Battle Bond: An Urban Fantasy Dragon Series (Death Before Dragons #2) - Lindsay Buroker Page 0,24

and turned to face the panther and the lion—they were loping lazily across the lawn. The fact that they weren’t truly trying to catch us told me plenty. They’d seen Kurt and Otto with the snot—and blood—beaten out of them and weren’t eager to fight us, not just the two of them.

I fired at them, not caring if any mundanes wandering past heard the noise. As the weapon opened up, bullets slamming into enemy flesh, the two big cats screeched and wheeled to run away.

The lion ran across the lawn and jumped, trying to clear the river in one leap. He didn’t quite make it. Three-quarters of the way over, he splashed down and swam like a furry Olympic medalist to the far side, where he scrambled up the bank and disappeared.

The panther launched herself onto the two-story roof of the apartment building, a man holding barbecue tongs gaping at her as she sailed past and out of sight. A raw steak ready to go on the grill dangled from those tongs as he turned his gape on me. I smiled and waved, then holstered Fezzik. After digging out a cleaning cloth, I wiped down Chopper and put the sword away too.

My telepathy is weak, I told Sindari as we walked toward the trail. Please deliver appropriate parting remarks regarding their power and might.

Already done. I also pointed out to the lion that he is the only one wet around here.

Perfect, Sindari. Thank you. I paused to hug him, careful not to touch any of the open gashes in his hide.

Then I headed glumly to the trail. Even if we’d been ridiculously outnumbered, I couldn’t help but feel that I had lost. I hadn’t confirmed whether the Pardus brothers did or did not have weapons capable of hurting dragons, and I definitely hadn’t done anything that would keep them away from Nin. I might have made things worse. Maybe I would get lucky, and they would turn any thoughts of revenge on me and leave her alone, but I couldn’t count on that.

A part of me wished I’d killed them before I ran out. Maybe there wouldn’t have been time—shifters were resilient as hell—but if I’d been determined, I bet I could have done it. They were assholes, and the world would be better if they were gone.

But, as I’d promised Zav more than once, I wasn’t a criminal. I worked for the government and only executed those who’d committed heinous crimes. It was possible the panther brothers fell into that category, but I didn’t have proof of that.

“It’s a pain in the ass being a good guy.” I sighed dramatically as we turned back onto the trail.

If it helps, I prefer working with righteous handlers. Having that charm in the hands of a vampire was dreadful.

I grimaced, thinking back to how Sindari and I had met. “I understand. I’ll try my best to stay righteous. While plotting ways to put those guys out of business and drive them out of the country. There’s nothing morally questionable about that, is there?”

I don’t think so.

“Good. I need to come back again, ideally when they aren’t home, to find out who’s in their basement, but there’s no point as long as their pride is hanging out in the house.” I had no idea what I would do if the pride didn’t leave. “Do panther shifters go out on Saturday nights?”

Tigers prefer to hunt at dawn and dusk.

“I’m not sure how much hunting those two do. They’ll probably be licking their wounds for a while. Unfortunately. I’ll have to mull over our options while I’m shopping for lotions at Dimitri’s stand.”

I halted, the memory of the boxes in that living room cabinet coming to mind. I had swiped some of their cartridges. Maybe I could find out who was supplying them to the Pardus brothers.

“I wonder if Zoltan knows anything about Kurt and Otto and this Northern Pride. These guys aren’t operating that far from his home.”

Zoltan might also be able to use his alchemy to tell who’d crafted the ammunition.

He did seem well informed, considering his limited ability to travel.

“Maybe the haunted house gives him tips.” I glanced at the clock on my phone. It wasn’t even lunchtime yet. “I suppose I can’t visit a vampire at high noon.”

Not if you expect him to be awake.

“He may think I’m going to rob him if I sneak in and knock on his coffin.”

Perhaps if you arrived with Dimitri, you would be more welcome,