Heir of the Dog Black Dog - Hailey Edwards Page 0,63

This ended now. No do-overs or take-backs. All or nothing.

“Let the skin do the work,” Rook called.

I flexed my paws, felt my nails rake the damp earth. I filled my lungs and listened to my heart as it pumped hard and fast. This skin fit me better than the other. This one craved the wash of blood and the splinter of bone between my teeth, and I gave myself over to those hungers. I let wildness infuse my blood, allowed one prince’s essence, his hatred for the opposing house, to saturate my senses and fuel the bloodcurdling howl ripping out of my throat. I tore up the ground launching myself forward.

The other hounds vanished into the underbrush, little more than shadows with night falling fast. My blood sang with the fading light. No wonder Unseelie preferred the dark if this was her potent call.

The Seelie prince darted glances around the clearing. His soft whines attempted to lure others to his cause, but they were loyal to me. They were mine. I called encouragement and whipped them into a frenzy. One or two rushed in to snap at the prince’s tail. He spun and gnashed his teeth at them.

Chicken. Too afraid to face me. Too proud to run. He stood his ground and braced for attack.

Twisting away from his teeth, I slammed my shoulder against his side, bit down where his throat had been and tasted air. He swung his skull, crashing into mine, and I saw stars. I stumbled away and shook my head—then really, really wished I hadn’t done that. While I was blinking away vertigo, he nipped my side. It hurt. I danced out of range and started doubting Rook’s advice.

I had the power to end the Seelie, to finish this, but I couldn’t tap into that wellspring of princely energy now. Even if I could, my magic required rune-to-skin contact. Thanks to the thick fur coating me, that was impossible. But if I risked shifting back now, he could snap my slender human neck or rip open my delicate stomach.

One of the hounds chomped on the prince’s tail and dragged him howling back a few paces before returning to his post. I might have felt bad for the prince if he hadn’t used the same tactics on me.

Before he regained his focus, I dug my nails in deep and sprang for his throat. My teeth sank in his fur and found purchase in his skin. I bit down harder, flinging my head from side to side until the tang of iron filled my mouth. The prince struggled and snapped at me. He clawed and kicked me, but he couldn’t break my hold. While my stomach roiled, I gnawed on him until the predator in me was satisfied I had done my job.

When he ceased struggling, I loosened my jaw and let him slump to the ground in a ragged heap of bloody fur. His eyes fogged over as I stood there, licking my muzzle.

The eyes in the forest converged on me. When the red-eyed one spoke, his voice came from no mouth I could see, and I shuddered.

No wonder they kept to the shadows.

“You have killed the Unseelie prince.” He glanced to the Watcher on his right. That one nodded. “You have also slayed the Seelie prince.” Their voices layered together. “This is not the outcome we foresaw. You must accompany us to Summer, where the High Court will review our accountings.”

I lowered my head and sent magic coasting through my limbs. The skin fell away and left me with blood turning my cheeks sticky. I knelt there on the ground until I could breathe without gagging, then snagged the pelt and shoved to my feet. I should have left the skin there. I could have tossed it onto the other prince and been done with both of them, but a niggling doubt cautioned me to keep hold of it, at least until I spoke with the High Court.

My legs were rubber. I was grateful when Diode prowled over to me in a show of support. Rook put an arm around my waist and pressed a brief kiss to my temple. The knuckles of his other hand brushed over the pelt.

I flinched at his gentle touch. “I’m sorry about your brother.”

I had no choice, but Rook knew that. He wasn’t blaming me, which somehow made it worse.

“I am too,” he managed, voice thick with emotion. “If you like, I can put this somewhere safe, until you need