You can't live forever. Just promise me that if something goes wrong, you'll kill me rather than leave me to them."
There was such growling sincerity in that request that it took Vane aback.
What had they done to Fury?
"Swear to me, Vane."
"I swear."
Before Fury could say anything more, Stefan, Aloysius, and Petra broke through the woods in wolf form. Their heads down, the wolves circled them, snarling and snapping.
"Shit!" Fury growled as the wolves hunkered down, preparing to strike.
A scream rang out from the village.
Vane didn't hesitate. Grabbing Fury, he flashed them out just as Stefan was about to reach them.
Bride dug her heels into the ground and bit one of the women holding her.
The woman growled and slapped her. Bride bit her again.
Be damned if she was going to let them tie her down! She might not be Tabitha, but she could bite and pull hair with the best of them.
One of the men came forward to wrap his hand around Bride's neck.
"Let her go." Vane's steely voice echoed as he enunciated each word slowly.
Bride's eyes filled with tears as she heard the most blessed sound on the planet. She looked to her right to see Vane in human form, standing there without a weapon, and with her white wolf by his side.
Why wasn't he armed?
The men closest to Vane attacked en masse. Stunned, she watched as he twirled around and kicked and punched them to the ground. He moved so fast that she could barely see him.
Then Vane vanished, only to reappear by her side. The women turned on him. Vane sent one flying backward, into the crowd, while he ducked and tripped the second one. The third one, he flipped head over heels onto the ground.
Forget Hollywood, they had nothing on Vane's speed and agility.
As Vane untied her hands, she could hear the wolf fighting and snarling. Bride threw her arms around his shoulders the instant she was free and held him close while the women tried to reach them, only to recoil off what appeared to be an invisible wall of some sort.
"Fury," Vane called.
The wolf came running to their side. The man chasing him also rebounded off the wall.
Fury materialized into a naked man and laughed evilly at their pursuers.
Bride was completely stunned by the appearance of Vane's naked brother who, she had to admit, had a great body.
Oh, good grief, was no one what they appeared?
Vane snapped his fingers, and clothes appeared on Fury. Dare cursed at them. "I thought you said you killed Fury, Mother."
Fury raked Dare with a sneer of repugnance. "Oh, she tried her best, little brother. But animals are remarkable survivors." He looked at Bryani. "Aren't we, Mother?"
Dare started for Fury, only to find himself slung backward by nothing. In fact, every man who tried to reach Bride, Fury, or Vane found himself thrown to the ground.
"What is this?" Dare snarled, striking the invisible wall with his sword.
Fury laughed again. "This is your worst nightmare, adelfos. Meet the eldest of our litter." He gestured toward Vane. "Vane's powers make a mockery of everyone's here, even Grandfather's." He glanced at Bryani. "You were right, Mom. The blending of Arcadian and Katagaria blood did produce a sorcerer of unparalleled power. It just wasn't me. Sorry."