His mouth takes hers and they are illuminated by a brilliant light.
The pixies watching swirl around them rushing the embracing couple and lifting them into the night sky. All their wounds are healed as stardust is rained down upon them.
Reese and Arianna sigh with the beauty of the moment. The Shadow King and Shadow Queen welcome the newest members of their family.
Chapter 28
Brody drives for the coast, he glances with concern at Magdalene. Her respiration has increased, and her body is shivering uncontrollably. The thought of ditching the car with her inside of it crosses his mind again. His large fists wrap tightly around the steering wheel, “You weren’t part of the plan,” he growls pulling into a gas station.
“Brody?” she whispers and rolls over towards him. The sound of his name in her husky voice has his skin itching to shift. She doesn’t wake up, which worries him even more. Her skin is so pale, it is almost blue.
“Gas and phone, Brody,” He reminds himself and steps from the truck, fuels up, and moves inside the empty gas station.
“First aid kit, water bottles, and gas. I need oil for my car. Could you help me with that?” The old man mumbles and stomps off looking for the oil Brody asks for. Brody waits until he disappears in the back and snags the cellphone he left sitting on the counter. When the man returns, he pays and grabs his supplies and runs out. Jumping into the idling truck, he accelerates back out onto the highway. After he checks his mirror for any pursuit, he dials a number on the stolen phone.
“I’m headed your way.” He checks his mirror again. “I know!” he listens for a minute and then snarls into the phone, “Listen to me, bring Eric, and blood. Lots of blood, enough to do a transfusion. I will be there in two hours,” he growls and crushes the phone, tossing it from the window.
Magdalene opens her eyes and looks at him as the truck swerves a bit to miss a blown truck tire in the road “Brody…if I… you have to find Sebastian and warn him.” Tears fill her hazel eyes. “He has lost so much already, don’t let them kill him,” she pleads reaching out for his hand.
“I won’t let them kill him, Magdalene, or you,” he says holding her small hand in his. In his mind, he hears her words about freedom and knows he has found a kindred spirit. Her demand for freedom matches his own soul’s demand for his people. He pushes the truck harder burying the speedometer as the road opens up in front of them, checking his mirrors again, he settles in for a fast run to the coast.
The docks at the Blue Sky harbor are dark when he slowly pulls in and parks. Brody can smell the fish in the air and fresh salt water of the ocean. He feels the pressure of unseen eyes watching him. He opens the door and slides from the vehicle, his eyes scanning the area for threats. As gentle as he can he pulls Magdalene’s body from the truck cab and heads through the harbor buildings towards the docks on the other side.
Brody glances and sniffs the air around him as he walks the darkened docks. His people are here, and they know how to protect their own. The four Shifters flank him, two on each side to provide cover, or help if needed.
A sigh of relief almost escapes him when he sees the gentle glow of lights beckoning him in the cabin of the boat. “Almost there, Magdalene. Hold on, now.” He smiles when sees the men on the deck of the thirty foot speed boat and hears the motor rumble to life.
The truck explodes behind them sending a fireball into the dark sky.
In the glow from the fire, Brody sees a wolf shaped creature running at them from the parking area. “Damn, that was quick!” All that matters now is escaping. He runs, holding on to Magdalene as tightly as he can. The men on the boat begin shooting at his pursuer. Bullets pass by him, hitting the creature while chewing up the buildings and dock around it.
The four men flanking him shift to tigers and turn to face the creature. “Keep going!” one of the shifters shouts and they leap straight at the wolf. Their roars echo through the night.
Brody reaches the long wooden dock to the waiting boat at a sprint and doesn’t look back.
The four shifters leap at the wolf creature only to land on empty air as it launches itself over them. It arcs gracefully through the air and lands on the dock between Brody and the boat with a crash of splintered wood. The mass of its body is too great and causes the deck to break beneath its feet sinking up to its chest. At first glance, it appears to be a werewolf hybrid, but the writhing mass immediately begins to pour to the deck as snakes flow towards the stunned group.
Brody shouts and clutches Magdalene to his body as he skids to a stop. “What the hell!”
The four shifters move in front of him as armed men to provide protection and buy him enough time to escape. Drawing their guns quickly they begin to fire. Some of the snakes explode while others swirl up and over two of the men.
A howl rips free from the werewolf and when it tilts its head back, snakes continue swirling over and around its body working to release it from the shattered wood decking. Its hate filled red eyes never leave Brody.
Watching from the deck of the boat, Brody’s father and brothers each