Page 110 of The Tracker's Revenge
Red, c’mon!
If I could shift, it would trigger the healing abilities, and I would be able to help them. I felt the change coming over me, but it was slow, too slow.
Dark light shot out of Mekare’s fingertips, sailing straight toward Jake who was in the lead.
No!
I watched helplessly as the witch’s magic hit him straight on. I expected him to yelp in pain and fall to the floor, but instead, he leaped in the air, unscathed, sharp claws aimed at the witch’s chest.
Mekare’s mouth opened in an “O” of surprise that exactly matched mine. Her spell had washed over the gray wolf as if it were nothing more than a harmless breeze. And now, Jake was upon her, and he would rip her to pieces. Or at least that was what should’ve happened except he sailed right through the witch as she turned to smoke for just an instant.
What the...?
Jake crashed into Stephen instead, who was still hiding behind the witch. His claws tore at Stephen’s back as the coward tried to turn away and run.
Mekare solidified again. She seemed intent on blasting Jake into the next century, but as she aimed her next attack Eric clamped his jaw around her calf. She cried out in pain.
In the next instant, there were three wolves instead of two. Stephen had shifted in the blink of an eye and was now snarling at Jake, circling. Mekare re-aimed her crackling hands toward Eric’s head.
Please no!
Again, I tried to shift. This time Red rose to the task, and my body rippled with transforming energy. Muscles and bones grew. Sharp teeth sprang into place and claws ripped my skin ready to exert revenge. My clothes tore and fell away. My head cleared, all lingering effects of Mekare’s torture washing away.
My attention snapped back to the fight. Jake and Stephen were rolling on the floor, guttural growls reverberating in their chests as they did their best to tear each other apart. Eric was nowhere to be found while Mekare stood where I’d last seen her, shooting healing energy into her leg.
“No, Eric! Where are you?”My alpha thoughts projected forward.
What had the witch done to him?
“I’m right here, Sunder.”There was a flick of movement by the hole they’d carved in the wall, and Eric stood there, unharmed.
Huh?How had he gotten there? Last I’d seen, Mekare had been about to turn him into a fried egg.
A shadow lingered behind Eric. I strained to see past the darkness outside, but all I managed to make out was the outline of a person. Was it Rosalina? No, that didn’t make sense. They wouldn’t bring her with them into this dangerous situation. Besides, she would have been shooting her rifle if she were here. But if she wasn’t here, where was she? Was she all right? And who could the shadow be?
I shook my head and focused on Jake. I had to help him, especially since Mekare had finished healing herself.
With an upturned lip, she flicked a hand in Jake’s direction. A blast of magic hit him and sent him soaring through the air. He crashed against the wall.
Seething with rage, I pounced, intent on repaying the damn witch for the pain she’d caused me. Just as I was about to reach her, though, Stephen threw a pointed look in my direction, warning her. In a flash, her hands twisted in an elaborate spell, and a gossamer of crackling energy materialized in front of me. Unable to stop, I got trapped on the web. My legs windmilled under me.
I fought, clenching my teeth, and instinctively, released a blast of sensory energy, using my tracking powers the way I’d used them at the coven temples against the hybrid. A sensory overload fizzed through my entire body reacting against Mekare’s magic.
I took two steps forward, my eyes locked with the witch’s. She was staring at me as if I were an alien with three heads. She’d never met the likes of me, a werewolf with magic.
She leaned forward, thrusting her hands toward my head and intensifying her attack. I redoubled my own defenses and took another step forward. My entire body trembled with the effort, but I managed to advance.
Mekare’s face tightened with panic. The shiny pool of her all-black eyes trembled. I took another step, my every muscle latent with tension, so much that if she stopped her attack, I would fly off like a missile from a launcher. Good, maybe I’d go right through her, carving a huge hole in her middle.
Changing tactics, she raised one hand and wriggled her fingers, making a fireball. Viciously, she shoved it in my face. I reared back, the heat singing my lashes and blinding me for a second.
I shook my head to clear my vision, and when I glanced back I noticed Jake was back on his paws and Eric was closing in on the witch again. Behind Mekare, Stephen was hunkered down, his head low to the ground, his glowing blue eyes furtive as they flicked toward the door.
The coward was already planning his escape, just like last time. But today, he would pay for everything he’d done. For Damien, for all the vampires rhabo had killed, and all of those who still suffered its effects and had no hope left.
It was three of us against two of them. No, four, I realized, as the other person I’d noticed outside chose that moment to reveal their presence.
For a moment, I was hopeful, thinking that whoever Jake and Eric had brought with them would even the scales, but I was wrong. Very wrong. Because the person who stepped into the room was none other than Bernadetta Fiore.
