Page 83 of Wicked Savage Wolves
“Ah, are we going to shift?” Samuel asks, canting his head to the side. “I much prefer this form than the hybrid beast you were when we first met but,” a curl of his upper lip exposes his fangs, “I did enjoy forcing your shift. Tell me, how’s your back feel?”
Desmond’s lips move, his words whisper soft for my ears only. “You can hold a warrior form?”
I nod.
“Take it the first chance you get.”
I reach for the saber on my back, pulling the blade free as Des whips a simple dagger out.Will it be enough?
The vampires all smile like our weapons are useless against them. I force my mind to remain calm. Steady. Usually a vampire up against a shapeshifter is a done deal regardless of breed. Vampires are fast and there are only a few ways to kill them. Destroy the heart, decapitation, and fire are about it. Whereas with a shifter, all you have to do is deliver enough damage that the Lycanthropy virus in our systems can’t keep up. Silver is our kryptonite but it isn’t necessary to take us down.
Four against two isn’t helping our odds.
I know Des is thinking the same thing when our eyes connect once more, silent communication passing between us right before he whirls on the two vampires behind us and I charge forward to face off with the two in front.
Samuel lunges toward me inhumanly quick. I barely avoid his outstretched hands, relying on my shifter speed to twist out of reach at the last possible second. I swing my sword, grazing the back of his arm as he flies past me.Dammit.Instinct has me spinning to my right in time to meet the second vampire’s strike. Crimson eyes stare into mine with hatred as he reaches for my throat. For a second, my mind screams in panic before I shove the emotions aside. Adrenaline punches through me like an electric rush through my bloodstream and as one curled hand wraps around my throat, I sink my blade into the vampire’s stomach.
I refuse to be weak and give in to my fears. Not this time.
He stills, eyes wide and I use his surprise to my advantage as I drag my blade upward, angling for the heart. Before it can connect, Samuel sinks his fangs into my shoulder from behind. I scream. My muscles spasm and I fight the urge to wrench away knowing I have to take care of the vamp on my sword. I won’t get lucky like this again.
Fighting through the burning pain, I ignore the scent of my own blood as he feeds from me. “I hope I taste like shit,” I scream as I force my blade higher, knowing vampires don’t typically like the taste of our blood.
I cut through muscle, hitting bone and drag my blade the final few inches to the vampire’s heart. At the last second, he grasps my blade, blood dripping through his fingers as the enchanted steel slices into his hands, but it’s not enough to halt my momentum. The blade slices through his organs like warm butter.
The crimson of his eyes dims and his legs give out. My saber slides free as he falls to the pavement and I whirl on Samuel at my back. His fangs tear free from my shoulder, and I snarl as pain spears into me.
Facing him now, my breaths are labored, my neck slick with dripping blood, but I ready my saber for his next attack. His lips curl into a smile and he uses his thumb to wipe the trail of blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. With his gaze on mine he brings his blood coated finger to his mouth and sucks on it provocatively. He moans.
“Mmm… an acquired taste but one I happen to enjoy.”
I shudder and tighten my grip. Chancing a look, I flick my gaze toward Des. He’s still locked in battle with the other two vampires, both of them circling. Blood drips from a wound on his side but he seems to be holding his own.
“You wanted round two. Come on, then,” I taunt.
He eyes my sword warily and I take a chance. I shift my grip, holding it backwards by the guard and I throw the sabre like a javelin aiming for his chest as my shift tears through me. The sword distracts him as my bones snap, fur covering my arms. My face morphs into that of my wolf and without hesitating, I lunge.
He doesn’t see me coming. I tackle him to the ground and clamp my teeth around his throat, ripping the flesh free. The taste of undead blood fills my mouth and I gag.
Shoving away from him, I stagger to my feet only to realize the asshole is still alive. He clutches at his throat, the skin torn open and his esophagus lying beside him. I see the bones of his spine through the wound and revulsion has me keeled over at the waist.
A curse has me turning to see Desmond deliver a killing blow to one of the vampires as he decapitates him with a wicked slice of his blade. The remaining vamp eyes him cautiously before turning, and in a blur, he disappears.
Des staggers toward me, blood soaking through his shirt. I rush to catch him as his knees buckles. “Just need … to catch … my breath.”
Samuel makes a curling sound and I curse.
“Fucker’s still —”
“Alive. I know. I’ll handle it.” My words come out garbled but they’re coherent enough in my between form.
After helping Des into a seated position against his SUV, I stalk toward Samuel and pick up my sword. His mouth opens and closes but with most of this throat gone, he can’t form any words. He can still heal, recover from his wounds, but I refuse to keep living my life looking over my shoulder. I shift back to my human form, my shirt torn and hanging from my shoulders, but I no longer care.
He took something from me and dammit, I’m going to get it back.
I drag the saber against the pavement as I move closer to him, letting the tip of the blade scrape the ground as I get closer. Small sparks flicker as it strikes and I watch, my eyes cold, as the vampire’s legs flay, his efforts to get away pathetic.
I don’t say a word. I don’t need some long drawn out monologue. I just lift my blade once I’m beside him and bring it down over his neck in one swift motion, making sure to hold his gaze as I deliver the blow. I want him to remember my face as he rots in hell.
