The vampire looked her way and blinked. “Ah, the berserker.” He grinned wider, his fangs growing, his gaze intent. “There you are.”
She didn’t feel like waiting for him to obey her alpha. Meeting the vampire’s gaze, Riley shifted into her direwolf form as she rushed him.
He shoved Max aside and went down under her aggressive lunge. She managed to gouge flesh and blood with her claws and teeth before he suddenly shoved her off.
“Not bad.” He licked his arm, and she watched as he healed almost immediately.
Damn it.
“Is that all,kleines Mädchen?”
“Little girl,” Flint translated in a low voice, watching with the others.
Fucker.Riley snarled and barked, warning him back. Vampire or not, he would not cow her. Especially because in her shifted form, her rage enhanced her strength. Heck, her head came up to his neck, no mere shifted lycan, but the fiercest of her kind—a direwolf hybrid capable of killing even a vampire.
She snapped at him, nearly biting the clawed hand that neared her.
Helaughed. “You’re good. I like you. Such spirit.”
When she would have launched herself at his neck, her cousin yanked her back by the tail, and she turned to show him her teeth.
“Easy, Riley.”He’s playing with you,he sent telepathically, as only an alpha or alpha-in-waiting could.Be smart.
Smart, my ass.She glared at him.
“Stop talking about me behind my back. Well, in front of my back. You know what I mean.” The nachzehrer shrugged. “It’s rude.”
“Rude?” Max glared at the vampire. “Rude is kidnapping and torturing me.”
“Torturing you?” The vampire laughed. “That was a bit of sport. Nothing more. You haven’t really lived until you’ve been scalped or had your innards consumed while you watch. Trust me. It’s not as fun as it sounds.”
Around them, lycans continued to congregate in shifted form, the low growl of pack and protection welcome.
The vampire glanced around and sobered, finally starting to take them seriously.
“You’re not welcome here,” Uncle Jack said. “Leave now.”
“Or?” The vampire looked at her while asking the question.
She answered by moving closer, the fur on her back rising in challenge.
He rolled his eyes. “Fine. I’m here to talk.”
“You were told to leave,” Max growled, his voice that of man and lycan.
She nearly caught the vampire’s shin between her teeth, but he darted back before she could snap through the bone.
“Fast.” He nodded at her. Then hemovedand had her in a bear grip, lifting her around her torso, so that her back rested against his chest, her rear paws dragging on the ground. He remained on his feet, his strength insanely powerful.
The entire field waited and watched. Until she asked for help, they knew better than to get between her and an enemy. Being on display while she tried unsuccessfully to wrestle out of his hold bothered her. No matter how hard she shook or how many times she managed to claw into him, he refused to surrender.
Kill him,she told her cousin.Now, while we have the upper hand.With everyone so close.
He’ll kill you first,Max shot back.
I don’t care. Take him down.
“Stop or I’ll snap her neck. And that would be a great pity,” the vampire said, his voice deep, his accent oddly charming despite her loathing of his kind. He had the nerve to pet her side, his fingers soft on her dense fur. She tried to rip herself away, only to feel his steel-hard claws at her throat.
