Krys fired a shot in the air. As the pop reverberated off the walls, a tremendous force of magic erupted when Cecilia transformed into a magnificent black mare.
Archer rolled out of the way, dodging the cat, but it reared around and swiped its massive paw. Archer barely registered the pain of the tiger’s claws ripping down his right lower leg.
The motion of everything was too fast to track. He heard the clip-clop of hooves on concrete before the black mare reared up and brought her front legs down on the tiger. She screamed and snorted, the whites of her eyes a chilling sight.
The tiger hissed and swiped his paws. Cecilia’s mare turned around and kicked the animal so hard that he flew across the floor several feet.
Krys fired the gun, but it only grazed Noah’s back when he moved out of the way. The sound spooked the horse, and she reared up on her hind legs and let out a shrill scream.
Realizing he was trapped, the tiger fled through the open garage door.
Archer hopped to his feet and gave his bleeding leg a cursory glance. “He’ll kill someone if he doesn’t shift.”
Krys paced in circles. “One of us needs to stay human so we can shoot him, but the truck tire’s flat. I can shift, but I can’t take down a fucking tiger by myself. We need a pack.”
Cecilia’s horse snorted, her heavy breaths demanding Archer’s attention. She nodded her head and watched him closely.
The first meeting with a Shifter’s animal was momentous, but how would she respond to a predator? Determined to win her trust, he offered Cecilia his hand.
The gorgeous black mare approached, her powerful muscles rippling. Not only was she graceful but incredibly strong.
No wonder Noah tried to break her.
The mare stepped forward and nuzzled him as if they had known each other for a lifetime. He ran his hand across her dark coat and stroked her neck as she nickered. Archer sensed no fear from her.
“We have to go,” Krys urged him.
Cecilia’s mare knelt, inviting him to ride her. He looked at her back with hesitation, uncertain if this was wise. But she snorted and whinnied, coaxing him on.
“I’ve never ridden a horse,” he admitted. “I don’t know if I can hold on with no hands.” Archer looked at the long, sharp blade. He couldn’t fight a tiger without a weapon, but carrying it meant he couldn’t grip her mane without either dropping the dagger or cutting her.
Throwing caution to the wind, he climbed astride the animal and clenched his thighs as she stood.
“Goddammit,” Krys muttered. “She’s gonna throw your ass off.”
Archer leaned forward against her neck. He kept the blade pointed away to hug her with his right arm while using his left shoulder and upper arm to stabilize himself. Archer had never used all his muscles this intensely and prayed like hell he wouldn’t get trampled beneath her hooves.
“Shift,” he told Krys. “You track the tiger, and we’ll follow.”
“You need the gun.”
“The gun will spook her. Besides, I’m a lousy shot.”
Krys morphed into a brown wolf. He had a menacing look about him, but when he looked around and sensed no threat, he took off after a scent.
Holding on tight, Archer felt Cecilia’s unbridled power as her animal followed the wolf.
He recalled her once mentioning that she only held consciousness for a few seconds. Their animals were in tune with their human counterparts, so her horse must have comprehended the urgency.
Running across the parking lot and street was the easiest part, but when the scent took Krys’s wolf off-road, Archer held on for his fucking life. One sharp turn and he would slide right off. Her hoofbeats were like a battle drum as they rode through the open field.
Once she found her stride, Archer found his balance. The city lights drew closer. If Noah’s tiger made it onto the streets, he would maul anyone in sight. As long as his animal felt the impending threat of wolves giving chase, he wouldn’t shift.
Krys’s wolf bayed up ahead, and a roar filled the night. The closer they got to the lights ahead, the easier it was to see.
Archer raised his head, his thighs gripping tightly as he caught sight of the tiger to his left. Krys gave chase on the other side, but the tiger’s endurance was quickly diminishing.
When Cecilia closed in from the side, running a few paces ahead, Archer bit down on the dagger’s handle and managed to get his feet on top of the horse’s back in a crouching position. Before he fell off, he gripped the knife in his hand and jumped.
