the other hand.
She shrieked and let go. She’d thought maybe…but not just shame kept her from using her magic. Some seals were not made to be broken.
“That’s the scream you’ll make when I’m fuckin’ you.” Killer took another threatening step toward her.
King darted in to nip a warning at Killer’s ankles then leaped back as if to protect her.
“Oh noes.” Killer pointed a sarcastically trembling finger. “The nasty doggie’s guarding you. I’m sooo scared.”
King stood quivering at the ready. Poor brave dear. She couldn’t let him get hurt for her. No magic, so resist the mundane way. Lifting her breastbone, she said in her coldest voice, “Move aside. I’m leaving.”
“Not before you and me have some fun, girlie.” Killer grabbed her arm, fingers biting.
King leaped, tearing the string leash from her hand. He ran through Killer’s legs, trailing string, slaloming a figure-eight, winding Killer’s ankles.
She yanked out of Killer’s grip. Killer, thrown off-balance, tried to step wider to steady himself.
King leaped back. The line snapped tight.
With a roar of anger, Killer toppled, slowly, like a tree. She could have yelled timber!
She hopped back as he crashed in front of her, bounced off Marlowe and skirted a flailing Killer to unhook King’s bracelet and free him of the string. “Let’s go!” She dumped the bracelet into her blazer pocket as she ran for the door.
Marlowe shouted. Sophia spun to defend herself—as the kid stepped on a pile of frozen dinner cartons, skidded on their coated surfaces and smashed into a wall.
King nosed her toward the door. Great minds, thinking alike. She ran.
Roars and shouts came from the trailer as she blundered down the gravel drive. She hit asphalt and put on speed. Her lungs sawed and her heart pounded as she pushed her muscles to the limit. King churned his little legs alongside. Civilization and the start of the sidewalk on East Second seemed miles away.
A full-throated howl from the trailer drove needles into her spine. She shot a glance over her shoulder.
A gray wolf leaped from the bramble hedge, landing braced on four paws. Killer. His shaggy head twisted from side to side, searching for her. He’d be after her the moment he caught sight or scent.
She tried to run faster, but her legs trembled, her breath rasped painfully and her heart thudded like it would explode.
A second howl froze her bowels. Marlowe. She stumbled. Got to keep going. She pushed on.
Her feet thudded onto gas station pavement. Pain shot through her side as she made the final leap for the station’s door. Salvation .
It was locked.
She grabbed her shooting side and staggered to the neighboring FreshFresh. Also locked, its Closedsign taunting her. King yapped angrily and nudged her ankles to go on.
Whimpering, she started for the next building west, an accountant’s converted brownstone. She stumbled up two steps, swung into the doorway and knocked desperately.
No one answered.
She fought panic’s rising burn. Would she have to run all the way to the bookstore?
Killer’s howl changed. Sophia spun. He’d caught her trail and ran toward her with a wolf’s ground-eating stride. Advanced Creatures 401 taught her they could go almost forty miles an hour.
Killer leaves the trailer two blocks away going forty miles an hour. Sophia starts at the same time and must cover a block limping and huffing badly, going three mph if she’s fricking lucky.
She’d never make it to safety in time.
King growled, low in his throat. Coldly angry, it was almost scarier than Killer’s howl.
But a growl wouldn’t defend them. Fumbling for her pepper spray, she edged out of the doorway and trembled down the steps.
Instead of the spray, her stupid hand kept landing on the stupid wand. Pain jolted her each time. Her eyes blurred with tears of frustration.
The wolf was almost on top of them. King, on the sidewalk, wasn’t doing anything but growling. They were out of
She shrieked and let go. She’d thought maybe…but not just shame kept her from using her magic. Some seals were not made to be broken.
“That’s the scream you’ll make when I’m fuckin’ you.” Killer took another threatening step toward her.
King darted in to nip a warning at Killer’s ankles then leaped back as if to protect her.
“Oh noes.” Killer pointed a sarcastically trembling finger. “The nasty doggie’s guarding you. I’m sooo scared.”
King stood quivering at the ready. Poor brave dear. She couldn’t let him get hurt for her. No magic, so resist the mundane way. Lifting her breastbone, she said in her coldest voice, “Move aside. I’m leaving.”
“Not before you and me have some fun, girlie.” Killer grabbed her arm, fingers biting.
King leaped, tearing the string leash from her hand. He ran through Killer’s legs, trailing string, slaloming a figure-eight, winding Killer’s ankles.
She yanked out of Killer’s grip. Killer, thrown off-balance, tried to step wider to steady himself.
King leaped back. The line snapped tight.
With a roar of anger, Killer toppled, slowly, like a tree. She could have yelled timber!
She hopped back as he crashed in front of her, bounced off Marlowe and skirted a flailing Killer to unhook King’s bracelet and free him of the string. “Let’s go!” She dumped the bracelet into her blazer pocket as she ran for the door.
Marlowe shouted. Sophia spun to defend herself—as the kid stepped on a pile of frozen dinner cartons, skidded on their coated surfaces and smashed into a wall.
King nosed her toward the door. Great minds, thinking alike. She ran.
Roars and shouts came from the trailer as she blundered down the gravel drive. She hit asphalt and put on speed. Her lungs sawed and her heart pounded as she pushed her muscles to the limit. King churned his little legs alongside. Civilization and the start of the sidewalk on East Second seemed miles away.
A full-throated howl from the trailer drove needles into her spine. She shot a glance over her shoulder.
A gray wolf leaped from the bramble hedge, landing braced on four paws. Killer. His shaggy head twisted from side to side, searching for her. He’d be after her the moment he caught sight or scent.
She tried to run faster, but her legs trembled, her breath rasped painfully and her heart thudded like it would explode.
A second howl froze her bowels. Marlowe. She stumbled. Got to keep going. She pushed on.
Her feet thudded onto gas station pavement. Pain shot through her side as she made the final leap for the station’s door. Salvation .
It was locked.
She grabbed her shooting side and staggered to the neighboring FreshFresh. Also locked, its Closedsign taunting her. King yapped angrily and nudged her ankles to go on.
Whimpering, she started for the next building west, an accountant’s converted brownstone. She stumbled up two steps, swung into the doorway and knocked desperately.
No one answered.
She fought panic’s rising burn. Would she have to run all the way to the bookstore?
Killer’s howl changed. Sophia spun. He’d caught her trail and ran toward her with a wolf’s ground-eating stride. Advanced Creatures 401 taught her they could go almost forty miles an hour.
Killer leaves the trailer two blocks away going forty miles an hour. Sophia starts at the same time and must cover a block limping and huffing badly, going three mph if she’s fricking lucky.
She’d never make it to safety in time.
King growled, low in his throat. Coldly angry, it was almost scarier than Killer’s howl.
But a growl wouldn’t defend them. Fumbling for her pepper spray, she edged out of the doorway and trembled down the steps.
Instead of the spray, her stupid hand kept landing on the stupid wand. Pain jolted her each time. Her eyes blurred with tears of frustration.
The wolf was almost on top of them. King, on the sidewalk, wasn’t doing anything but growling. They were out of
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