by Janie Marie
“If Fenrir has orders to capture or kill her, he will not hesitate,” Thor said, looking at David. “She has a decent plan, and she is determined. But she will stand no chance if he sees she’s not there. He will expect her wherever you are. Just like he has before, he will send the pack for her. Her best chance is to have him believe she is in our party.”
David gripped her tightly and pressed his face into her neck again. She knew it hurt him to have to choose between her and what was right. He’d been so insistent on staying right by her, protecting her after the horrible attack she suffered, and now she was giving him no choice but to let her put herself in great danger.
Jane noticed the others had all turned their heads away. They knew he would have to let her go if she did this. They knew she was asking him to go against every protective and loving bone in his body. He was shaking, occasionally growling or kissing her shoulder. It broke her heart to feel him at war with himself.
“I’ll stay safe,” she promised in a whisper as she stroked his cheek. He pressed his face into her neck more. “Hades and Artemis will be with me. We’ll get away, but you have to fight with the others. You know we’re right.”
He nodded against her neck but didn’t loosen his grip. “You get in and get out,” he mumbled into her neck. “Do you understand me, Jane?”
She nodded.
“I want you to say it,” he said, tightening his hold. “Tell me that you’ll free them and run.”
“I understand, David. Yes, I will free them and run.”
He suddenly crawled backward while still holding her before standing and carrying her out of view of everyone. He was still shaking when he yanked her mask off, removing his right after. The fear in his blue eyes stabbed her heart, and she cried when he crushed his lips to hers.
His kiss was angry and scared, but she could still feel all his love for her. She kissed back with just as much emotion, gasping as the cold air rushed back in her mouth when he lifted her and began kissing down her neck.
David supported her with one hand gripping her butt while the other held the back of her neck. He kissed his way back to her lips, leaving them there as he spoke. “Please don’t make me let you go. I can’t lose you.”
She teared up at how his voice almost broke. “Shh . . .” She kissed him again and again as the freezing wind stung her cheeks. “You won’t lose me. I’ll be okay. I’ll remember to use my powers if I’m in trouble. And Hades will be with me. He’ll keep me safe.”
David looked so pained at the thought of losing her, and all she could do was kiss him again then hug him to her. He squeezed her, pressing his face into her neck, breathing her in deeply. “We still have an hour until the change.”
“Okay.” She nodded and tried to keep her tears in. She had to be strong for him, but she was scared, and she hated seeing him so upset.
“I can’t believe I’m letting you do this,” he said before kissing her neck. “Are you sure? You don’t have to do this.”
She smiled sadly and turned her face to kiss his cheek. “I do. I have to use what was given to me. You know there’s a reason why I can do what I can.” She kissed his cheek again and pulled back. David reached up and held her face, but Jane stayed brave, looking into his sad eyes, trying to comfort him. “I’m meant to do this. I know it. I can’t let that man do this to them. He’s going to kill them or worse. I won’t let that happen.”
“I know you won’t,” he whispered, caressing her cheek with his thumb. “Just do what you have to do and leave me.”
Jane frowned, shaking her head, ready to argue, but he spoke again.
“Jane, promise me that you will leave. The amount of energy it’s going to take you to free them is going to drain you significantly. Please don’t argue with me. I need to know that once you’ve freed them and removed the silver, you will get to safety.”
The urge to argue with him over this was great; she didn’t like the idea of leaving him either. She kissed him.
He narrowed his eyes when she didn’t say anything. “Say you will leave. A kiss from you isn’t an answer for this.”
“I promise I will leave, David.”
He smiled and pulled her lips to his. “You’re trying to be sneaky, my love.”
She grinned, happy he was feeling more at ease with her promise.
“I know you more than you realize, Jane.”
For minutes, he held her, caressing her wherever he could, resting his face next to hers between kisses. “Maybe a miracle will happen, and I won’t have to let you go.”
She felt a tear escape, and she tried to discreetly wipe it away. She didn’t want him to see her cry anymore. “I promise you can hold me for as long as you want after this is over. Naked. In that position, if you want.”
He chuckled and kissed her. “My hormonal girl. I know you desire it as much as I do.” He glanced up at the sky and sighed. “It’s time, if you are going to do this. I think you are so brave and good for wanting to. I’m proud of you, even if I want to keep you from doing this.” He smoothed her hair back and stared at her. “I love you.”
Her eyes burned from the strain it took to not cry as she thought back, I love you, too. She wanted to tell him; she wanted to tell everyone, but she could only smile and hope her eyes showed him enough of her feelings.
David smiled finally and pulled her face to his, kissing her so tenderly she wanted to cry. When he leaned back, he chuckled and said, “I know.”
Jane’s eyes widened. He knows?
He smiled, a truly happy smile, and pressed his lips to hers again. “Tell me later, baby.”
She sobbed and hugged him as he swayed with her.
“You have no idea how happy I am, Jane. And I love you, too. So much. I will never stop loving you. So come back to me, okay? Do whatever you have to so you are back in my arms.”
She nodded, hugging him as tight as she could. “I’ll come back.”
The gruesome cries and cracking of bones as the werewolves shifted terrified and saddened Jane. She closed her eyes, hoping somehow it would change what was about to take place, but their screams of agony transitioning to growls and snarls proved it was all real. There was no escape from this hell.
She pressed her back against the jagged rocks they were hiding behind, her lips trembling as she worried about David. She knew he was the best, but he could make mistakes if he wasn’t thinking straight. She feared he would grow more unstable now that he knew she loved him. It was stupid to think he would, but she always lost those she loved most. And those who loved her.
Hades placed his hand on hers, making her open her eyes. She glanced over and held his stare as he gave her a gentle squeeze. Jane nodded, trying to show him she was okay. She wasn’t, though. David would lead the others in their attack at any moment, and she, Hades, and Artemis would be on a race to free the hounds.
Hades patted her hand before moving ahead of her. He peeked out but leaned back as soon as battle cries and steel meeting flesh met their ears.
“All right, Jane,” Hades whispered. “The hounds are fifty yards from here. We’ll sneak in and start pulling their chains. I want you to immediately start drawing the silver from their system. If you feel yourself draining, tell me. We’ll have to leave them. I won’t let you sacrifice yourself.”
“I know what to do,” she said, moving to the edge of their lookout, glimpsing the battle moving farther away.
“Good girl.” Hades summoned his sword before moving away from the rock wall. “Let’s go.”
They took off, keeping low to the ground. Jane glanced over at the carnage, her eyes pricking with tears when she swore she heard David’s roar amongst hundreds.
She turned away, shutting out the sounds of battle. I’ll make you proud tonight. Jane was determined to prove to everyone she wasn’t what they thought. She began focusing on her breathing. The edges of her vision darkened, tunneling. She ran, following Hades until he moved, revealing the huge wolf she’d seen Lycaon beat.
Jane came to a stop in front of him, locking eyes with the huge male. He had blue eyes that reminded her of David’s when he was preparing for battle.
Still breathing heavily, she held her hand out to him. He tilted his massive head, just like her dogs used to, and closed his eyes before lowering his head so she could touch him. She gasped, letting out a soft cry as she ran her fingers through his dirty fur. The world lit up again, and she could hear Hades scolding her.
“You can pet him later, Jane. Remove the silver from his blood. Hurry!”
Jane pulled her hand away and walked around the wolf she’d been petting. She remembered they had injected him on one of his rear legs and felt around. “Shh. I’m going to help.” Jane glanced over and watched Hades and Artemis pulling the chains from the ground before trying to figure out how to free them. The wolf whined, and she looked down to see she had blood on her hand. “There it is. This might hurt, but I have to get it out of you. Stay still.” She smiled when the wolf nodded its massive head.
Holding her hands over his wound, she used her mind to find the silver. “Fuck, that’s a lot.” She blew out a breath but began the process of withdrawing it from him. The female closest to him growled at Jane, but she kept going, smiling when he growled at the female. They reminded her of how things were with her and David sometimes. “I’m not hurting him. You’re next, sweetie.”
Jane breathed out, smiling as an undulating ball of silver the size of a soccer ball collected in her hands. She tossed it far away and patted the big wolf. “Okay, big boy. Let’s fix your girl.”
He nuzzled Jane’s neck. Again, the female growled, but he bared his fangs at the female until she got on her belly. He licked her as well and stood over her. Jane figured he was making sure she stayed put or didn’t bite her head off, so she got to work.
Although it was still a lot more than she’d pulled out of a human, it was less than the big male. “I think I got all of it.”
The male licked the female’s wound, nudging Jane toward the next wolf.
“Well done, Jane,” Hades said, dropping down beside her as he began breaking the chains on the two wolves she’d cleaned.
Jane didn’t say anything. She wanted to get this done after seeing how well she’d done with the first two. And she continued to do well, barely acknowledging Hades and Artemis as they worked around her.
A trickle of sweat rolled into her eye, freezing. She panted, dropping the silver as Hades patted her on the back.
“Bravo, Jane. You did it.”
She looked around, realizing he was right—she’d gone through all the wolves. “I did it.”
Hades nodded, but they both turned when Artemis cried.
“What’s wrong?” Jane asked, leaning on Hades as they went to her. She was with one of the smaller wolves, and Jane realized what was wrong. “Oh, God.” She fell to her knees and lightly touched the chains and wire embedded in the wolf’s leg. It whined and flinched, so Jane yanked her hand back.
Hades began inspecting the damage and shook his head. “It’s down to the bone. She can heal if we get it out, but I would have to cut her legs off. She can’t recover from that.”
Jane looked at the honey-colored eyes of the little russet female. “What if I try to liquefy the chains and wire? Do you think she’ll heal enough to run?”
He shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know if you will be able to, though.”
“All I need is for her to run. I’ll be fine.” She wasn’t fine, and she knew it.
“Try, but if you can’t, we must leave her.” He put his hand on the wolf’s head, and Jane’s heart clenched when it nodded to him.
Jane realized this was also the wolf the big male had dragged to him with his female. She didn’t have a male. Her eyes stung, but she smiled, trying to show she was confident as she held her hands over the chains. “I’m sorry if this hurts.”
Hades held the jaws of the wolf together as Artemis helped steady the leg for her.
It was working. She would have shouted when she watched the chains begin to drip onto the ground, but she stayed as quiet as she could. She began the process again, but they all looked up when David’s roar shook the air.
“Something’s wrong,” Hades whispered. “Quickly, Jane. We have to go.”
More of the knights began to holler, and she panicked. She didn’t know if she was shaking from fear or because she was draining herself.
“They’re trying to draw attention to themselves,” Artemis said. “Away from us.”
Jane got to the third leg. The wolf nudged her hand, but she pushed it away. “I’m not leaving you, girl. I’m almost done.”
“Dammit, Artemis,” Hades said, panicked.
Jane snapped her eyes over to him, realizing that Artemis had let loose an arrow. Right at Lycaon.
“Oh, fuck,” Jane said, just as Lycaon moved, allowing Artemis’ arrow to impale one of his werewolves.
Hades stood up, summoning his blade and chains. “Run!” he yelled at Artemis. “Take them and run, stupid girl!”
Jane looked away from Hades scolding Artemis and straight into a pair of black eyes. He grinned, and a huge number of wolves broke away from the battle and started running toward her. She sucked in large gulps of air and looked back at the wolf, trying to finish the job she’d been doing.
“Jane, leave her.”
She looked at her shaking hands and shook her head. “I can’t leave her.”
Hades tried to pull her away, but she held one hand out toward him. “I’ll drain quicker if I fight you off, too. Give me thirty fucking seconds!”
Hades roared and moved away, swinging his swords, hollering for the others. The sky lit with flames, and Jane could hear Tristan and Apollo using their abilities.
Jane moved to the last leg. “We’re almost there, girl. And then you can go with Artemis and your friends.” She looked around and realized Artemis and the other wolves were gone. “Fucking bitch.”
Jane held her hands over the leg. “Not you. Your master . . . Stay still.”
Again, she performed wonders and laughed when the wolf suddenly stood on shaky legs. It nudged her and collapsed, but it was able to push itself up again.
“Good girl,” Jane said, petting her. “Go find Artemis. I’m coming.” The wolf lowered its head, trying to get her on its back, but it fell again.
Tears fell from Jane’s eyes this time, and she shoved the wolf. “You can’t carry me on those legs. Go. I’m coming.”
A whistle rang out from the trees, and the wolf lifted its head, looking in the direction Jane figured Artemis had gone.
“Go,” Jane said. “I’ll go the other way and see you soon. Go. They’ll catch up to us if I go with you.”
Another whistle sounded, and this time, the wolf ran off.
David roared from within the mass. “LYCAON!”
Jane watched the wolf make it to the trees and finally turned to see the Wolf King walking toward her. He was completely nude with dirt and blood covering his massive muscles.
Hades yelled, “Run, Jane! DAVID!”
She couldn’t, and she sobbed as she tried to crawl away from the werewolf leader, who now stood five feet from her.
“They won’t make it in time,” Lycaon said, grinning. “I have to say, I am fairly disappointed. I expected the Great Jane to be a fighter. Not a cowering girl ready to have others fight for her.”
Jane glared at him as she used a boulder to pull herself up. When she fell, he threw his head back and laughed.
She kept trying to stand as she watched him walk to a crate.
“Here.” He tossed her a small package. “If we are going to fight, I want you for what you really are.”
Jane looked down at the ground, at a bag of blood he’d thrown to her.
“You are a vampire, aren’t you? Fools. You could have brought a bag with you . . . ” He crossed his arms as he glanced away. “He is worried about his little mate, isn’t he? He should never have brought you.
” He looked back at her. “Drink that now. I will only kill you if you put up a fight. If you do not, I will take you, fuck you, and leave your broken body for the prince. Do you understand me, girl?”
She reached for the blood, her heart cracking as David yelled.
“Hurry, little vampire,” Lycaon said, laughing. “He is actually destroying most of my ranks. Still, they will keep him too busy to reach us in time.”
Jane bit the bag, swallowing the bitter blood as fast as she could without spilling any.
I’m sorry, David.
Lycaon chuckled as he walked closer. “That wasn’t so bad now, was it? I can be a nice guy, you know?”
“You’re a monster!”
His eyes lit up and before she could even blink, he took several quick steps to reach her and grabbed her by the throat. Jane didn’t have time to scream. His big hand was squeezing the life out of her as she kicked and punched. He pulled her face within an inch of his and smiled, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth.
“Mm.” He growled and sniffed her hair. “I will enjoy tasting your flesh, little vampire.”
There was no air getting in, but she kicked with all her might, feeling around her for her weapons. When her fingertips brushed David’s dagger, she didn’t hesitate in pulling it and stabbing it into his side.
Lycaon roared and threw her to the ground. The force of it knocked what little breath she had left from her, but she finally gasped, coughing as she tried to get air in her lungs again.
The Wolf King yelled louder as he yanked the blade from his side. He growled as he watched her crawl away. He began to come for her, but a blur of russet brown fur rammed into him, knocking him to the ground.
Jane rubbed her watery eyes and pushed herself up, only to scream at the sight of Lycaon ripping her wolf apart by its jaws.
“NO!” Jane cried in horror as he tore her completely in half, biting a chunk from her neck as he roared and threw her carcass in opposite directions. Lycaon laughed when he looked back at her, wiping his hands down his torso that was covered in the wolf’s blood.