“Get behind me,” I order, grabbing Sable’s sleeve and yanking her toward me.
She doesn’t argue as another bone cracks. Tony’s spine arches unnaturally, then he heaves a groan that turns into an inhuman growl, just as he shifts into his hellhound form.
Sable’s front presses to my back as she peeks around me, trembling like a damn leaf. “What the fuck?”
I’m fully prepared to fight this motherfucker if he tries to hurt her, best friend or not.
When he shifts, Tony is gone, and in his place is an evil, large, violent?—
Tony.Tidus, as he’s known in this form, crouches down and wiggles his ass in the air. He’s terrifying. His glowing yellow eyes are huge, his coat’s a midnight black, his sharp ears point to the sky, and his paws are big enough to crush multiple skulls at once.
The first time I saw him in this form, I ran as fast as I could, and he bit my head off and spat it into a lava-filled hole.
I glance at Sable, waiting for my little dead human to scream and run and become his next meal, but instead, they just stare at each other, her hands trembling as she takes in the huge form before her. Her eyes clash with mine, and the worry in her gaze makes me slightly uncomfortable.
I don’t like that she’s scared.
“If you run, he’ll eat you,” I warn her. “Take it from someone with experience.”
Tidus sniffs loudly and lowers his large head, and for a second, I think he might bow to this girl. Fuck, even the hound likes her. Me and Tony are going to have words when he shifts back to normal.
Sable studies him further, her trembling body relaxing as Tidus lowers his head more.
She stops breathing and stretches out her hand, but I grab her wrist. “Are you fucking stupid?”
Sable ignores me, creeping out of her hiding place behind me. My entire body goes stiff as I wait for him to rip her to shreds. She pulls her arm free from my grip and reaches out to him again, and this time he nudges his snout against her hand.
He rolls onto his back, showing his belly, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
“What are you?” she asks, her brows furrowing. “A dog?”
Tidus freezes, his sharp eyes shifting to me.
“He’s not a dog. Tony is more of a nuisance than anything else.”
“Hey, Tony,” she says softly, leaning down to rub his fur.
He glares at me again. This beast hates it when I address him wrong.
My eyes lift to the ceiling. “His name is Tidus.”
She grins. “You’re such a good boy.”
The beast’s eyes land on me again. “Pussy,” he says, his voice so deep he sounds like a goddamn monster. Still, she doesn’t pull away.
Sable’s moment of shock, confusion, and fear vanishes as she bursts into laughter.
Thankfully, Tidus doesn’t hate me, but he pushes my buttons to no end. It’s like Tony is still in there, somewhere deep, and is mocking me using this killer.
The killer who’s currently kicking his leg while Sable scratches under his ear.
I fist my hands.
Tidus can sense my rage and rolls onto his front. When he stands, his large head is nearly to my shoulder.
“You’re not allowed anywhere near her,” I warn, unsure if he might snap at her. “If you hurt her, I’ll burn you alive.”
His ears flop, then he huffs.
