Christian slowed his approach. The lion’s tail swished as he faced Viktor’s grey wolf, who acted as a barrier between the lion and the team. Viktor was half his size and nowhere near the same weight, but he circled the animal and bit him wherever he could. The lion swiped his massive paw and knocked Viktor down.
Christian shouted once more, hoping that Raven wouldn’t take that as her cue to come after him. The scent of fear must have been in the air, because the lion kept turning toward the group and taking deep breaths.
Viktor’s wolf tore at the lion’s legs, haunches, and even his tail. Blood stained the mossy ground below the animal’s feet from the open wounds.
“Come and get me, you little fleabag, so I can give you a good throttling.”
As soon as the animal pivoted, Viktor’s wolf went for his belly and showed no mercy.
When the lion turned, Christian jumped in and struck his back with a closed fist. The creature moved at the last minute, so the blow didn’t break his spine, but it was enough to do some damage. The pain on the lion’s face was visceral, and he scuttled backward to get away.
There was no such thing as an easy kill. Every Breed had unique abilities and, in some cases, rare gifts. Shifters were complicated. A fast animal could escape, and a strong animal could pin him long enough to bite off his head.
And Christian was rather attached to his head, so he chose his moves carefully.
Blood stained the wolf’s face, but his steely eyes locked on that lion like a target.
Christian inched closer, taking a step each time the lion turned away to fight off the wolf.
Fifteen feet.
Ten feet.
Six feet.
Hungry for the kill, he could wait no more. Christian lunged and wrapped his arms around him. The lion thrashed and roared, and while Christian could have crushed his neck, he refrained. No, that would be far too quick. He wanted this Shifter to suffer. He wanted to hurt him just enough to make him shift to human form.
Then maybe they could have some real fun.
Viktor’s wolf rushed headlong toward the lion and went for his neck. It was like a jungle rodeo, with Christian straddling the lion and trying to hold on. Viktor moved in for the kill, and Christian’s arms were in the line of fire. Blood sprayed from his attack, but Viktor suddenly whipped around and darted into the woods toward the rest of their group. Better that he stay with them. Christian had some business to attend to.
This stubborn bastard wouldn’t shift. Christian squeezed tighter, breaking a few bones in the process. The animal bellowed in pain before collapsing in a heap. Christian felt the change before he saw it shape-shifting. When the process completed, his adversary was nothing but a weak, naked man with a bad haircut.
“King of the jungle, my arse.”
Christian straddled the man on all fours, eagerly waiting for him to turn over and get a gander at a pissed-off Vampire. When he did, Christian patted the poor bastard’s cheek. “Welcome to the party. So… you’re the one who blew out my ears with that infernal device, aren’t you?” Christian leaned in and smiled warmly, his fangs fully extended. “Why the glum face? You and I are going to have some fun.”
Chapter 28
“We have to stay together,” I reminded Claude.
He crouched with his knuckles pressed to the earth. When the lion roared in the distance again, Claude’s golden eyes pulsed black.
“If you flip your switch, I’ll knock you over the head with a stick,” I warned him.
“I can’t help it. You wouldn’t understand what it’s like.”
I kind of did. Claude was like the Incredible Hulk in some ways. If he got angry, the beast inside him took control. The only problem being that this wasn’t the right time for the Chitah cavalry.
“Fight the urge. If you take off, that just leaves Shep and me to protect these kids.”
Eve huddled closer to her brother against the wall of dirt.
Shepherd touched Adam’s hand again and chewed on his lip. “He needs medical attention.”
“That’s you,” I pointed out.
Shepherd gave me an icy stare. “He can’t keep the water down. He needs a fucking IV drip, and if I do that out here, he’ll get sepsis.”
