“What of it?” the brown-haired one said. “The best way to deal with a werewolf is to slay it.”
“Why?” Dylan demanded before she could.
“A wolf killed our mother and sister and left our aunt and uncle badly injured. They lasted just a day before they succumbed to their wounds.”
“My parents didn’t do it,” Allegra snapped.
“The only good werewolf is a dead one,” the brown-haired man shouted and charged, jabbing his knife with lightning speed. Allegra blinked as a shot rang out, causing the man to stumble.
“Blast it, Matthias,” the blond shouted. He pulled a weapon from his belt, but another round resounded before he could clear his firearm. He cursed and squeezed off a shot, but it went wide.
Allegra sprang at the blond, taking him unawares. He fell back but lashed out, catching her in the thigh.
“Dylan,” Isabella snapped, her gun in hand.
“Got him,” Dylan said.
“You all right, Allegra?” Leo asked, helping her up.
“Fine.” Not exactly the truth, but the runes had warned her, driving her to shift direction. Although the blond had kicked her, the injury wasn’t as bad as it might’ve been. She picked herself up, the flash of something green attracting her attention. “That’s Pierre’s ring. It went missing from his chamber on the morning of the walkabout.”
Brown hair sniggered, unconcerned. “The one where I shot him.”
“They’re shifters, too,” Isabella said in a harsh voice. “Birds. Watch them closely.”
“Aren’t you the clever one?” Blondie’s nostrils flared.
“Wolves and a feline. Guess you lose.” He flicked a knife at Leo, the green of the stone flashing in the ring he wore.
Leo didn’t move quite fast enough, the blade striking his forearm. He cursed, and Isabella calmly fired at Blondie. When Brown Hair spun toward her to help his brother, Isabella shot him too. Seconds later, she sprang at him, kneeing him in the back and effortlessly clipping on a pair of handcuffs that Allegra hadn’t noticed earlier.
“Leo, you okay?” Isabella asked.
“I’m fine,” he said, sounding a touch grouchy. “Get the other guy.”
Allegra stalked toward Blondie. He wasn’t moving, but she wouldn’t assume he was dead until she confirmed it. Allegra shoved the man onto his back, then crouched beside him.
Isabella had shot him in the head, the hole in his forehead a clue as to his health. She removed Pierre’s ring and rolled to her feet. “Dead.”
“What will we do with him?” Leo asked, gesturing at the other man.
“Let’s gag and stash him in the trees until later.”
“No!” the man protested. He hadn’t responded to his brother’s death, which was strange given his earlier reaction to his father.
Isabella gagged him and dragged him behind a bush. She reappeared several minutes later. “He’s tired and is napping while we’re away.”
A snort escaped from Leo.
Allegra tucked the ring in the same pocket that held the runes and, weirdly, the heat and energy emanating from the pouch increased. It swept through her chest in a tingling surge of vigor. Wow. She rocked on her feet, grabbing for mental balance.
“What’s wrong?” Dylan asked.
“Let’s go.” Allegra led the way to the gate she used to exit the chateau grounds secretly. That was interesting. She wanted to contemplate the talisman and the symbols before she discussed them with anyone. Somehow, the ring increased the rune’s strength. She felt more robust and in control. Connected to the land. She felt powerful.
“We need to treat everyone we meet as suspicious,” Isabella warned in an undertone. “We can’t trust anyone.”
“It might make sense for us to split up. Less chance of someone spotting us.”
