Page 27 of The Werewolf Cowboy
Chapter 9
Katy didn’t know why someone at the brothel wanted her as a prisoner.
She had no idea why this place seemed slightly familiar.
But she did know one thing—Grayson was not going to die at the hands of these Night Riders.
Not today. Not as long as she was here.
The Riders galloped into the glade and leapt off the centaurs, who pawed the air and whinnied. Not the whinny of horses she’d ridden countless times in the pasture, but a terrible ripping sound that screeched in her eardrums. Katy whimpered and clapped her hands over her ears, and felt blood flow.
Blood flowed from Grayson’s ears as well, but he did not whine. He faced them, tall and courageous. Grayson’s smile sent a chill snaking down her spine and suddenly she was afraid. Not of the Fae, nor the centaurs.
“Give us the girl who escaped,” said one Fae, and his voice sounded like nails raking over her eardrums.
“Go fuck yourselves. She’s mine, and I never let go of what is mine,” Grayson told him.
His? Katy reeled backward. Grayson’s quiet statement definitely put a claim on her. She didn’t know what to think of that.
“You will regret this, wolf,” the other Fae said.
Cold, emotionless, they withdrew silver swords from sheaths at belts around their waist. Grayson flung out his hands.
Not claws, but five-inch talons emerged from his fingertips. Before the first Fae could raise his sword, Grayson struck, slashing at the Fae’s arm. It screamed and nearly dropped the sword.
Katy stared, feeling as if she’d been submerged into a movie. Everything seemed to move slowly.
And then the centaurs rushed forward, screaming and lashing out with their hooves. One struck Grayson in his stomach and he winced.
Grayson shifted into wolf, a beast even larger than the one she’d ridden across the sands. The talons on his paws were like butcher knives and his teeth—dear goddess, he had a mouth filled with teeth like Ninnea had as the Thannach.
Blue and green lightning flashed and thunder crackled, sounding as if the skies themselves had split open. The fury of the battle roused her own anger as Grayson fought with the two centaurs and the Fae.
Fighting not for his life, but hers.
Mouth dry, she stared at Grayson snarling and snapping at the Fae, who screamed as Grayson tore his throat out.
Every Lupine instinct surged, her wolf struggling to be free and not hide like a coward. She was no weak female, cowering behind greenery and having a male defend her.
Katy threw back her head and howled, the sound making the tree before her split in half. Not fighting the instinct, she rode with it, and felt her magick pour forth. Bones lengthened, and she howled with the shift. Talons grew from her hands and feet, and she felt stronger than ever before.
Rushing into the fight, she leapt over a boulder and attacked the centaur closest to Grayson, which prepared to trample him. Katy went for the throat. She tore and snapped, and felt warm blood gush over her muzzle. The centaur screamed, and then gasped, gurgling. Seeing the other die, the second centaur turned and ran, leaving Grayson to fight the Fae.
The Fae stabbed him but he did not fall. Each wound seemed only to enrage him further.
Diving beneath their jabbing swords, he tore at the Fae’s legs. One staggered back, and summoned a bright ball of orange flame in his hands.
The energy balls Grayson had mentioned.
Immobilized by fear, she could not move. Katy started to scream a warning, but before she could barely blink, Grayson turned. He cut off the hand of the Fae holding the energy ball. Before it could move, he slashed at its throat.
Never had she seen such swift speed.
Too stunned by what had happened, she backed off as Grayson killed the remaining Rider. Then he raced after the burning Fae, killed him as well, and caught up with the centaur.
She closed her eyes, trembling badly. When she opened them, she was back in Skin. Katy conjured clothing, too stricken to think straight.
Muzzle bloodied, Grayson loped into the clearing, his blue eyes scanning the carnage. The centaur she had killed lay on the sand, black blood pooling by his head. Grayson went to the corpse, sniffed it, and then lifted his hind leg.
