mouth to my neck, I shook my head on reflex, and realized that I could move at least that much. Focusing on his arm, which he was using to keep himself propped up above me, I thrust my head forward, clamped my teeth around it, and bit with all my strength, willing all my rage into him.
Energy coursed through my body and seemed to spill through my mouth right into the hybrid. He let out a strangled cry, throwing his head backward. A flash of light went through his body for an instant, then he fell on top of me, his heavy body limp and smothering.
I listened for his breath and heartbeat but got nothing. Had I killed him? Or had the blood from the dagger done that? I had no way of knowing.
The battle went on around me. Magic flashed on and off like strobe lights. Growls and roars resonated against the stone walls. Crashing sounds, moans of pain, shattering glass.
Get up. Get up.
I kept trying to move, but I couldn’t feel my body from the neck down.
Please, please, let me be all right.
All of a sudden, I went from feeling nothing to experiencing a flash of pain traveling across my spine. I shuddered, my entire body convulsing. Sensation returned in stages, my limbs tingling, my back screaming in agony. My every nerve ending was on fire.
The pain went on for an eternity or a few minutes, I couldn’t tell which, but I welcomed it because it was better than feeling nothing. Even as the pain droned on, sensation returned to my limbs, and I could move them again.
Holy witchlights! Had I just recovered from spinal injury? Had my back knit itself back together? Either way, I couldn’t be more thankful for being a werewolf and having healing abilities.
Cringing from pain, I moved from under the hybrid and slowly rose up on trembling legs. I glanced around, surveying the chaos.
Damien was still fighting, doing his best to keep Bernadetta at bay. Sweat shone on his brow, and he seemed to be tiring, but not Bernadetta. She was still attacking, trying to get to him while magical attacks rained on her.
Some of his volleys grazed her, but they barely managed to send her skidding back, her boots scraping against the stone floor. Once, he managed to hit her straight on, and she went flying against the wall, but she immediately got back up and doggedly launched for the mage again. She intended to tire him, and it was working.
I was trying to figure out what to do when Jake and Eric joined me, one standing at each side. I glanced around and realized they were the only ones left standing. No one else was fighting, and the shots had stopped. It seemed we’d taken the rest of the vampires down. But what about the werewolf captives? I spotted a couple of them on the floor, licking their wounds. Were the other ones dead? I turned my face away, refusing to look.
I saw you go down, Eric’s voice sounded inside my head. Are you all right?”
I am, but Damien... he’s tiring.
He glanced over at Jake, and a silent message seemed to pass between them. Together, they moved toward the Dark Donna, prowling, stalking. I joined them. Jake glanced sideways at me, and I expected him to tell me to stay back, but he only gave a nod.
Apparently, he was starting to realize I could take care of myself.
We formed a circle around Bernadetta. Damien noticed us, and I thought I saw a twitch of relief pass his features. At last, the vamp stopped moving and glanced around. Her black eyes regarded us one at a time as if assessing the threat we each posed. Something changed in her expression after she finished doing the math. The numbers didn’t add up in her favor. She was strong, but not three alphas and one Copper Mage strong.
She hissed in frustration and let her gaze dart around the room.
Eric advanced, his hackles raised, his fangs bared. His wolf wasn’t nearly as large as Jake’s, but there was a certain edge to the way he moved that drove fear under my skin and made me go cold inside.
Jake and I took Eric’s lead and inched closer. Damien weaved a spell in the air, his lips moving silently. We had her surrounded, and this was our chance to take her down. After that, we’d only have Stephen to worry about, and I doubted he would be