She looked down at her hands. "I guess."
"I take it you killed that half angel?" He probably shouldn't be asking but he thought avoiding it might not be healthy either.
"I beat his head in with a rock."
"That's intense." He took a deep breath. "And kind of awesome."
She looked up at him and raised a brow. "Awesome?"
He nodded, trying to convince himself as much as her. "He tried to kill you and hurt your mother, and you protected her. That's brave."
She laughed. "Is it awesome that I liked it? That I reveled in crushing in his skull?"
Tommy shrugged. He'd been asking himself the same thing. When Amber had ripped the sorcerer's throat out, he'd been happy. He'd wanted to kill Selena and he'd wanted her to suffer when he did it. "Maybe it's normal for us. Demons and werewolves aren't...human, exactly. We're both predators. As long as you don't go full serial killer, I think you're good."
"That's real comforting."
"Just being honest," he said with a grin.
"Hey, Tommy, can you order pizza?" Amber asked from across the room.
"Absolutely." Today sucked, and nothing could change that. Food could make it better for a little while though.
Chapter 75
AMBER
A text from Shane popped up on her phone, confirming he was back to full health. Amber dropped her phone on her bed and sat down, unwinding the towel from her head.
Angel formed right across from her sitting in a black chair. He looked more solid than normal. There was no silly form this time either. She suspected this was his real face. It looked close to the glimpse she'd seen other day; the sharp jaw, aquiline nose, and tousled black hair.
"You better not intend on demanding I fulfill my mark right now," she said as she squeezed water from the ends of her hair with the towel.
He smirked at her. “Did you know Tommy bears Evangeline’s demon mark now?”
She sighed, annoyed that he’d reminded her about that little complication. “Yes, did you come to gloat?”
“No, I came to tell you that I’ve found a safe place for Evangeline to stay. Someone will come to pick her and Eloise up in a couple of days.”
“Did you ever find out how they located her?” Amber asked, surprised. She’d expected to have to keep Evangeline forever.
“Yes. It’s been taken care of.”
That sounded ominous and Amber decided she didn’t want to know any details. "Great. Will handing her over to them fulfill my new demon mark?”
Angel threw his head back and laughed. “No, it’s not nearly enough. Besides, I know you’d do it anyhow, so there’s not much incentive for me to waste a favor on it, is there?”
Amber wished, once again, that she could punch him. “You’re an ass.”
“And you’re a soft, squishy, easily-manipulated marshmallow.” The smile on his face made him look easy-going but she couldn't forget the satisfaction she'd seen when he'd trapped her with another mark. She'd never forget that. Thallan was crazy, but he was right about the demon.
She got up and pulled her warmest pajamas out of her drawer. "Great talk. I'm going to bed now. Make yourself scarce."
"It was impressive what you did," Angel said, standing from his chair and prowling toward her. "Killing a sorcerer isn't easy."
"No, it wasn't."
He stopped right in front of her. Close enough to touch and leaned in. "You should be proud of yourself."
He lifted his hand like he meant to touch her face but she caught it and was surprised to find his fingers were solid.
"What are you doing?" She tightened her grip on his hand. His eyes strayed to her lips for a moment and she could practically feel his intent. She shoved him away. "Don't even think about it."
His grin widened. "Sleep well, Amber."
He vanished and her demon mark returned to its dormant state. She pressed her hand against it, wishing for the hundredth time she could cut it out of her chest.
Angry, she yanked on her pajamas and crawled into bed. Of course, that asshole had to come piss her off right before bed. The cherry on top of a terrible day.
She tugged the covers up to her chin, then grabbed a pillow and held it. That was still uncomfortable so she flipped to her other side and tried to squish her pillow into a better shape.
After five minutes of tossing and turning, a gentle knock at her door startled her. She sat up and heard Ceri just outside. Crawling out of bed, she hurried to the door.
Ceri stood in the doorway with a pillow tucked under her arm and tears streaming down her face.
"What's wrong?" she asked, pulling her into a hug.
"Can I sleep with you tonight? I know it's dumb, I’m not a two-year-old but––"
"It's not dumb. What's wrong?"
Ceri took a shaky breath. "I can't stand being alone right now. Every time I close my eyes I'm right back in that room."
Amber kept an arm around Ceri and walked her over to the queen-sized bed. "Come on. Just don't hog the covers."
They curled into bed together and Amber stroked her friend's hair gently. She would never admit it aloud but she was glad to not have to be alone tonight either. Small feet walked over her leg and a warm weight settled in the crevice between her and Ceri. Captain Jack's rumbling purr mingled with Ceri's heartbeat and slow breaths. It was comforting. She pressed her head against Ceri's back and counted the steady rhythm until she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 76
GENEVIEVE
Genevieve hurried toward the rest of the old Lockhart pack. The challenge had already begun. Greer hadn't given her much warning. Part of her didn't want to watch this but part of her needed to. She wanted to see Greer win.
"Gen, wait up!" Steven huffed as he tried to catch up. He wasn't much of a runner. He'd stayed over because of the whole near-death experience thing, which he was still upset about.
"Walk faster, I want to watch," she said, not slowing down to wait.
She slipped through a hole in the crowd and stood at the edge of the circle they'd formed. Kevin, the temporary alpha she’d met at the last challenge, was already limping. The other wolf, a tall black wolf with a white patch near his nose who she assumed was Paul, stayed still as Kevin circled around him.
“There are so many werewolves here. Are they all part of this pack?” Steven whispered in her ear.
“Yes, but hush and watch,” she said, pushing her fingers against Steven’s lips. He sighed in annoyance but she didn’t care. The only thing that mattered right now was this fight.
When Kevin charged, he moved so fast he was a blur. He went straight for the neck but Paul was ready. Ducking down and catching him under the jaw, Paul rose up on his hind legs and forced Kevin onto his back. Furious snarls filled the air and Kevin scrambled to get back up as Paul tested his defenses.
The sound made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. When Amber had turned to her, eyes bright red, and attacked she’d thought it had to be a dream. A nightmare. But the pain had been all too real.
It felt like the pack bond had been ripped away the moment Amber’s teeth had sunk into the flesh of her leg. She hadn’t wanted to fight back at all but she’d known from the first instant that she had to. That Amber would never forgive her if she let her kill her. Amber would rather die herself. So, she had fought back…and lost.
Paul’s jaws closed around Kevin’s throat. The other werewolf thrashed underneath him but Paul had every advantage and the struggle was futile. Slowly, the thrashing stopped and Kevin shifted back to human form, staying submissive with his face against the ground.
After releasing his grip on Kevin’s neck, Paul shifted and stood over him. “Do you submit?”
Kevin’s eyes flicked up toward Paul, then he twisted sharply, throwing dirt into Paul's eyes. He stumbled backward and Kevin jumped to his feet, landing a single punch. Genevieve’s heart stuttered fearfully and she curled her hands into a fist.
Paul rolled with the
punch, then whipped around stomping down on the side of Kevin's knee. A scream of pain tore from Kevin’s throat as his leg crumpled. With two quick steps, Paul got behind him, back to back, and wrapped his hands around Kevin's head. With his shoulder, he lifted Kevin off the ground, then brought him down sharply. A loud crack echoed through the silent crowd as Kevin's neck broke. He went limp and Paul tossed his body to the ground.
"I will not tolerate cowardly, dishonorable actions in this pack," he shouted at the shocked onlookers. Everyone shuffled nervously in place looking at the people standing next to them in disbelief. Then, Paul tilted his head back and howled.
The sound resonated in Genevieve's chest. This was power. This was pack. Maybe Greer was right and werewolves had become too tame recently. She might hate that people had to be hurt, but she couldn't deny how this made her feel. The pack would follow Paul now.
“That was intense,” Steven said, already scribbling down notes.
It annoyed her to see him doing that, as if the werewolves were zoo animals he was studying. He might think what he’d just witnessed was “intense” but he hadn’t felt it. He had no idea how powerful it really was.
“I’ll be back, I need to go talk to him about my case.”
“What?” Steven’s head snapped up, his eyes focusing on her finally. “I’ll go with you. I’d like to see––”
“No. This is pack business, it’s not appropriate for you to tag along. Just stay here and don’t bother anyone,” she said, barely keeping from snapping at him. It wasn’t really Steven’s fault she was upset with him. She’d just been having a bad week and didn’t have the patience for his quirks today.
“Okayyy, fine,” he said, looking put out.
She hurried toward where Paul was standing, talking to a few of his pack members. They looked completely awed by their new alpha. Paul had always exuded a cool, give-no-shits vibe but he was standing straighter now.
As she approached, he turned and caught her gaze, then said something to the others before heading toward her. He was still completely nude but that didn’t faze her anymore. She kept her eyes firmly on his face though.
They stopped in front of each other and Paul grinned at her. “I didn’t expect you to come.”
“I wanted to watch you win. Congrats by the way,” she said, returning his smile.
He nodded his head in thanks. “Now I simply have to maintain the position for a month.”
“Something tells me you won’t have a problem after how…decisive your victory was.” Her eyes strayed to Kevin’s corpse. They hadn’t moved him yet. If her research was correct, they’d wait for a council member to come and record the death, then turn his body over to the authorities. She thought she should feel bad for the guy but he had been an awful alpha and person.
Paul snorted. “It wasn’t what I intended but I will gladly use it as a teaching experience for the rest of the pack. But I know that’s not why you’re here. What do you need?”
She turned back, slipping into her business mindset. “Davie Johnson is sitting in jail, unable to be released on bail until his alpha vouches for him.”
He sighed and scratched the back of his head. “I thought it might be about him.”
“He never should have been arrested. The fight was started by someone else, he just happened to finish it.”
“Davie is an idiot and a troublemaker, and he has been since the day he was turned. He was one of Lockhart’s poorer choices.”
“He may be an idiot, but he needs help. Maybe a respectable alpha to show him the error of his ways?” she prodded, trying not to be too blunt about bringing up his past mistakes.
Paul smiled and shook his head. “You certainly know how to guilt a man into doing what you want.”
She shrugged and did her best to keep the smile off her face. “Just doing my job.”
“I’ll be there. You can text me the address.” He nodded goodbye, then headed back to his pack.
Genevieve watched him go and felt…satisfied. She had done it. It hadn’t gone how she’d hoped, exactly, but that didn’t matter. In the end, she’d succeeded.
“Hey Gen, you ready to go?” Steven shouted from across the yard.
“Yeah, I am.” She headed back to her pack and felt a little lighter on her feet. It was time to celebrate.
Today was Tommy’s birthday –– the butthead had tried to hide the date but she’d found it out just in time –– and then tonight was the full moon. They hadn’t run together as a pack in forever. She was looking forward to it.
Chapter 77
TOMMY
A chest plate crafted from one hundred percent tuna can. A helmet made from a measuring cup. A slingshot of rubber bands and chopsticks. And a saddle that was carefully sewn together from only the finest tire scraps.
“There’s no way he can do it,” Evangeline said, eyeing Woggy’s get up.
“Quit being so pessimistic. We’ve been training for this. He can do it.” Tommy adjusted the little helmet, strapping it securely under the pixie’s wide chin. Woggy smacked his hands against it and almost knocked himself over but it stayed in place.
“I agree, the chances of success are low despite extensive preparation,” Deward chimed in unhelpfully.
Tommy glared at him. “That’s enough from both of you. You should be encouraging him, not assuming he’ll fail.”
Ceri knocked on the door to his room, slightly breathless from jogging upstairs. "Is he ready? The pixies are swarming out front."
Tommy looked down at Woggy who stared up at him with a determined expression. Outside? he signed.
The pixie nodded resolutely and signed, outside and mine. Standing there in his armor, he looked like a little warrior. It still pained Tommy to think of the pixies fighting since someone was bound to get hurt, but Woggy needed his yard. He couldn't live in fear.
Tommy handed Woggy the slingshot and the little bag of pebbles they'd chosen for this battle. With weapons in hand, Woggy marched over to Captain Jack. The cat paused, looking up from his belly licking, and seemed to sense that it was time. The two of them had a strange connection, and sometimes Tommy wondered how smart the cat was, exactly. Especially after the whole glowing eyes thing Deward had mentioned.
Once Captain Jack had rolled to his feet, Woggy climbed up the makeshift saddle, settling in place. The bag hooked over the front of the saddle, keeping his ammo within reach. Rubber band stirrups hung down from each side to brace Woggy's feet and help him hang on. Watching them race around the house for the past week had been hilarious. Even Captain Jack seemed to enjoy his role as the pixie's noble steed.
Riding with his head held high, Woggy pointed toward the door and squeaked twice, signaling Captain Jack to head in that direction. The procession that led downstairs was somber, marred only by Amber giggling hysterically.
Derek clamped a hand over her mouth but that quickly devolved into a wrestling match.
Tommy walked ahead and grabbed the door handle, ready to open it, but he hesitated. "Maybe I should go out there with him. Just in case––"
"You can't," Ceri said firmly. "We talked about this and Deward is right. Woggy has to win their respect to reclaim the yard if we don't want to murder them all."
He sighed and nodded his head. They'd talked this over a dozen times. It was the only way. "Okay."
Stepping back, he pulled the door open. Woggy put a pebble in the slingshot and adjusted his position in the saddle. Captain Jack meowed loudly. And then they were off.
The cat could move fast when he wanted to. The crazed duo shot out of the door, both of them letting out a ferocious battle cry.
Their fearless charge startled the swarm of pixies currently hovering in the bushes near the porch. They scattered like a flock of startled birds, shooting into the air with a frantic flapping of their wings.
Tommy shut the door and hurried over to the living room window. Each window had the eager faces of the pack pressed up against it. Watching and waiting.
"Yes! That was the perfect shot!"
Tommy shoved his way in next to Evangeline and watched as Woggy unleashed his fury over the rival swarm. Pebbles sped out of the slingshot, each one hitting its mark. A pixie crashed into the bushes, another onto the walkway that led to the porch.
As a few of the pixies began to fight back, Captain Jack darted here and there, dodging the rocks they threw. He caught one with a swipe of his paw and knocked it into the porch banister.
"Oooh, Jack is helping him," Amber said excitedly.
Tommy curled his hands into a fist and watched with bated breath. The scattered pixies were starting to regroup. They were flying at him now in groups of two or three trying to snatch him out of his saddle. They knew he couldn't fly. If they knocked him off...he'd be vulnerable.
“He’s running low on ammo already,” Deward said, watching intently. The troll tried to pretend he didn’t care about this whole thing, but Tommy knew he wanted to see Woggy win. The pixie had a way of winning even the most cold-hearted over.
Woggy launched a pebble at a group of three pixies speeding toward him. He caught one in the head, but the other two grabbed his helmet and yanked. With an angry squeak he was dragged backward off the saddle, then tossed onto the porch. He hit the ground and rolled a ways before coming to a stop. For a moment, Tommy was afraid he wouldn’t get up, but he did, shaking his head as though the blow had knocked him senseless.
The remaining pebbles had been scattered across the porch when he’d fallen. Woggy stuck his hand in the little bag and pulled out the last one. He loaded it into the slingshot and pulled the rubber band taut as he turned in a slow circle, searching for the next attack.
Captain Jack yowled and charged at some of the pixies, forcing the majority of the swarm back. One of them got through. This pixie was different from the others. He wore a paperclip necklace with a leaf dangling from it and had a distinctly fierce look about him. He swooped toward Woggy, zig-zagging in the air to make himself a harder target.
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