Page 105 of The Tracker's Dawn: Sunderverse
Damien had blocked her.
My front paws hit the floor, and I leaped again, this time aiming my sharp fangs at the witch’s neck. She blinked in surprise, then turned to smoke with a flick of her wrist. My jaws closed around nothing but air as I flew past and landed on the other side.
Digging my claws into the concrete I whirled around, frantically searching for her. My eyes roved around, taking in the scene for a split second.
Eric was circling around a fallen hybrid, trying to go for the beast’s neck as the creature’s bulging arms flailed about defensively, grotesque claws intent on shredding the tawny wolf. Rosalina was repeatedly pulling the trigger, discharging as many bullets as she could on the second and third hybrids. Damien was scanning the garage, a ball of magic sitting in his hand ready to be launched at the first sign of the witch. He was slowly walking closer to Jake and Lucia, who was still fighting to pull the demon out of Jake.
Trusting Damien to take care of Mekare the moment she reappeared, I lunged toward one of the hybrids stalking Rosalina and clamped my jaw around the back of its thick calf. The beast roared as my teeth sank in. I shook my head and pulled back, ripping sinew off of bone and spitting it out. The creature whirled as blood spilled onto the floor. I peered past its massive body to check on Rosalina. She had felled the second hybrid and was now dashing to help Eric, holding a sword above her head.
Holy shit!
She was like Xenia, Warrior Princess. She even let out a war cry to match. Seeing her out of the corner of his eye, Eric stepped back from the hybrid he’d knocked to the floor as she swung down and hacked at its neck. One, two, three times until she decapitated it.
I tore my eyes away from the scene as the hybrid I’d attacked limped in my direction, teeth bared, black veins bulging in its neck and face. I’d pissed it off. Big time. Well, I was pissed off too. With my mouth opened wide, I let out a blood-curdling roar and fleeted around the hybrid. The beast’s head swiveled around, searching for me. But it didn’t pinpoint my location until I took a bite out of his other calf.
The creature roared in pain, throwing its head back. I spit out the foul-tasting chunk of meat as it fell to its knees and Rosalina sprang in front of it, swinging her sword with such force that she cut the massive head clean off. The hideous thing thudded to the floor and rolled off to the side, leaving a trail of blood in its path. The body followed an instant later.
With the three hybrids dead and Mekare nowhere to be seen, we all gathered around Jake. At least there’d been only three of the monsters. Hopefully that was all she’d been able to make since last night.
Lucia was still fighting against Velthgrek, and it seemed she was winning. Half of the demon’s essence was out of Jake’s body. The skin around his biceps was still writhing, but not bulging as much.
“You almost got it,” Damien said. “You can do it.”
How long had passed since the demon first went into Jake? Maybe enough that it’d had a chance to get rid of the curse? No, I didn’t think so. But that didn’t matter anymore, not when that fucking Midnight Witch was—
Without warning, Lucia yelled as something hit the back of her legs and she fell to her knees, losing control of the demon. In the blink of an eye, Velthgrek slithered back into Jake. With a grunt, he started thrashing violently at the shock of the reentrance.
A surge of panic hit my chest, paralyzing me. My mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Dead. He’s dead.
Crippling despair reared its ugly head, and once more, I had a glimpse of a future without joy, without meaning.
But then, with a punch of her power toward the floor, Lucia was back on her feet. She seemed to levitate for an instant, then as her feet settled back down, she extended her hands forward and quickly pulled back, taking hold of the demon once more. Velthgrek had made it into Jake’s chest, but she stopped its progress and pulled it into Jake’s arm once more.
Another magical attack came at Lucia, but this time, Damien was ready and blocked it.
“Show your face, you ugly bitch,” the mage spat.
“Very well,” Mekare’s voice echoed through the garage, then she appeared in front of us, framed by the garage doors.
Her two-tone bangs swayed as she settled. She wore leather pants with buckles around her thighs, a laced bra, and an unzipped jacket on top.
I growled and took a step in front of my friends. If hatred could kill, she would’ve dropped right then and there. I’d never hated anyone this much in my life.
“That little girl is wasting her time,” the witch said, gesturing toward Lucia. “Your beloved is dying, Toni. Isn’t that right, Damien?”
I shook my head so violently, my ears flapped.
Not true. Not true,I repeated inside my head.
There was no answer from Damien. Fear crept into my bones like venomous spiders even as my sister grunted with the effort of controlling Velthgrek.
“You’re nothing without your hybrids, bitch!” Rosalina exclaimed, switching the sword for a gun and aiming it at Mekare’s head.
With a flick of the witch’s wrist, the gun flew from Rosalina’s hand and clattered to the floor.
“Pathetic Stale,” the witch spat. “You and your kind are a waste of space. Don’t you know weapons are worthless against Skews like me?” She paused, then answered her own question. “Of course you don’t. You’re stupid.” Grinning like a maniac, she raised her arms to the heavens. “And I’mnotnothing. I ameverything. With or without hybrids. Right babies?” she asked over her shoulder.
