“No, thanks.”
Blue twisted her long brown hair and wound it up in a bun, using an elastic band to secure it. Her lush lips and doe-eyed look were a stark contrast to her strong bone structure and thick eyebrows. She had qualities that made a person look at her for longer than normal, and I supposed that was why she often wore a hood.
She unzipped a pocket in her cargo pants and retrieved a small tool. “I’ll pick the lock around her collar.”
I chuckled. “You have everything in those pockets, don’t you?”
“Everything a woman needs. Except for weapons.”
“Should I call Viktor and tell him you’ve finally lost your mind?”
Blue propped her foot on the tree stump and surveyed the scene. “Animals can usually sense other Shifters. She’ll know right away I’m not above her in the food chain, so that might keep her from mauling me to death.”
“And if she swipes those big-ass, razor-sharp claws at your face?”
Blue shot me an impish grin. “I’ll fly away and leave you two alone.”
“Thanks.”
Blue didn’t bat an eyelash as she approached the massive creature, her pace steady, her back straight, her eyes downcast. When the bear unleashed a deafening roar, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. I briefly eyed the fallen hatchet just in case we had to do the unthinkable. As Blue neared the animal, she held out her hands—palms down—and spoke softly. I was out of earshot and couldn’t hear what she was saying, but it was more about her tone and not the words.
After a few short huffs, the animal lay back down in a pile of dead leaves.
Where did this woman get the balls? I’m not saying I wouldn’t have done it myself, but Blue was recently mauled by a lion. Her scars were as fresh as the memories that must haunt her at night. And yet there she was, facing a beast that could finish what the last one hadn’t. Maybe she had a death wish.
I sharpened my light and paced forward, ready to distract the animal if it got agitated. Blue inched closer and then gingerly reached for the thick metal collar around its neck. I watched nervously as she dug through the matted fur and turned the collar, searching for the lock. She was dangerously close to the bear’s jaws. One snap and it was all over.
“Stay where you are,” Blue said calmly. “Don’t make her think it’s a trap. Isn’t that right, girl? Yeah. We’re gonna get this ugly thing off you.”
I waited for a painful minute while Blue used her lock-picking tool. The bear grunted a few times, shifting its weight and growing restless.
“Almost done,” Blue said as if she were tying the laces of an impatient child. “And then you’ll be free.”
How did this woman wind up here? Was she duped? Had she been traded off? At what point does a Shifter lose free will? How can someone let their family decide their fate?
Even though I’d grown up around Shifters, it was clear I would never fully understand them.
“Hurry up,” I sang.
“One more second.”
“Oh, I don’t think so,” a voice boomed.
I hadn’t sensed them coming, but as soon as I turned, I felt a weak lick of energy radiating from two men who looked ready to slit our throats.
I was about to pelt them with rocks when I remembered the axe. I hustled back to where Blue had left it and scooped it off the ground. “Frank invited us.”
One guy stepped in front, tattoos covering his pale, hairless chest. Unlike Ferro, who had a robust physique, this guy’s ribs were protruding from his chest above his concave stomach. Maybe they fought for their meals, and he always came up last. His buddy had more meat on his bones but was just as pasty. I would have never pegged them for bears.
More like weasels.
Skeleton Man pointed his knife at Blue. “Get off our female.”
Our?Just hearing that word made me want to trim his toenails with my axe.
The bear stood, chains falling away. Blue sprang to her feet and backed up, her eyes trained on the bear and not the two men.
Skeleton Man retracted his arm. The moment the knife left his grip, I dropped the axe and flashed after the blade, knocking it off its trajectory. I skidded to a stop just short of the bear and slowly backed up. Maybe flashing around an unchained animal wasn’t the best idea.
