“Be quiet!” José complained. Cameron shoved his shoulder.
Your parents would be ashamed of you, Kismet said.
“You can lecture me at home, Kiz,” I said, tightening my jacket around my chest.
“Shut up!” José hissed. Something was odd about his voice. It was shrill. Serious. Frightened.
My head snapped up in alarm as a low growl reached my ears. My heart stopped.
A large, dark shape approached from the shadows. It crept forward on giant paws, its claws glistening with blood. A long snout came into view, followed by the keen eyes of a predator.
A werewolf.
It rose on its haunches, back arched and fur standing on end. Its long, sharp fangs were bared and covered in blood. Its eager eyes drifted over each of us as if assessing who would taste better.
My breath caught in my throat. Kismet nervously hopped from one foot to the next. Cameron gasped audibly, but Mia stumbled forward. The idiot.
“Come get me, wolf!” she jeered.
“Mia, don’t!” I shouted, my voice shaking.
“I can handle it!” Mia’s red cheeks pinched with her cocky grin.
The wolf’s large black eyes fixed hungrily on Mia. It bounded forward.
“No!” I screamed.
I raised my hands and Pushed. My magic slammed into the wolf, and it soared backward several feet. With a yelp, it rolled down the sidewalk.
“Get Mia out of here!” I yelled at José.
José wrapped his arm around Mia’s waist and spun in place. He and Mia spiraled until they became a blur. Then with a tiny pop they disappeared completely.
I glanced at Cameron. He looked at me with wide eyes, his arms trembling at his side.
Something lodged itself in my throat, like cold fingers gripping and clawing at me from within. I swallowed and held up my hands as the wolf approached, its eyes bloodthirsty and manic.
It leaped toward me, and I Pushed again. It ducked its head and rolled sideways to avoid my magic. I swung my arms around, trying to catch the wolf in my force, but it was smart. It evaded my movements until it stood a few feet away from me. Its foul breath blew in my face, and its fangs glinted in the moonlight.
“Why?” I growled at it. “It’s not a full moon. You can’t Turn me.”
The wolf’s mouth stretched wide, as if grinning at me. Terror coursed through me, and my blood ran cold. It didn’t care. It wasn’t here to Turn anyone—just to feast.
A blaze of fire burst next to me, lighting up the park. The wolf flinched away with a whimper. I squinted at Cameron, who held a ball of fire in his hands. He launched it forward into the wolf, which howled in agony as it tumbled away.
“Run,” Cameron urged.
We sprinted down the sidewalk, away from the danger. Kismet flew above us, her wings flapping wildly. The cold air bit against my lungs as I gasped for breath and pushed my legs farther and faster.
A huge, black shape appeared in front of us. I screamed, and we jerked to a stop in front of the wolf. Smoke rose from its charred wound, and it licked its teeth maliciously.
My blood turned to ice in my veins. How did it get there so quickly?
The wolf barreled forward and swiped a paw. His claws tore through Cameron’s arm. Cameron screamed and fell to the sidewalk.
With a roar of fury I Pushed the wolf into the trunk of a tree. Again. And again. And again. It howled and whimpered until it fell silent.
I dropped my shaking hands, staring at the form of the limp wolf until I was certain it wouldn’t rise. Then I rushed to Cameron’s side. Blood soaked his shirt, and his eyes rolled back.
“Kismet,” I said urgently.
Kismet appeared beside me and glowed blue. The blue light intensified until the raven disappeared. A tall, blond woman in jeans and a T-shirt appeared in its place. She approached Cameron and covered his wound with her hands. Her eyes closed, and she muttered an incantation that was unfamiliar to me.
A growl echoed behind me. I stiffened, my heart racing in terror. Puffs of cold air blew out of my mouth.
The wolf stumbled forward. Mud, dirt, and blood caked its fur, but here it was. Ready for more.
“Just die!” I shrieked. I threw my arms forward, but it leaped to avoid the assault. It tackled me to the sidewalk. Claws and teeth ripped through my clothes and skin. A deep agony pierced my side, and I screamed.
A blast of blue magic surrounded me, encasing me in a warm glow. The pain in my side throbbed and festered. Kismet’s magic lifted the wolf into the air. Her face distorted with rage, and she twisted her fingers until the wolf spun sickeningly in the air. Then she clenched her fingers into tight fists. With a large boom, the wolf vanished. An ethereal wind rippled through me, and the stench of burning flesh tickled my nostrils.
Silence fell.
Nervous, I glanced around for the wolf, but it was gone.
Pain engulfed me. I swayed as the wound in my side throbbed.
“Kiz . . .” I muttered, dazed.
Then I collapsed.
A SHARP AROMA STUNG my nose until I jerked upright. I winced as my head prickled with pain, but my side felt fine. I glanced down at my bloodied shirt and peeled it off my waist to reveal a smooth stretch of skin. Kismet must’ve healed me.
Someone cleared their throat loudly behind me.
I glanced around and realized I was sitting on the couch in my living room. Kismet—in human form—stood by the couch, holding a jar of angelica, which was undoubtedly used to heal me. She set down the jar and crossed her arms over her chest, her blue eyes flashing with fury.
“You’re still in human form?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. My eyes darted to the clock and then back to her. “You have, what, ten minutes left?”
“It’s worth it,” she hissed. “This is important.” She dropped her arms. “What were you thinking?”
“Okay, first of all,” I interrupted, “I wasn’t drinking. And second, I was trying to
