Page 79 of Nightshade

That was when Cash, of all people, came marching over from the direction of the latest work site, with the pack’s only chainsaw in his hands. Frankly, even though I knew Cash was one of the least scary creatures in the world, he cut an impressive figure. He revved the chainsaw’s engine and pulled it up to point at everyone. “You get the hell off Wildwood property, now,” he told Ermengarde. “Or I start cutting down witches.”

“And I’ll bite them,” Evie added from the sideline, determined to have her say, even if this was utterly terrifying.

I got it. Cash was trying to get rid of Ivan’s power source. If he could just eat witch after witch, then he could toss Aleks into fucking trees.

Aleks, who was thankfully getting up, albeit somewhat slowly.

Cash, I noted, had positioned himself between Ivan and Aleks. I’d never thought of Cash as a badass before, but love did funny things to a guy.

Some of the witches took Cash’s demand seriously, and they started piling back into their SUVs. Or maybe it was the fact that Ivan had just messily murdered one of their own. It didn’t matter. It only mattered that they were gone.

Ivan didn’t seem to care, just turned back toward me with that unholy light in his eyes, smiling. “You are,” he crowed. “You are special to my little birdie. You understand of course, the only proper answer to that.” He turned his face toward the attic of Mama’s house and said, his voice ringing with strange magical authority. “Altair, you will kill this wolf. Right now.”

CHAPTER 42

Altair

You like this one, don’t you, pet?

I swallowed hard. The years of imprisonment—not with the witches but the times Ivan had drained me dry and left me starving—stole everything from me in that moment. I didn’t dare to think, in case he’d hear me, but I wasn’t sure it mattered. The second he’d locked onto me, he was everywhere.

I understand, darling. I didn’t realize my sweet puppy had a brother, but in all the world, you found him, a perfect little copy. That’s how I know you’re still mine. Even now, you imitate me.

“Shit,” Tristan hissed above me, glaring up toward the window for a second. No way he could see what was going on, but my shuddering gave enough away for him to glean that it wasn’t good. When he looked back down, he shook me, jostling my head between the tight grip of his hands. “You’re okay,” he insisted.

But I wasn’t. I’d been a fool to ever think I could get away, to imagine that I didn’t have to run and keep running just to escape him.

Altair, you will kill this wolf. Right now.

Without a second’s hesitation, I shoved Tristan off me. It didn’t matter that he’d covered my ears; Ivan was everywhere.

Cursing, he fell back. “What the hell?”

Already, I was on my feet and at the window. It was the fastest way to the ground, to Leo. I could see him right there.

I had to get to him. To—to kill him.

I was going to kill him.

When I punched through the glass, the jagged edges left deep red scores across my knuckles and running up the back of my hand. They stitched together, because Leo’s blood ran through my veins.

Leo.

With a snarl, I gripped the windowsill, even as my body tried to propel itself through it. Glass dug into my palms, but it was no good. Ivan pressed on my mind, and my fingers spread reflexively.

I tumbled down the sloped roof and hit the ground with a grunt. At once, I willed the earth to open up and take me. Dirt rolled back, but before I could sink into it, Ivan clicked his tongue.

“Come here, pet.” I could hear his voice properly now, silky smooth and impossible to deny.

My body shot into the air. I screeched, straining my arms for the ground, for anything to hold onto.

Viktor.

I shouted his name as I flew overhead. He leapt for my outstretched hand, but rather than pull me back down, it took his full weight to fling me onto the ground. He jumped, threw his legs out to the side, and fell.

A second later, he was on me, pinning me down.

Still, my gaze was drawn to Ivan. My . . . master.