shot. She shuffled over to a box, nudged it open, grabbed the first interesting thing she saw, and hurried back to the chair. She created an awkward sort of cocoon so she could hold the book and opened it up.
John’s voice came from the door at the top of the stairs, laced with anticipation of something.
“Analie, you should probably go get some clothes now. Arnold’s gone.”
“Thanks!” Analie called, but John was already gone.
She gathered the throw rug around herself and shuffled to Mouse’s apartment. There were too many people—she spared them a glance, then raced to her room where she threw on some clothes. Once she was dressed, she crept out and peered into the living room.
Christoph was sitting on the couch. He looked exhausted, and strangely frail. Ashi was standing close by, hunched over, his eyes constantly moving. Both of them were only wearing slightly ragged sweatpants.
Ashi saw Analie and his eyes narrowed. She narrowed hers right back, a very clear challenge. He bared his teeth in a snarl. She did the same, though her threat was considerably more fangy.
He looked away.
Analie was stunned. She looked up at John, grinning. “Ashi isn’t so tough anymore, huh?”
He looked at her. Something about his expression or posture or demeanor caused Analie to back away a couple steps. She was very much relieved when he turned away.
“Treat them gently, Analie. They’re stuck as humans, and with human limitations, until I’m good and ready to let them go,” Royce said, the grim satisfaction in that statement speaking volumes.
John’s eyes were positively alight, as eager and excited as a kid on Christmas morning. No one could fail to miss the hunger he was radiating. “Come on, Ashi. Let’s find a room for you.”
Mouse, watching John with distaste, scrounged in some drawers, pulling out a blanket and bringing it to Christoph. Royce shook his head and left.
Ashi felt as if he was a caterpillar and John was a praying mantis. Being alone with the vampire was not an option. He’d rather face Gregory than John at that very moment.
Analie hopped on the back of the couch next to Christoph. She wasn’t thrilled to see him or Ashi, but he was currently the closest thing to a packmate and a friend at the moment. Right now his eyes were half-open and he was watching Ashi.
“I think I’d rather stay here with my packmates,” Ashi said, sidling closer to Christoph and Analie. “We stick together, right?”
Analie stared at him. Ashi was giving her what would have been an intimidating look if he’d done it about half an hour earlier. He was practically ordering her to agree with him.
“Right, Analie?” Ashi ground out.
Analie leaned forward, a clear challenge. “Ashi.”
“What?”
“You. Kicked. Jo-Jo.”
Ashi’s eyes widened in surprise, then anger, then horror. He started backing away from John, pointing at him. “You stay away from me.” He looked back to Analie. “Listen to me, you little—”
“And you kept me face down on the ground under your feet,” Analie snarled.
“Analie, we’re all Goliaths here—”
“And you broke Freddy’s arm and leg.” Analie growled at him. “Fight your own battles.”
Ashi backed up against the wall, his eyes flicking from her to John and back.
“You really do have issues, Ashi,” Christoph mumbled from the couch.
“Doesn’t look like you have any friends here,” John taunted, secure in the knowledge that he was bigger, badder, and stronger than the Were.
Even with all the weapons lining the walls, Ashi wouldn’t be able to fend off John, whose speed rivaled Mouse’s. He might not even reach one before John would be on him.
“You should be more respectful. Someone else might not take an order like that very kindly and beat the living hell out of you instead of stealing a little taste.”
Mouse hissed softly at John, baring her fangs and making a “get out” gesture at him. He ignored her.
Lifting her lip, Mouse snagged one of the many pens and small pads of paper she kept lying around, and scribbled out a hasty note. She tore it off and handed it to Analie.
He broke Freddy’s arm/leg? Your friend you told me about?
At Analie’s nod, Mouse scribbled out another note, her frown deepening.
Pretty boy is right. Ashi is a jerk.
Analie glanced at Christoph. “Technically he’s allowed to enforce his dominance over lower-ranking Weres, but high-ranks always show a bit of... humanity or restraint or... I dunno, but most won’t grind your face into the ground when a swat will do.”
Ashi was trying to edge around John toward the door. John