Taran jutted out her chin and narrowed her blue eyes. “Look, Ceel. We’re going with you whether you like it or not. Those ass**les tortured you guys and pissed on my birthday brunch. Now they’re trying to kill you.” She pointed an irate finger. “That’s just goddamn rude.”
I reached for my cell phone. “Oh, really? Well, I think your wolves may have something to say about that.” I hit Koda’s number on speed dial, knowing he’d be the most furious.
My sisters exchanged panicked glances. Emme ripped the phone away from me with her force and held me in place when I lunged for her. I opened my mouth to tell Koda everything the moment he answered the phone, but my voice was immediately silenced. Taran’s irises blanched and I felt my vocal cords constrict. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t even whistle.
The vamps watched the drama with quiet and wide-eyed enthusiasm. The bastards didn’t even lift a finger to help.
“Celia?” Koda’s deep voice reverberated through the cell. “What’s wrong?”
“No, puppy. It’s me,” Shayna answered.
He paused, already suspicious. “Why are you calling me on Celia’s phone, baby?”
“Um . . .”
Emme’s eyes widened and sweat beaded on her forehead. Her head smacked against the cushioned chair as I pushed against her power. “Hurry up and tell him something. She’s too strong. I can’t hold her.”
I smiled to myself and stopped thrashing. My sisters never could grasp how great our hearing was.
“What’s going on?” Koda growled. “Who is Emme holding back?”
“Oh, puppy . . . what could possibly be going on?” Shayna answered, laughing a little too hysterically.
“Put Celia on now!”
Taran covered her throat with one hand and motioned for the phone with the other. Shayna gave her the phone and Taran began speaking, using my voice. The words she used and the way she spoke screamed loud and clear that it wasn’t me. “Relax, man. We’re just out shopping for tampons and stuff.”
I laughed silently. I could almost hear the vein on Koda’s forehead pop. “What the hell is happening? This isn’t Celia!”
“Pssst. Pssst. Sorry, puppy . . . psst . . . The phone is breaking . . . psst . . . up. Don’t wait . . . psst . . . up . . . psst.” She disconnected and gaped at the screen.
The vamps roared with laughter. Emme blushed two shades deeper than usual. “Taran! Did you have to tell him we were buying feminine products?”
“Emme, why do you have a goddamn problem saying the word ‘tampon’? Just say it. It would be so liberating.”
“Taran, the vampires are listening—”
“Tampon, tampon, tampon!” Taran sang.
Shayna’s head whipped from the phone to us. “Forget the tampons! I think puppy knows I lied to him.”
Taran rolled her eyes. “No shit, Shayna.” She scooted to my side. Her irises blanched to crystal; as they deepened to their blue color, my vocal cords relaxed.
I touched my throat with the tips of my fingers. “How did you do that?”
“I’ve been practicing harnessing Tahoe’s magic.” Taran shrugged. “Sometimes it works; most of the time it doesn’t.”
I nodded. “Interesting— Oh! But guess what. You’re still not coming.” I grabbed hold of the plane door just as it was about to shut.