Page 71 of Howling
I’ll become nothing more than a power supply.
Though Geoffrey isn’t as strong as the lore, the ancients on the council, that doesn’t mean he isn’t dangerous. While part of me knows I should be wary, I’m too pissed that everyone thinks they can use me without any repercussions. “Are you stupid enough to think you’re the only one hunting me?”
If I hoped to piss him off…it works.
Rage darkens his face, his magic bleeding into the air like a toxic cloud. The lights dim until only he is illuminated like a hulking menace.
“Who?” he snarls, stalking forward until his magic snaps angrily against my skin like a swarm of bees. While I might have an immunity to magic, my abilities take a few moments to unravel the spells.
I release my breath slowly, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of knowing he hurt me.
I’ll have to tread carefully. The man is a narcissist, acting like a toddler who was just threatened with having his toy taken away. If he can’t play with me, he might decide no one else can either.
The man is obviously delusional, the power he obtained inflating his ego. With his health failing, he is desperate. He’s gambling that if the council wants me, that must mean I’m valuable. If he doesn’t turn me over to them, the fool is totally ill-prepared for the nightmare that is about to consume his life. “Do you think your masters rely solely on you? They have a whole army at their disposal. If they find me before you report my capture, they won’t hesitate to kill everyone and claim the reward for themselves.”
I gaze at the motley crew he’s gathered, and my lips curl in derision. I almost feel sorry for him—almost. One way or another, they’ll each get what they deserve. “You’ll be nothing more than cannon fodder.”
He whirls toward his men with a snarl of rage, his magic crackling around him as his control fractures. He strikes one of the guards so hard that bones crack. The man crumbles, dead before he even hits the ground. “Assemble the guards. I want every available man on patrols.”
Geoffrey’s wild expression reeks of insanity as he practically froths at the mouth at the notion that anyone would dare threaten his one chance at salvation. He storms out, the walls trembling with his rage, and bits of dirt and debris trickle down from the ceiling.
His minions scurry after him. Scar is the last to leave, casting me a sinister look that says things aren’t over.
He’s going to be a problem.
I wish I could gloat when they disappear, but I didn’t say anything that wasn’t the truth. If we don’t leave soon, the Orion will destroy everything in their path to capture me. The small team tracking me is ruthless, creating havoc wherever they go. They’re especially vicious and don’t care about the destruction they leave behind.
We have a day at most, maybe two if we’re lucky.
I might be able to fight off one group, but battling the two of them at once is a death sentence. Silence fills the small, underground space. Glancing from cage to cage, my wolf howls for vengeance, demanding retribution for the people who were wronged.
Pain ripples through me as she fights to break free, and I grimace when I’m barely able to hold her back. While Bellamy and I could take the goons, Tyler and the rest of the paranormal creatures are injured. They would be vulnerable during the fight, and that’s not a risk I’m willing to take.
No, we have to bide our time.
When I turn to face the guys, Bellamy’s silver eyes are shimmering with his dragon, his pupils nothing more than narrow slits. He’s struggling to remain calm, and it could be for several reasons—the thought of being imprisoned again, the real fear of being returned to Kyperian, or something as simple as having his dragon returned to him after so long.
Either way, the last thing we need is for him to shift and crush us in the process. Despite the chains, he’s on the verge of shifting. Without the collar to restrain him, we’re in trouble. I approach him cautiously, uncertain if his beast will recognize me or if I’ll become a bite-sized snack. “When’s the last time you shifted?”
His otherworldly eyes lock on to me, and I can only imagine what will happen if the humans see a rampaging dragon. If the council isn’t aware of our location yet, they will be soon as he shifts.
When I step toward him, his nostrils flare, and I instantly freeze. His head tilts to the side, his silver eyes swirling as he observes me a little too much like a predator for my comfort. Even as I try to stay calm, it’s impossible not to tense.
He’s a fucking dragon… I’m still in awe of the fact.
Now, as long as he doesn’t eat me, we’ll be fine.
I spoke too soon.
Mist slowly escapes his nostrils, and the chill in the air deepens with the scent of snow. That’s when I realize it’s not smoke but frost. Crystals glimmer in the space between us, much like glitter, as the water molecules freeze, and I suddenly know that if he breathes on anything, it will instantly turn to solid ice.
As he leans forward, I gulp, careful not to move. He inhales deeply, his chest expanding impressively, and a low rumble fills the cell as his beast growls. When he exhales, the strands of my hair ripple, and his gaze drops.
He slowly reaches out and runs his fingers through the silky strands. The sensual sensation is slightly at odds with the fear that he could rip out my throat at any second. It almost feels like he is…petting me?
I peer at him with wide eyes, nearly wilting in relief when I see normal human eyes gazing back at me. He still doesn’t blink, and I’m afraid to break his concentration. It’s almost like touching my hair has soothed him and lulled his beast.
I’m not stupid enough to think that the threat is gone. It’s just hidden.
