Page 62 of The Mating Need
“Who’s afraid now, Perry? I can smell your fear. Or is that the stink of you wetting yourself, littleguy?”
Perry didn’t respond. He whirled, and as the streak of movement moved by him, slashed with another, smaller blade he pulled from inside hiscloak.
The blur collapsed, howling, holding his stomach. Troy doubled over, bright red blood leaking from between hishands.
Perry had guttedhim.
Her heart dropped as she howled, acting without thought, lunging at Perry with the confiscated knife. She sank it straight into hisstomach.
Grinning, he pulled it out, flinging it aside. Not a drop ofblood.
“What are you?” she whispered, her pulse throbbing, her instinct raging to run far away from thisthing.
“I am darkness.” He started for her. “Anddeath.”
Now she knew her instincts were right and Perry was a demon, a being of tremendous power who had been invited onto the land by a pack member. She must destroyhim.
But was she powerfulenough?
Let her rip.Troy’s anguished gaze met hers. He mouthed words. This time sheunderstood.
Jenny dove for the knife, reaching it before Perry. She called on all her powers, and sent them into the knife. She flung it atPerry.
Right into his heart, or where his heart should exist, had heone.
This time, no laughter. Perry screamed as the light from the glowing blade enveloped him in a net, squeezing tight. Like a lemon, she thought in stunnedfascination.
Squeezing harder and harder, until he exploded. Black goo sprayed everywhere, over her, Troy, the altar and the prone acolytes lying close to their master. And then it evaporated, as if it were neverthere.
From the woods, dozens of wolves emerged, barking and snarling. They raced forward, tearing into the cult as a large, majestic wolf howledorders.
Aiden.
Soon it was over and Perry’s followers were all dead. Aiden and the other Lupines shifted back to Skin, clothed themselves bymagick.
Ignoring them all, she scurried over to Troy and knelt on the ground beside him. He smiledweakly.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to hit the road on your own, sweetheart. Can’t be there for you this time.” He gasped for breath. “Made… up my mind. Was coming with you. We’re a team. Never leave you behind. Not like… your familydid.”
So pale.Dying.
With all her powers, she could do nothing to save him. “Please don’t leave me,” she whispered. “You’re all I care about. More than my own life. PleaseTroy.”
He seemed to struggle to smile. Troy wheezed, breath sounds growing fainter. Damnit, she knew these signs. Knew what was happening, and was helpless to preventit.
Don’t fall in love with me. I’ll break yourheart.
Never imagined he would be the one breaking hers. Tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped onto his. Troy stared up at her, struggled to lift his hand. He wiped away a tear from her eye. Breath sounds grew more and more ragged, and the wheezingincreased.
“Don’t cry over me, sweetheart. Death’s just another part of living. You’ll be fine. You always will. I regret… we never had the chance to be together for long, but those days I had with you were the best part of life.Thanks.”
Tears blurred her vision. Only one being could resolve this. Forget pride and her personal fear of thewizards.
Jenny flung back her head and screamed to the heavens. “Tristan! I call on you, Silver Wizard. Helphim!”
“Hurry up,” Aiden barked. “He doesn’t havelong.”
A flash of white light and the wizard appeared, his expression somber. He knelt by Troy’sside.
