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She waggled her fingers and he hissed, “What the fuck, Psycho? Get out of here.”
“I don’t think so. You owe me breakfast.” She spoke to him but kept her gaze on Circe, the most dangerous one in the group. “And once I save you, I expect to be fed promptly.”
He groaned. “Now is not the time for humor.”
“Wasn’t being funny. I’m actually kind of annoyed. Your uncle had no right to kidnap you.”
Circe turned to see her talking to Baptiste and smirked. “Well, well, if it isn’t the dryad. I’m surprised to see you here. Haven’t you heard? The wolves don’t like people trespassing on their grounds.”
“Yet here you are. I’m surprised the wolves haven’t tried to eat you yet. Then again, old and stringy meat probably isn’t high on their list.”
Rather than react to the barb, Circe waved a hand. “They’re a little too busy attacking each other. Moon madness caused by the death of their Alpha.” She glanced at the body at her feet. “Not a very good one, I should add.”
On that, they agreed. “I don’t suppose you’ll save me the exertion and just let me cut off your head?” Daphne asked nicely.
Circe smiled back just as cattily. “It’s like you want me to curse you again. But lucky for you, you’re more useful to me dead.”
“You should know by now I’m not that easy to kill.”
“Says the dryad who entered a place where the Mother can’t reach.”
“Shows how little you know.” Her lips tilted. “Looks to me like I’m still standing on Earth surrounded by trees, making this part of the Mother’s kingdom.”
“Your goddess has no power here,” Circe insisted.
“Is that what you think?” Daphne lied and kept smiling as her slow movements brought her to stand between Baptiste and Circe.
“I’m going to enjoy cracking open your chest and eating your heart. And then I’ll ingest that of the Garou, making him a part of me.”
“You know, I like meat. Love it, actually, but even I have lines I don’t cross. Cannibalism is one of them.”
Her comment met with a snicker from Baptiste and a murmured, “I don’t know, I kind of like eating you.”
A startling thing to hear in the situation, but it oddly made her bolder.
Circe pursed her lips. “You’re missing out. Humans have the most tender meat, especially the young ones. Their souls are also especially juicy in power and, lucky me, these dumb dogs collected them all in one place for an easy slaughter.”
“Don’t you dare touch the children,” Baptiste growled.
“Or what? You’re not in a position to make any demands and neither is your tree bitch. By the time dawn arrives, you’ll all be dead. Your souls will make a great contribution to my new well of power. Thanks to your actions, I’ve decided I won’t waste my time on puny humans anymore.”
“You’re a complete and utter lunatic,” Daphne murmured.
“Says the soon to be kindling,” Circe spat back.
Before the last syllable left the witch’s lips, Daphne’s knife flew but her target moved fast enough to avoid being impaled in the heart. Circe only suffered a nicked arm.
The scratch curled Circe’s lip. “My turn.” She flung a spell from her hand at Daphne, the ball of fire a sizzling blue. Daphne wondered if the drain on magic in this area would affect her too. Only one way to find out. She needed to force the witch to use her power in the hopes it ran out.
Daphne used a poignard with a repelling spell to block it along with Circe’s next tossed attack. Before Circe could throw a third, Daphne fired several small knives, one after another, pulling them from her chest harness and whipping them at her enemy.
The witch threw up a shield and uttered a low sound of irritation. “You’re so annoying. Let’s see how you do against a pack of rabid wolves.” Circe’s next flung spell wasn’t at Daphne but towards the furballs fighting amongst themselves.
As one, they suddenly stopped their furry fighting and their shaggy heads swiveled. Glowing eyes, too many of them, fixated on Daphne. One of the wolves uttered a low growl and stepped forward. Then another.
Baptiste yelled, “Leave her alone! She’s not the enemy.”
But the wolves weren’t listening and there were too many for Daphne to stand and fight.
