her itching?”
Ashi frowned. “I don’t itch.”
“Ashi, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but you’re adopted. Anyway, it’s different for everyone. I tingle a little. Some people sneeze.” Analie threw back her head and howled. “Analie makes like a manticore.”
“What the hell does that mean?” Ashi demanded.
“Mayhem. Bodies. Munching and crunching.” Christoph would have shrugged, but he was trying not to move so much while being held at sword-point. “I don’t know, I haven’t personally met one. But seriously, do so much as sneeze fairy dust and she will go insane.”
Royce just sighed. “Right, then. Arnold, hold off for a moment before you start on the other one.”
Arnold did as Royce asked, pressing back against the wall while trying to look as dignified as possible. He really didn’t want to get within touching range of the Weres until they were collared. He was well aware that, unlike everyone else in the room, his appendages would snap and squish rather easily.
Royce moved behind Ashi while Arnold inched as inconspicuously as possible out of harm’s way.
Royce slid the collar around Ashi’s throat and buckled it into place. As it clasped shut, the tingly sensation bothering Analie fizzled to almost nothing. She scrabbled back as soon as she could move, panting heavily as the pain faded. Mouse removed the sword from Ashi, both pointed at Christoph instead. The vampires’ attention was now divided between Christoph and Analie.
If Ashi tried to take the collar off, it wouldn’t budge. If he should try to shift, nothing would happen. His strength, speed, stamina, and agility were no longer augmented by his ability to shift. For all intents and purposes, he was now basically human.
And it would only come off if Royce removed it.
Royce stood, rubbing his jaw as he studied Analie before addressing Christoph. “Do you know how far her sensitivity to magic extends?”
Christoph looked over at Analie, who was smashed up against the wall, whining.
“No. Goliaths don’t work with mages.”
“Magi. Not mages,” Arnold corrected, his gaze locked on the gigantic werewolf cringing against the wall.
Christoph shot the mage a look. “Whatever. That’s Amberguard’s insanity. But hey, she wasn’t itching until your brave, stalwart mage boldly strode in here.” He smiled as Arnold glared at him. “Maybe if you gave her Ashi as a chew toy, it’d take her mind off it.”
Ashi didn’t comment. He had one hand on the collar and the other on his head, looking decidedly ill.
Analie scrubbed at her fur. The itching was fading—like there were only 20,000,000 fire ants instead of 30,000,000 under her skin. She hoped Royce would excuse her so she could get the hell out of there. To her surprise, the vampires were now dimly in focus. The haze had now filled out the silhouette. The shadows made sense. She could even see their features somewhat. Having faces to go with their scents made her feel a lot more comfortable.
'I can see you now. Will I see you later? Don’t know. Don’t care. I can see you now. I can eat you now.'
Analie clapped both hands over her ears and screamed, “Give me a damn blanket! I’m shifting!”
It came out more like, “AAAARGH ARR RAAR AAAAGH! AAAAH AAAAAAAAARAARRRGH!”
“Jesus!” John cried, covering his ears. Arnold was mixed between glaring daggers at Christoph and trying to disappear into the wall. Even Mouse flinched, though the swords never wavered.
Royce watched Analie’s antics with wary puzzlement before it struck him. She was shrinking. Shifting back to human.
He snagged a throw rug from a divan and waited patiently until she’d shrunk enough that it would cover something before wrapping it around her. Once she was back to human, he scooped her up in his arms and started toward the door. He only paused long enough to speak to Arnold.
“Get started on the next one. I’ll be right back.”
With that, he headed downstairs, taking her to the basement where she could remain until Arnold was done with his casting. He’d check in on her later and help her back to her room if she needed. For now, he hoped that was far enough away that she wouldn’t be affected by the magic anymore.
For her part, Analie kept her hands over her face, partly because this was horrifically humiliating, partly because she was half afraid she’d try to chomp on Royce. Which would be a Very Bad Thing.
Or maybe he’d try to chomp on her. Which would also be a Very Bad Thing.
She pondered what to say in this sort of situation. “Thank you for