Corrigan Fire Bloodfire - Helen Harper Page 0,35
to cause maximum damage, I lashed out at its head, my claws fully extended. Several times I drew blood, but when it thrust down another heavy foot and sent yet another earthquake rolling across the ground, I lost my balance and felt myself crashing to the ground.
I barely managed to stand back on my four paws when I saw the beast bending to swipe me. I rolled out of the way, just as Mack’s tiny figure sprang onto the thing’s shoulders, one small white hand curling round one of the massive horns on its head.
With no clue as to whether my Voice even still worked on her, I shot out a command. Goddammit, Mackenzie, shift now! Damn her mourning excuse. She had to change now or she'd fall prey to being killed with a single swipe of the beast's hands.
Knock it off its feet, Corrigan, she sent back, neither following the compulsion nor sounding even slightly panicked.
For a moment I blinked, still taken aback at her apparent ability to ignore my dominance. Then I finally recognised the potential of the situation and the calm determination in her eyes. I threw open the Voice link to everyone else instead.
Back now, I ordered, no longer even sure if they’d obey. However, to a man, the shifters around me followed my words, instantly pulling back.
On the count of three, we’re going to rush it. The aim is to knock it to the ground. Avoid its claws. Let’s stop another damn earthquake. I felt, rather than heard, the agreement around me. Ready? One, two, three!
As one, we pounded forward, eighteen shifters all aiming for the same point. The force of our collision was just enough and the beast lost contact with the ground as it staggered backwards – long enough for Mack to embed another dagger in its neck. It groaned, falling forward onto is knees with blood gushing out of the wound and spraying onto the dark ground. Then, with one final groan and massive hands flailing upwards, it collapsed completely.
Chapter Eleven
I prowled around the fallen monster, sniffing at its blood-dampened fur and noting the numerous old battle scars criss-crossing its body. My earlier supposition had been correct – the damn thing wasn’t from this plane. I had no idea which demon demesne it hailed from as the only lingering scent I could ascertain was the strange one from Mack around where she’d clung on to aid her attack, and I was still no clearer as to what manner of evil Otherworld beasty it was. It definitely found its way here via a portal though. I ran my tongue over my fangs. There was nothing to suggest it was John’s murderer but the two had to be linked; it was just too unusual a creature to assume otherwise.
A movement caught my eye and I swivelled round to spot Mack herself bending down to wipe the blood off her hands. Her expression was nothing more than vaguely irritated. A hot, scalding anger rose up in my throat. Not only had she broken my Voice, she’d also put everyone else’s lives in danger. I wanted to wring her long, white neck. Shifting back, I strode up to her and grabbed her shoulders.
‘What the hell did you think you were doing?’
She seemed startled that I was upset and attempted to extricate herself from my grip. I wasn’t about to let go that easily though. ‘I thought that it might have been what killed John,’ she said, with the air of someone who couldn’t give the tiniest shit about the potential consequences her actions might have had. ‘I wanted to kill it back.’
It took everything I had to calm myself down. ‘That part I understand, but what fool part of you thought that you could take it on by yourself?’
‘Is your pride dented, my Lord?’ Her eyes, with their odd little yellow flecks, flashed at me and I detected a hint of amusement. ‘Who’s the kitten now, then?’
I raked my gaze over her face, wondering if this was going to be where she told me she deserved to take my place as head of the Brethren. Frankly, I wasn’t sure I had any counter-argument to offer. I forced the issue, watching her reaction with care. ‘I compelled you.’
Mack shrugged. ‘So in the heat of the moment it didn’t take. You’re not my alpha, remember.’
Almost without realising it, my hands tightened on her shoulders. Given her total insouciance, I was starting to think she had absolutely no clue