Dani Harper - First Bite

Neva led Travis around the back, where a pallet of mulch had once helped her climb up and over the high stone wall that surrounded the grounds. Except the pallet wasn’t there anymore. Crap!

We don’t need it.

What? Are you kidding? That wall has to be a dozen feet tall, maybe more. And the top is about two feet across.

Did you climb over it on two legs or four?

Two, of course.

Exactly. Now that you’re a Changeling, you can jump this, easy. You just need a running start. Come on.

Neva wasn’t sure about that at all. He’d said the swimming would be easy, too, and she was still leaking water from her sinuses, but she followed him anyway. A long row of red-flowered rhododendron shrubs ran perpendicular to the wall, and Travis crept all the way back to the very last bush. That’s about a hundred feet of runway. More than enough to give you momentum if you run as hard as you can. He checked to see if anyone was looking in their direction. We’re clear if we go now.

But I—

Just do what I do. You’ll be fine. He launched himself like a sprinter, and for a moment she was mesmerized by the sheer power of the big wolf. Muscles bunched beneath the golden pelt, and legs gathered and released in long flying strides, his tail a banner behind him. Neva caught her breath as he was suddenly airborne, up and up, front legs tucked high. As he passed the top of the wall, he kicked off it powerfully with his hind legs and disappeared from sight.

Over there!

The words were loud in her mind, but it wasn’t Travis. Neva turned to see a group of wolves heading straight for her, ears flattened and teeth bared. Jesus. She ran for her life, straight for the wall. Certain she was following Travis’s example to the letter, she launched herself upward—only to discover that she’d leaped a couple of strides too soon. Her chest hit the top edge of the wall hard, knocking the breath from her. Still, she clung with her front feet while her hind claws scrabbled for purchase on the vertical stone. She could hear the pack approaching, but wolfen paws had no fingers, and she couldn’t get enough of a grip to pull herself up and over. Help! Just as she thought she was going to tumble backward, a familiar tawny figure appeared on the edge of the wall and ran to her.

Neva didn’t know what she was expecting. Maybe that Travis would shift to human form and grab her with his big strong hands. Instead, he simply closed his massive jaws tightly on the thick ruff and the tender underlying skin between her neck and her shoulders, and pulled. Ow, dammit! No, wait, don’t—

But he did. With unbelievable strength, the golden wolf heaved her straight up and over the wall, then jumped down after her onto the field of ivy. Any other time she would have cussed him out, complained about the treatment or the new scrapes and bruises she’d just picked up. Or maybe she’d just plain slug him. This time, however, adrenaline overrode everything as Neva picked herself up and ran with everything she had. Together, she and Travis raced flat-out for the forest beyond.

Just as the first of their enemies gained the top of the wall.

Shaken and furious, Meredith stalked to her private elevator and headed down to the lower floors. She needed to soothe herself with the caress of magic, but not something strenuous. No demons today. She couldn’t stop rubbing the back of her neck, still feeling the hot breath of the big blond werewolf on the vulnerable skin, even as the deafening ring of his long sharp teeth still echoed in her ears. The first time she’d met the golden wolf, he had shown her no fear. And promised her no mercy. She’d been excited then, aroused and titillated by the threat, and amused at the novelty of it.

This time, the entertainment factor was distinctly lacking. The swiftness of the attack was the worst. Why, the creature could have severed her head from her body before she could react, before she could shape-shift and shock him away from her. Her own fault, definitely, oh yes . She’d been so caught up in the confrontation with Geneva that she’d forgotten all about Travis. And especially forgotten the fact that she’d called his wolf to come out. In fact, the little bitch had probably been trying to distract her on purpose, hoping her lover would succeed in killing her big sister for her.

Instead, the golden wolf had mocked her— her! —by knocking her down and walking over her, as if she was nothing . Her beautiful face had been marred by the impact, her nose bleeding and one eye puffed nearly shut. His hind claws had marked her back, gouging deep as they sprang off her body.

Her rage flared again at both the insult and the injury, and her silver wolf struggled to break free. But there was no one nearby to vent her feelings on, no one to tear asunder, no one’s entrails to yank out. Now, now, be patient a little longer , she told the creature that lived within her. We’re going to take care of ourselves first, darling, and then I’ll turn you loose. You can start with that awful Riley wolf, and then we’ll go hunting. Slowly, reluctantly, her alter ego settled, placated somewhat by her promises.

She had to pause a moment before her fisted hands could unclench enough to turn the key in the lock of her most loved sanctuary. Candles flared as she entered, but this was not her vast marble spell-crafting room. No, this was a much more intimate setting, a combination of study, spa, and elegant kitchen. Like a cook relaxing by trying out new recipes, the combining of ingredients for potions would help to ease the stress from her shoulders. And she needed to whip up something to take the bruising and swelling from her face. If she couldn’t restore it to its natural perfection quickly, she might have to put together a temporary glamour spell. Oh, and a hot soak would do her nerves such a world of good.

She’d tried to call Zarita, of course, but the doctor wasn’t answering. No doubt she was out there, driving the van, helping the rest of the pack search for the fugitives. Meredith wished she’d thought to call her first, before issuing the general command to recapture her little sister and her lover…but as a master of magic, Meredith could take care of herself if she must. As she gathered the elements for some of the spells, an unopened bottle of Black Pearl cognac caught her eye.

Dear old Andrei had once said that quality brandies—and this was among the very best—were designed to be savored in tiny amounts, but where was the fun in that? Her face hurt, she had a pounding headache, and her favorite toys had left the building. Meredith wanted to feel better now . She filled the crystal snifter past the halfway point and sipped steadily while she leaned over the elegant bronze bathtub and turned on the golden faucets. As it filled, she threw double handfuls of crushed juniper berries and geranium leaves into the water, and then carefully added three vials of blood from Geneva’s blond werewolf, Travis. The other three vials she emptied into her glass and watched as the crimson liquid spread ghostly tendrils throughout her dark drink like a tiny apparition.

She was going to feel much, much better very soon.

And really, didn’t she already have everything under control? Geneva and Travis would be recaptured any minute now— you can run, but you can’t hide —and then Meredith would unlock the mysteries of the blond werewolf’s blood, even as she used Geneva’s to power her most beautiful spell yet, her masterpiece. In fact, once she had her little sister back in her hands, Meredith would make certain Geneva begged to help with the project. The image cheered her immensely, and she giggled. She drank deeply from the crystal glass, almost draining it, then shrugged out of her clothes.