“Benny, now’s not the time to alpha out on our brother-in-law.” Remi placed a hand on his twin’s shoulder as he spoke.
Ben stood down, his eyes returning to their typical blue rather than the vivid neon they’d just been. Not for the first time, I had the fleeting thought that alpha shifters and Berserkers weren’t all that different.
“So what arewegoing to do?” Strega asked. “I didn’t come out here to twiddle my thumbs.”
Tor gave her a grin far too sinister to be mistaken as friendly. “We’re going hunting.”
“Oh, my favorite,” she purred, pulling the broadsword out of its sheath and giving it a little flourish. “It’s time to bless my blade with more of that demon filth’s blood.”
“Is that really a blessing?” Briar asked.
“Demon blood is only good for spilling. It tastes like arse,” West said, looking at his sister-in-law before frowning at Thorne. “I’ll never forget the time you tricked me into drinking from a demon.”
Lucas snickered. “I did that to your father and Auntie Sorcha once as well.”
“Rude,” Remi said under his breath.
“It’s a rite of passage. How else are we supposed to learn?” Thorne asked.
I shot him a look. “Did you ever learn?”
Shrugging, he adjusted his collar and said, “Didn’t have to. I saw it, and that was enough for me.”
My mind went back to the night we almost lost our Sunday to a demon attack. How Thorne willingly sucked out the poisoned blood to save her. He knew what would happen to him, and still he chose to do that for her. If I hadn’t already known the depth of his commitment, I would now.
Finbar held up a hand, signaling for the rest of us to stop. “Someone’s out here.”
“Where?” Kai snarled, his eyes glowing in the darkness.
Finbar pointed to a park bench several feet away. It was a bit hard to make out the details from here, but it appeared as though a body was slumped across it.
“Are they alive?” Tor asked.
The wolves and vamps all collectively inhaled, and an involuntary shudder worked its way down my spine. It was easy to forget they weren’t human until they went and did something like that.
“Yes and no,” Lucas said.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Finbar asked.
“It means we need to move. Fast.” Dylan picked up his pace. “The less interaction we have with anyone, the better.”
“Wait,” West called, his eyes narrowed. “What are they doing?”
“Fuck,” I whispered, as the hitherto still form abruptly stood.
“I told you to keep it down,” Tor muttered.
“I was quiet as a church mouse. It was these bozos,” Remi said, pointing at the rest of us.
The mostly dead body moved toward us in jerky movements. Unnatural and eerie. Those were the best ways I could describe it. The closer it came, the better I could make out its features. I’d heard Tor’s stories of the fight at Blackwood. The zombiesDahlia had raised with her power. This didn’t look like a zombie. In fact, he looked like a mildly ill human man.
“He’s possessed,” Kai said.
“How can you tell?” Strega asked, moving into a defensive position.
“He smells wrong,” Remi answered.
“Remi’s r-right. Human but n-not.” Ben’s hands curled into fists as he stepped up beside his twin.
