was bluffing. This was me, a vulture, and the three squirrels that weren’t in Ty’s grip against a powerful supernatural being. Correction, me and a vulture. The other squirrels had vanished into the basement, and I sensed them hiding in the furnace room. Reaching out my awareness, I realized it was just me and Drake. Sucked, because I could really use Yeth right now.
Ty’s eyes glowed red and horns sprouted from his head. He was still a breathtakingly handsome guy, but his resemblance to the demon from my dreams was startling.
Shit. Double shit. If seeing him throttling my squirrel wasn’t enough of a punch in the gut, this throwback to my erotic dreams was doubly so. What the hell was going on? Why had the…whatever of my dreams become someone who could hurt a harmless woodland creature?
“Ty, what is going on?” I pleaded, changing tactics. “That squirrel is under my protection. Why are you harming him? Why would you hurt someone I care for?”
Unreadable emotions flickered across his face, then he took a breath and stood straight, gripping Rhoid tightly. “You don’t understand. This has nothing to do with you. He’s ours. He belongs to me.”
“No, he’s mine,” I snapped. “Put down the squirrel and get out. Out! I want you out of my house. I never want to see you again, ever!”
He stared at me, stunned. “But the makeup sex…”
I stomped my foot. “No makeup sex. No sex ever again. Let go of my squirrel and get out.”
Suddenly my living room was filled with dog-things. There were a dozen of them—one headed, two headed, all with sharp white teeth and glowing eyes. I recognized three from my lawn last night—and I recognized Yeth. He cringed, not meeting my gaze.
I felt dizzy. Yeth. Hounds. Master of the Hounds. Ty, or whoever he was, had sent his hounds to watch me days ago. Had the meeting at Pistol Pete’s been planned? Our date? Sex? All to get a squirrel? Anger filled me along with sorrow, and embarrassment.
“You bastard!” I spat at Ty. “You asshole!”
He recoiled, and his grip on Rhoid must have loosened because the squirrel squirmed free and dashed for me.
“No! Damnit, get back here,” he shouted.
The dog-things charged. I couldn’t believe this was happening. The first guy I fall for since college and he was only using me for his ulterior hellish motive. And now he was siccing his hounds on me, willing them to maul me. I’d had sex with this guy. I’d opened myself up to this guy. The betrayal cut deep.
Cassie was the sister known for her hot temper, but rage flared through normally placid me—rage and hurt.
“Sit!” I yelled with every bit of authority I possessed as I let my magic fly. I swore I’d never do this, but I was so angry.
The hellhounds sat as if their back legs had been rendered instantly useless. They snarled, scooting forward with their front legs like dogs dragging their asses across the carpet.
“Down! Stay!”
That did it. The hounds dropped to the ground, immobile. My stomach churned and I felt nauseated as the magic rolled through me—nauseated as well by the thought of what I’d done. I’d seized control of their physical forms. I’d made them my puppets. They might still be snarling, but they were unable to move.
That should have been enough but I was still caught up in a storm of anger. There he was, standing there with his tousled black hair and his chiseled cheekbones, and his kissable lips and dark sultry eyes. How dare he be so damned sexy. How dare he do this to me.
“Nice puppies!” I shouted.
The magic reached a crescendo, and I nearly barfed. It hit the hellhounds full force, pouring out of me and leaving me drained and shaken. The hounds stopped snarling. Happy tongues lolled out of mouths and tails began to wag furiously. I’d taken control of their bodies, and now I’d just taken control of their minds.
“What have you done?” Ty looked at his pack, then glared over at me. “I’m Master of the Hellhounds. What have you done to them?”
I glared right back. “You might be Master of the Hellhounds when you’re in hell, but this is my home. I’m not going to stand by and let your animals chew me to pieces.”
“I’m not...they weren’t…” His eyes narrowed and his gaze shifted to the squirrel on my shoulder. “Give him to me. Give me that sneaky little bastard.”
That’s what this was about? He wanted Rhoid for