* * *
“Stop,” Cadmus’s voice rang out. Everyone froze in place. Jordy had redeemed herself somewhat by kidnapping the two brats, and for getting the man-wolf to stop its attack. But the day was still young. There was still far too much time for her to fuck up.
And killing the magnificent man-wolf, who had just blasted them with some pulse ofmagickalenergy with his transformation to human form, would be a major fuck-up.
Jordy looked at him, a question in her eyes, as her down-turned mouth slowly opened and shut, opened and shut, like a fish in a tank. She was at least smart enough not to voice it out loud.
No matter. Once he had ritually drawn out the life-force from this beast, or simply presented him to His Terrible Majesty, he’d be back on top, with his pick of much more competent recruits. The Infernal Gods willing, many of the current Merciless would be shifting their allegiance back to him as the undisputed leader.
And Micah would be out in the cold.
Now that he finally had the man-wolf in his grasp, it was just a small matter of tying him up. And then the man-wolf would lead him to the others. As for the ones now cowering on the ground beside Jordy—
He slid a heavy-lidded gaze to Jordy. “The wolf creature stays alive for now. But the other three are disposable. It’s time to take out the trash. Kill them.”
A shit-eating grin slit Jordy’s face. “I amonit, Boss.” The sun glinted off the gun as she swung her arm from the man-wolf towards the woman and children.
And then all seven hells broke loose.
“NO!” The man-wolf roared, and before Cadmus could react, the creature flung itself at Jordy.
A shot rang out, as the woman screamed.
