Bloodfire (Blood Destiny 1) - Helen Harper Page 0,29

system. Anton’s face looked oddly surprised for a second then he did the same with the other cheek before lifting up his entire paw and preparing to strike. Through the haze of pain, I registered the power that he was preparing to put behind this blow and it occurred to me that this was his plan. He’d kill me with sanction and solve forever the problem of the little human. It hadn’t dawned on him that after I died the Brethren would investigate why I’d not shifted and they’d work out I was human. Then they’d kill everyone.

The rage built up inside me and the flames took over. He was playing with the pack’s lives. I sprang to my feet in one movement, ignoring the sudden streak of dizziness. He was not going to do this. Anger took over me and flooded my system but I knew with cold clarity what to do. The fire won. I sprinted back to the wall, aiming just to the left of his crouched body and ran three steps up before using it as a springboard to spin off. I was too fast and Anton had no time to turn. I put my hands round his thick neck and twisted, snapping it in one movement. My bloodfire roared in approval and he collapsed to the ground.

He was a shifter. He’d recover. I wiped a smear away from my cheek and turned and walked painfully out of the room.

Chapter Seven

I limped towards the stairs. My side, where Anton had bitten me, was seeping with blood and I was pretty sure that I had a couple of cracked ribs. I was hardly aiding my own cause at this particular point in time. I dreaded to think about the state of my face after his claws had drawn blood from my cheeks.

Tom came running up to me. Clearly he’d decided that he was talking to me now. “Shit, Mack, I can’t believe that just happened.” He took my arm. “Let me help you.”

“Fuck off, Tom.”

He reared back, hurt, and I sighed at him exasperation. “I’m meant to be a shifter, remember? I have supernatural strength and healing powers. I don’t need help in getting to my own room.”

“Oh, right. Yeah.” I could see his brain working through the implications of my non-shifter abilities. “What are you going to say to them when you don’t heal?”

“I haven’t worked that out yet.”

Mackenzie, they’re heading your way.

No prizes for guessing who ‘they’ were. I cursed and tried to straighten. Pretty lights danced in front of my eyes for a second and I was filled with nausea. Now would not, however, be a good time to faint. Staines and the alpha came striding out of the gymnasium with the blonde and Lucy tagging behind. I wondered idly if that was because they were female and knew their place. The bloodfire returned momentarily at the thought, allowing me to regain some of my equilibrium.

“Ms Mackenzie,” said Staines. “That was an…interesting fight.”

“I’m thrilled that you found it so entertaining,” I responded drily.

The Lord Alpha stepped forward, golden green eyes intent. “I’m curious as to why you put up such a poor showing in your first bout, given that you were able to dispatch the bear so summarily.” His voice was smooth and deep, faintly accented with an indefinable Celtic burr.

I felt rather weak at the knees but I was sure that it was just from the pain and slight concussion. I swallowed. “Errr…”

He came even closer so that I was forced to crane my neck to meet his gaze. “Could it be,” he purred, “that you are trying to avoid being invited to London?”

“Yes! That’s it. Definitely,” I said, jumping on the excuse.

“And why is that exactly?” His voice was laced with steel.

I took a step back, hating myself for it but worried that the lotion might not be enough to mask my scent at these close quarters. I looked at Tom for inspiration. He jauntily hooked an arm through mine and beamed effusively at the alpha. “She just can’t bear to be without me,” he said, and stroked my hair lovingly. I tried not to jerk away and stuck a smile on my face.

The Alpha’s eyes went cold. “I see. Well, you’d better shift so you can start healing properly.”

I cast around for an excuse. “I’m…ummm…..I’m….. in mourning. I have taken a vow not to shift until our alpha’s murderer is brought to justice.” I silently apologised to John for the lie