woman to shield her from the assault.Alexia tensed and screamed as he absorbed the impact of what felt like a bullet train slamming into him.The underground disappeared as they barreled through time and space, feeling as if they were being sucked through a vacuum.

They came to an abrupt halt, the sudden impact jarring their bodies, causing both to grunt.They lay in a tangle for a moment, getting their bearings before rising and remaining at each other’s side.Except for a hazy amber glow in the distance, darkness permeated the space around them, and the smell of sulfur filled the air.

“What the hell?”Herleif murmured.

“Exactly,” Alexia said as she looked up at him.“What happened?I remember the wolf’s soul seeking me out then you grabbing ahold of me.”

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