In unison, we attacked. I aimed high while the gray wolf aimed low. The vampire moved fast, his arms striking in a blur of movement that slammed against the side of my head. I flew sideways and crashed against a car. Dazzled, I stood and blinked.
The gray wolf had his jaws clenched around the vampire’s ankle. The vampire leaned down to grab him, but I lunged forward and smashed into him. He lost his balance and fell. The gray wolf and I went for the neck. He got there first, and with one powerful snap, took the vampire’s head off.
The gray wolf spat blood, his long pink tongue flicking to one side in disgust. His eyes met mine. They shone with mesmerizing silver light. He lowered his head in thanks. I bowed slightly, watching him closely, relieved that he was all right, his wounds already healing.
The fight went on around us. A small coyote soared overhead and crashed through the windows and into the building.
Suddenly, the sound of sirens filled the air. They wailed, piercing the night, getting louder by the second. My ears perked up and so did the gray wolf’s.
Help is coming, a part of me said, though I couldn’t quite fathom why. The only help I knew were my fangs and claws, and my own strength.
The battle slowly came to a halt. Then, everyone scrambled, running out of the twisted metal door, jumping on top of cars and leaping to the roof, escaping.
Whirling toward a white van, the gray wolf rushed in its direction. I followed him, intent on staying by his side to make sure he remained safe. He circled the van to the back doors. There he shifted, his magnificent furred body elongating and becoming slick—foreign and familiar at the same time.
I angled my head, regarding him curiously. He attacked the van, breaking one of its back windows with his elbow, then reaching inside to pull on something, and finally yanked the doors open. He seemed to hold his breath as he peered inside the dark interior.
I moved closer for a better look.
A sweet, warm scent pierced through my nose, making me want to sneeze. I blew air out, shaking my head. A man sat inside the van, strapped to a bolted chair, and swathed in many scents.
“Stephen!” The one who had been the gray wolf exclaimed. He darted into the van and went to the odd-smelling man.
Stretching up, I put my front paws on the back of the van and peered in. I blinked at the humans, a strange sensation of calm descending over me. I didn’t want to fight anymore. It was all going to be all right.
Jake pressed his fingers to Stephen’s neck.
I shook my head.
Jake? Stephen?
Yes. Those were their names, weren’t they?
A whimper escaped me as more and more confusing thoughts popped into my head.
“Thank God!” Jake exclaimed. “You’re going to be all right, buddy.”
I pulled away from the van, front paws landing on cold concrete. Jake glanced in my direction, frowning at me.
“Thank you,” he said, lowering his head. “What’s your name?”
I shuddered. My name? What was my name?!
The sirens had reached us. Car doors slammed shut outside. Voices. Rushing steps. Panic filled my chest. They couldn’t find me. I wasn’t supposed to be here. I turned tail and ran.
“Wait!” Jake called behind me. “Tell me who you are.”
I ignored him and jumped through the hole I’d made in the windows. I landed inside, skidded to a stop, then ran toward the steps where I had first fought King Kong. I hurtled up the stairs, ignoring the beast’s angry growls echoing from inside the garage. It seemed he was still stuck in the pit.
With four giant leaps, I climbed to the third floor where, without stopping, I rammed against a flimsy door and burst onto a flat roof. Without pausing, I dashed in the direction of the shining moon, bounding from roof to roof until I lost myself in the sounds, sights, and the smells of the city.
Chapter 37
I awoke by degrees, becoming painfully aware of something prickly against my skin. My entire left side felt irritated. Also, I was cold, very cold. I blinked my eyes open to a purplish sky painted with yellow and orange at the edges. A few birds sang in the distance.
What the hell?!
I sprang to a sitting position to find the only thing I was wearing was nail polish. And it was pretty chipped. With a gasp, I draped my right arm over my breasts and placed my left hand over my crotch. My gaze danced frantically, and my lungs worked double-duty.
Where in the world am I? And how in the witchlights did I get here?
I set to answering the first question. From the looks of it, I sat atop a roof, sitting on a bit of gravel next to an air-conditioning unit.
Now, to that second question... The last thing I remembered was...
Wait, no!
The last thing I remembered must be part of a dream because there was no freaking way I sprang up claws and caught up to a gazelle-fast Fae. I also remembered four figures appearing out of nowhere and then... And then what?
I had no idea. And what about Jake? Was he all right?
Trembling, I rose to my feet, and still covering my important bits, walked to the edge of the roof. Across the street, Cup o’ Java stood with its blinds closed.
Crap!
I was on top of my office building, but how? Maybe I’d passed out and Jake had brought me here. I shook my head. No, that made no sense at all. He wouldn’t leave me naked on a roof. Maybe I’d been abducted by aliens, and now I was pregnant with a buggy-eyed green baby. I shuddered.
And what about Stephen? Had Jake found him?
The questions kept multiplying inside my head like rabbits on hormone therapy, and no matter how creative I got with my answers, none of them made any sense. As important
