Kill It With Magic: An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Lillim Callina Chronicles Book 1) by J.A. Cipriano

face, almost like it belonged to an alligator. I backpedaled as the werewolf flexed its claws, regarding me as if considering whether or not to use ketchup.
    He howled and the sound made the hair on the back of my neck stand up as he bounded toward me. I tore Shirajirashii from its sheaths and stabbed the twin blades into his oncoming form. Both of his hands grabbed my head and slammed me into the wall. My vision went blurry. Gib tapped the claws of his thumbs against my eyebrows just hard enough to draw blood as I tore my blades out of him in an explosion of gore that he barely seemed to notice.
    “It is out of respect for your mother that the elders would not allow me to kill you. However, if you fail to retrieve my son, think about what I will do to you. Even your mother, with all of her Dioscuri, will not be able to protect you from my wrath,” Gib snarled, fetid breath and spittle spraying across my face.
    He flung me to the floor. His wounds were nearly gone. In another minute or so, there would be no trace that I had hurt him at all.

Chapter 7
    “The whole point of sending you after the box was so that you could keep the other vampires from getting it. You were not supposed to hand it over on a silver platter.” Voln D’Lamprey’s face was as unchanging as a granite statue. It made the venom seething from his words all the more savage.
    “You only told me to retrieve the box— which you neglected to tell me was enchanted by the way. You never said anything about the contents. You could have mentioned that the box contained a werewolf shaman’s son,” I snarled. I was pretty much done dealing with supernatural creatures. It was the only thing keeping me from a full panic attack. If I didn’t focus on how angry I was…
    “I was unaware Prince Dar was in the box. The bear caste merely requested the box with contents. That’s why I sent you after it. The Bears have been plotting something. It now appears that the prince was an integral part.” I could tell Voln wasn’t telling me the whole truth, which struck me odd coming from a person dressed like a priest inside a church.
    Behind me Gib bristled. I turned to look at him. The shaman was sitting in one of the pews behind me with a look of absolute serenity on his ashen face. I swallowed, and without thinking, took a step back. That look was a lie. While he may have painted that look across his face, it never reached his eyes, which made sense; most people can’t lie with their eyes… To be honest, I don’t really like dealing with the people who can. People who can lie with their eyes have problems.
    Gib’s eyes did not lie. They seethed with such hatred and loathing that it thrummed along my skin, like heat cast from a blazing fire. Our eyes met for the briefest moment, and my breath whooshed out of me. I took another step back, forcing myself to take a deep breath and unclench my hands. I hadn’t realized I’d balled them into fists. My palms were clammy, and it took every ounce of willpower I had not to wipe them on my skirt.
    The werewolf rose, lines of taut muscle rippling beneath his jeans and white button-down shirt as he moved. It was like watching a wild cat stalking prey through high grass, and even though I didn’t expect him to attack me, I couldn't help wanting to run away. That probably wouldn’t have been the best thing to do anyway. Predators usually chase things that run away.
    “You’re a king?” I squeaked.
    “Yes.” The edge of his voice was tinged with the threat of violence. If something went wrong, there was going to be a blood bath.
    “You mean you didn’t know he was one of the four Garou kings?” Voln asked, stifling a laugh. I glanced at Gib and his eyes told me, in no uncertain terms, that if he couldn’t control his anger, we were going to be in for a world of pain.
    “Well… I really just learned his name a few minutes ago, and it has been sort of a long day— leave me alone.” I waved my hands as I