Jessie screamed. Not in fear. But in rage, as she attacked Braden with her little claws, tearing out hunks of black fur. The Dire sent Laura ahead of them as he dragged Jessie toward the buildings.
Kade twisted to get to her, but both giant Dires crashed into him, carrying him to the ground in a flurry of slashing claws and teeth. One monster sank teeth into his leg, trying to stretch him out, to expose his belly to the slashing claws of his cohort.
Kade rolled and bit and slashed and clawed. For a split second, he wrenched loose from both. His gaze swept the ground for the one he sought.
In time to see Braden, half-shifted to human and dragging Jessie, disappear with Laura into a building beneath the rocky ridge.
Then the monster Dire sank its teeth into his shoulder, and the other attempted to sever a hamstring. Kade kicked it in the face and twisted, ripping the teeth loose.
Two against one.
As odds went, they weren’t bad. But as he tore open one Dire’s face with his claws, he knew they might soon change.
If Zach couldn’t hold the line.
* * *
Through the dying light, Jessie fought Braden as he dragged her. He was halfway to human, his grip improving with every second.
Blood filled her mouth. She screamed at him around teeth suddenly grown long and sharp. Braden’s claws sank deep into her hair as he yanked her along.
Jessie twisted in his grasp and sank her teeth into his arm.
His growl reverberated through the air, but he didn’t let her go. Instead, he pinned her against him with one massive arm and ran.
She absorbed the strength that flowed from him. Used it to fight him with everything she had.
Half transformed, he staggered while running, but his grip on her was strong. Jessie struggled like a fiend. The teeth retracted, she couldn’t hold onto them, but she tore at him with hands and feet. Her little claws were sharp. They drew blood, but he only grunted as he hauled her along.
Laura ran ahead of them. When Jessie glanced at her, the blonde woman’s eyes were feverish and excited, almost as though she was unhinged. How strong was Braden’s hold on her? She seemed totally committed to him.
The building was locked. Still partially a beast, Braden simply kicked in the door. The wooden jam gave with a crash, and they were in.
He dragged Jessie to a room at the back and shut the door behind them.
Laura paced as though filled with an energy she couldn’t deny. Braden flung Jessie into the center of the room as he secured the door.
Then he spun and grinned at Jessie.
“You and I”—he growled— “are due some alone time.”
* * *
Snarls and roars echoed through the little canyon.
Cody twitched, clearly wanting to be fighting among them. Zach knew he’d get his chance soon enough.
“They’re coming,” Zach said. “When they get here, I need you to roar.”
“What?”
“I want them to see me, up here.”
Cody shot him an uncertain look, but then his eyes gleamed and he nodded. Zach sat tall on the mare and waited. Her ears were oriented forward. They flattened when the Dires appeared around a gravel bluff, running hard, but hugging the shadows in the dying light.
“Now,” Zach called to Cody.
The dark Sabre raised his muzzle to the darkening sky and roared.
