with his chin. She trembled and pulled at her collar, but the leash held tightly.
Avram turned toward her scowling. His brows drew together, and he flicked his hand toward her. In his fist a whip appeared, and the lash fell across her back, the tip hitting her left hip. She jumped and yowled in pain. Avram smiled and pulled his arm back to repeat the motion. Isai caught the whip in his hand and jerked hard. The smile faded as the whip turned on the wielder, striking repeatedly, not giving him a chance to regain his weapon.
He screamed his anger and ordered the shadow cat to attack. She leapt forward as if obedient, but the short leash jerked her back to the ground. She went off her feet and rolled over, coming up whining in distress, clearly not knowing what to do.
Isai ducked beneath the whip and went for the man. Avram shouted holding spells, but Isai was already past him, breaking the tendrils of magic before they could be established. He was on the man, his fist driving deep through the chest cavity to reach the heart. Unlike the blackened wizened organ of the vampire, this heart was normal, deceptive in that it didn’t show the true character of the man. Avram’s mouth opened wide in a silent scream, but Isai ripped his heart from his body and tossed it aside.
Whips of lightning hit all around them, one precisely striking the heart and the other Avram’s body. He kept the play of lightning going and then let it die down naturally, knowing Vasile would think that his brother was orchestrating a battle with Isai.
Isai approached the shadow cat cautiously. “Little one, I will free your mate. Stay with Blue until this is over.”
Blue watched with his amber eyes flashing red at times. He didn’t take his eyes or his focus off the little female. Should she decide to attack, it was clear he intended to kill her.
I will take her to Julija. The cat pushed the images into his head. He was all but telling Isai he would return to aid him. Come with me now.
The little female shook her head. To my mate.
Blue swiped at her with his paw, making it clear he was in charge and if she didn’t do as he said, she would suffer. Or worse. If you want your mate to live, come with me now. Blue swung around, not deigning to see if she followed. The little cat followed.
Isai headed toward the other side of the valley, following Blue’s progress with the little female.
Her name is Sable and her mate’s name is Phantom, Blue supplied. Comet is coming to meet me to escort her back to the others.
The blasted cat had outsmarted him. Isai didn’t reprimand him. It only went to show the intelligence of the shadow cats. When the mages were breeding, they had deliberately chosen exceptional animals to experiment on and in mixing magic with their choices, they had bred extraordinary creatures. The six cats were potentially extremely dangerous to everyone. It was only the fact that Isai and Julija had managed to gain the loyalty of Blue, Belle, Phaedra and Comet immediately. If they didn’t do the same with Sable and Phantom, he would have to destroy the pair. He would regret that to the end of his days.
You will not have to, Blue said with confidence.
Why do you think they will have loyalty to us?
Julija treated their wounds, he reminded. But that is not what I meant. I will destroy them. It is my duty. If they will not fit in with our family, and follow the pack leader, I will do what is my duty.
Isai found it interesting that Blue had stepped up to become leader when Comet was clearly the older, more experienced cat. Will Comet be a problem?
In what way? He has declared his loyalty to you.
Blue was pragmatic. It didn’t occur to him that Comet was going to be trouble. Isai liked that in the cat. Isai spotted movement along the rocks and boulders climbing toward the bluff where Julija waited for him with the remaining cats. Comet slunk around the granite, slipping from one shadow to the next until he made his way to intercept Blue. Sable hesitated when Comet stepped close. She sank to the ground in submission. Immediately, Comet ran his muzzle down her body as if claiming her into their pack.
Blue and Comet touched noses, and Comet pushed his muzzle into