103

103

DARIAN

"Are you ready, Dominic?"

I stood at the edge of the balcony, staring past the warehouse, across the hills and empty streets.

Dominic walked in, Viper’s spells book clutched under his arm. I could see him clearly from the corner of my eyes. Every trace of injuries had disappeared. He slipped a wicked-looking Roscoe into his leather jacket and patted the bulging sides of his camo pants that were no doubt loaded with more firearms and knives.

It was two days after the attack. Even though I didn't chase after the packs to finish them off, I was observing them closely, biding my time, waiting for a loophole that would spur my plan into motion. And now was the perfect time.

News reached my ears that Raven was fleeing to one of the safe houses with her son before the war blew up.

My little sister was a coward, I thought with a smirk. So desperate to keep her son away from me. Didn't she learn anything from last time?

"Come over here, Dominic," I said, tearing open the space, opening a Portal.

"What do you plan on doing?" Dominic asked, stepping forward. He looked carefully into the gaping hole that was now in the wall, and inside it, instead of the view outside, a foreign path stood in front of us.

"I plan to intercept Raven on her way to the safe house and complete the ritual to free me," I said. I thought my plan was obvious enough.

Dominic looked down at the book that I told him to steal from Raven for me. "And this book is going to have the incantation you need?" he asked.

I waved my hand with a bored roll of my eyes. "Everything uncouth is included in that book, including the very words Viper chanted while bringing her good friend back from the bridge. Now, are you coming or not?"

Dominic hesitated, with a frown that I didn't understand. Why was he having second thoughts now that our prize was right in front of us? I didn't have the time to deal with his cold feet.

"Look, you don't have to come with me. You can just give me the book. I'll take care of the rest," I started impatiently. Now that I was so close, I wouldn't let him come in the way. I had to leave before Viper realized I was missing or ordered me to charge into battle, since I couldn't disobey direct orders from her.

"No, sorry," he tore his eyes away from the Portal, standing straight. "It's just... Raven knows you're after her son. They all know the kind of power that you can command. It would make sense that they would stick together."

"But Raven going solo," Dominic shook his head. "It's too easy."

"I see," I smiled. "Well, Dominic, no one said it had to be difficult."

I stepped through the Portal, feeling the cold wind whip around my face and the ground give way under me into the falling sensation that I was now used to.

My feet landed on the strong ground, and Dominic appeared beside me, stumbling slightly, his face a bit white.

An empty subway stretched in front of us. We were not far off from the train track, but this was the last bus stop, and also the closest place to the safe house. Raven had no choice but to stop here, and I would take the pleasure of kidnapping her son. This time, I wouldn't make a mistake.

"Now what?" Dominic asked, glancing around the place.

"Guard that book with your life," I remarked and turned from him, straining my ears for any sound of a coming train. "Now we wait."

We didn't have to wait for long.

A train came chugging through the subway, skidding to a halt just where I had predicted.

Raven stepped out, her son strapped to her front. Flanking her on each side were Eria and Maya.

The three musketeers, I thought, cracking my head on both sides and getting ready to let my claws out. I couldn't risk my magic here. Not much space, and besides, I didn't want to harm the baby before we actually began.

"Kill the other two," I said to Dominic. "No harm comes to Raven and her child."

The moment the words left my mouth, I felt the familiar surge of power coursing through my veins. My bones began to crack and shift, muscles expanding as I let the wolf take over. The raging beast that wanted only one thing.

The transformation was swift and brutal—within seconds, I stood on four powerful legs, my massive frame towering over the subway platform.

The three of them stopped dead. I could see the fear in Raven's eyes, my eyesight a thousand times sharper despite the dim light of the subway.

Her arms tightened protectively around her son. Too bad, I thought.

I lunged for them, my powerful haunches propelling me forward with unnatural speed. , who began to cry at the sudden commotion.

"Stay away!" Raven shouted. Her son burst into cries in her arms. Her shoulders shook with anger. She took a fighting stance.

Maya and Eria immediately stepped in front of Raven, forming a protective barrier between us. Their bones began to change form, expanding, till a huge ginger wolf and a white wolf stood in front of me.

They didn't have to talk for me to understand.

"You want to get to her? You'll have to go through us first."

They snarled, baring sharp fangs.

From the corner of my eyes I saw Dominic move. He pulled out his Roscoe, firing into the air.

Eria turned her attention to him, her black orbs flickering with pure hatred and blood lust.

"Hello again, you piece of trash," Eria spat.

"Eria," Maya warned, not taking her eyes off me. I was the threat, not Dominic. But Eria wasn't listening as she lunged for Dominic with a ferocity that knocked the gun out of his hand, pinning him to the ground.

A personal battle, vengeance.

I turned my attention back to Maya.

But she wants my concern. My eyes were on Raven, who was slowly backing away, whispering soothing words to the boy in her arms even as his cries grew louder.

"There's nowhere to run, sister," I growled, "Give me the boy, and I promise this will be quick."

Instead, Maya lunged for me.

She was fast, but not fast enough. Her claws raked across my shoulder, drawing blood, but I was bigger and way stronger. I caught her mid-leap, my jaws clamping down on her foreleg. She yelped in pain, thrashing wildly.

We rolled across the concrete platform, a tangle of fur and claws. I felt her claws rake above my ears.

Ferocious little thing, I cursed, digging my fangs into her fur. The subway exploded into screams, some from me. Behind me, I was vaguely aware of Raven pulling out a gun. I didn't worry about that now. She couldn't get a clear shot without risking hitting Maya.

With a violent twist of my body, I threw Maya against the subway wall. She hit with a sickening crack, her ribs snapping audibly. Blood trickled from her mouth as she struggled to stand, her breathing labored and shallow.

I stood up, turning back to Raven. Deep gashes of red matted my fur, but I was victorious. It was over. There was no way Raven could fight while holding a child.

I shifted back to my human form and stepped forward, limping slightly.

I cast one last look at Maya who looked half unconscious and back at Raven.

"See what happens when you resist, little sister?" I said softly, stepping closer. "Give me the child, Raven. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

Raven raised the gun, her hands shaking, Orion still crying against her chest. "Stay back, Darian. I swear I'll—"

The crack of the gunshot echoed through the subway. The bullet grazed my shoulder.

I stopped, as pain shot through my system, stunning me. Then rage followed.

"You shot me," I snarled, the wolf threatening to take over again. "You actually shot me."

My fingertips sparked with black flame. The walls of the subway rumbled, matching the anger I felt.

Raven stumbled, falling back, her eyes wide with panic. She kept the gun trained up, like it would keep me at bay.

I struck like lightning, reaching with my hands and lifting her up with an invisible force. The gun fell from her hands. She clawed at her throat, her eyes watering. I tightened my hand.

Then something heavy and furry slammed into me, knocking me off my feet.

Eria snarled, pinning me to the ground.

No... It couldn't be.

But across the subway was a crumpled heap that represented Dominic, the spells book a few yards away.

No no no.

I couldn't lose. Not now!

Raven moved, too fast for me to track. She dislodged a silver-powered blade from her belt that I hadn't seen before and let out a cry of fury.

She drove it deep into my chest, right above my heart.