Howls echoed in the distance, the sound like spiders crawling along his spine. Gritting his teeth he called as much arcane as he could to his palms, forming a perfect sphere of milky air. It sparked, and the hound reacted, jumping with little warning. Axel released the ball just as the hound reached them, twisting in mid-air to miss the magic and land on Sam. It took them both to the ground.
“No!” Axel yanked at the hound’s legs with all his strength. His beast roared, and he was seconds away from changing, fur pressing beneath his skin and threatening to come out. Anger jerked his movements as he pulled the hound closer, reaching for its thick neck. Fangs tore into his arm, but he couldn’t feel it as he heard a click, the hound going limp in his arms before he dropped it to the sodden stones.
Sam watched, eyes wide.
“Did it bite you?” Axel asked, rushing to Sam’s side. “Did it bite you?” he repeated when Sam remained quiet. “Samion?”
“No, I’m fine.” A fine layer of green splattered his cheeks, and Axel gripped his jaw to angle his face towards the rain, allowing it to wash away.
Sam jerked out of his hold.
Clenching his jaw, Axel returned his attention to the Shadow-Veyn, knowing a broken neck wouldn’t kill it. Turning it on its side he found the exposed ribs, able to see its blackened heart through the gaps the vapour failed to hide. With a grunt he punched through the bones, ignoring the squelching as he tore through everything until he reached the organ. Death was immediate, the darkness that had polluted his senses dissipating as the hound’s body began to break down, returning to The Nether.
“What was that thing?” Sam remained seated, the rain finally letting up.
Axel rolled his shoulders, his wrist aching, but other than that he was still pain free. “That was a Shadow-Veyn,” he said. “And the fact you could see it, meant it wasn’t hiding. Either because it was cocky, or more wounded than I thought.”
“You were bit.” Sam jumped to his feet, his white t-shirt stuck to his torso like a second skin.
“I’ll heal.” The wound had already began closing, his body repelling the venom. “What were you thinking? You could have been killed.”
Sam bristled at his tone. “The correct words are, ‘Thank you.’”
“Thank you?”
“Thank you for saving my arse!” Sam yanked at the wet strands of his hair.
“You shouldn’t have even been here, one bite and it would’ve killed you. What the fuck were you thinking?”
“What was I thinking? What wereyouthinking?” Sam’s voice could cut glass. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Axel let out a frustrated sigh. “Go home, Sam.”
“No, I’m not finished.”
“Well, I am.” Axel opened his arms wide, the rain finally stopping. “I don’t know what to say, last night was a mistake. I can’t tell you why my beast sought comfort from you, and trust me, it definitely won’t happen again.”
Sam chuckled, looking to the side. “What a surprise, you’re still not taking responsibility for your actions.”
“I don’t have time for this. That hound was protecting something, and I need to find out what before...” Axel let his voice drift, crouching down until he was closer in height to the hound.
The end of the alley was cast in shadows from the surrounding buildings, and with the rain gone he was able to make out clearly the bin in the corner. The lid had been broken, hanging on a single hinge. He pushed it to the side, revealing a large hole in the brick.
“You’ve made your point,” Axel said. “Now go home. There are other hounds hunting tonight.”
“I’ve already told you, I’m not finished.”
No longer wanting to continue that particular conversation Axel spread his awareness out, finding nothing inside the darkened hole.
“Can you smell anything?” he asked, knowing shifters had a superior sense of smell.
“No…” A slight hesitation at the question. “Nothing but rain and dust.”
Axel pressed further inside, eyes adjusting to the pitch black. With a static pop the glamour that had protected the hole dispersed, and Sam let out a curse from behind.
“Bloody hell, what the fuck is that?”
Axel breathed through his mouth, the stench overwhelming as he scanned the room.
