Dunc hesitated when he heard those words. He lifted his head, bright blue eyes focusing on Amanda in shock. Had she really said that? His ears wilted back in horror. He had shown himself, and now he was being rejected. He held back, his heart aching. Then his eyes met Amanda’s. She made a motion with her hand, holding it up and gesturing for him to come closer. Dunc moved.
Joseph made several leaps in that time to appear next to Amanda. “About time, you came to your senses.” He reached out to take Amanda’s hand, intending to transport both of them away.
Amanda smiled and grabbed his hand, wrapping the necklace over his hand and arm. Joseph stared at the gleaming silver. Then he looked up at Amanda questioningly, only to meet a fist in the face. He staggered back. “BOG! NOW!” Amanda stepped back, and Dunc snarled, charging at Joseph. Dunc slammed one massive paw down on Joseph, crushing him to the ground, then he stood over him, snarling.
Joseph was squirming, but the silver was wrapped around his arm and snagged in his armored plates. Unfortunately, his mouth was still free. Joseph shouted out an equation, and fire exploded around him. Dunc had to jump back, his feet and chest engulfed in flame.
Amanda hoped nobody was watching as she uttered her own equation. She swept her hands up, dragging all the water around them up and onto Dunc’s body. Dunc hit the ground shoulders first, rolling to extinguish the fire. He didn’t see what Amanda had done to help him.
Joseph attempted to get up, reaching for the necklace on his arm. He stopped when he felt the cold steel of a sword slide under his neck.
“Say anything or move, Joseph. I dare you.” Amanda held her sword ready. She tilted it to make sure that Joseph could feel the sharp edge of the blade against his throat. He glared at her but did not move.
“Good job, Dear.” Amanda had to keep her eyes on Joseph, but she saw the form of a red wolf, a little smaller than Dunc, trot up next to her. She towered over Amanda and bared her teeth in a wolfish smile to Dunc.
Dunc walked up slowly, head down. Smoke from his burning fur rose around him, and he was soaked. “Please take care of his memories, Mother. If any of the others survived, do the same.”
“What?” Joseph sputtered as a pair of Scions grabbed him by the arms and lifted him into the air. One clamped a hand over his mouth.
“Hold him still.” The red wolf shifted. Within moments she had shrunken into Dunc’s mother. She was wearing the same clothes she had been wearing earlier. There was blood spattered on her face and arms, but none on her clothes. Hannah stepped forward and laid a hand to Joseph’s head, and began uttering a long equation. A blank look appeared on Joseph’s face within moments.
Amanda found herself breathing hard. She took a swaying step back with her sword tip hitting the asphalt. Dunc took a few more steps, head down, thinking about what he needed to say. Scions and Lycans had gathered around them and were watching. Sallie and Dew were among them. Dunc noted in passing amusement that they had managed to pick up Scion weapons. They had joined in to help. He approved.
Dunc turned his massive head and looked at Amanda, his blue eyes gleaming with worry. Amanda was a different story. He took a step closer, and she took a step back. “Amanda. I am the same person in this form as the one you profess your love to. You are my love.” He lowered his head in a bow until his muzzle was almost touching the ground. “I love you. You are free to leave if you want to. We’ll take care of Joseph.” He paused and took a breath. “Can you take me as I am?” Then he shifted back to his human form with his costume as it had been before he shifted.
Amanda stared at him and swallowed hard. She shakily slid her sword back into the sheath. Amanda had thought he was a human the entire time. He thought she was as well. He still thought she was human. Everything had happened so fast.
“Amanda?” Dunc held his hand out. “What do you want?” It was now or never. He pushed aside his worries and doubts. His nervous blue eyes met Amanda’s unsure brown ones. She stared at him in silence.
“Amanda.” Dunc sighed. “I do not have a ring.” He knelt on one knee and kept his hand out.
Amanda did not hesitate. She knew what she wanted. She walked up to him and slid her hand into his, then fell against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I want you.” She whispered. “Yes.”
Dunc wrapped his arms around Amanda tightly. “That took a lot of guts.”
“I know. I have to spend my life with you now.” Amanda giggled as tears began to fill her eyes. “And that wet dog smell.”
Dunc smiled, pulling back so he could look into Amanda’s eyes. “I meant trapping Joseph like that.” He glanced away, then back again. “I almost thought you were going to go with him.”
“No way.”
“So impressive.” He reached up with both hands to run them through Amanda’s hair and drew her close into a passionate kiss.
Dad was not going to be happy about this.
