I slowly herd the Ogre toward the statue. The Ogre grunts and whines in discontent as I continue to attack his feet. When he’s close enough, I let the ogre’s leg slam into my body. The blow knocks the wind out of me and definitely cracks a rib, but the fae creature loses his footing. Down he goes in a slow fall forward. The squish of the spear puncturing through his right eyeball accompanies a splash, and a hellish cry of pain from the fae. I ram into his other leg, pushing it out from under him. The Ogre sinks further onto the spear until he stills. All is quiet save for my panting breath.
I trot over to the left side of the Ogre and find Red trapped by a big flat hand. My heart leaps up to my throat at seeing her flattened. I can’t help the half growl, half whimper that emerges from me.
The protective side of me riots inside. Is she hurt? Not that it matters. Red’s health isn’t pertinent to my mission. And yet, if Red even so much as has a bruise on her body, I’ll have to kill the Ogre all over again.
An angry blush floods her cheeks as she struggles against the weight. I can’t help her in my wolf form, so I focus until my bones crack and rearrange. Fur retracts, and in a few steps, I am a man again.
“Fuck nuggets,” she mutters, still trying to get free. I realize she’s more pissed than anything.
Red halts her struggle, turning her gaze up at me. Pupils dilate as she takes in my naked form. Her gaze stops between my legs. She’s seen my dick before, but it’s good to know it still gives her pause.
That’s okay little Red. I can’t touch you, but you are more than welcome to touch me.
As if realizing she’s staring, she jerks her head away.
I lift the massive hand. My muscles strain against the dead weight.
As soon as Red crawls out, I ask, “Are you okay?”
She rubs her ribs, and mutters, “Yeah, I’m fine.”
I wonder if they are bruised from the ogre’s hold.
A crowd begins to form as people deem it safe enough to get a closer look. I cross to my pile of discarded clothes, pulling my pants back on. Patrons of the café stand outside, alternately surveying the dead Ogre and me with overt fascination.
I want to bare my teeth and snap at them. But I simply shove my feet into my boots. A soft coo comes from a college girl nearest me as I raise my arms to pull my sweater over my head. Then I grab Red’s bag, ready to get the hell out of here.
Red waits nearby, but her glare is trained on the ogling girl who sighed over me.
“Let’s go,” I grumble, and Red doesn’t fight me.
“Hey, wait,” someone yells behind us. “The cops are on the way.”
I pick up the pace. “We are not dealing with Five-O,” I say, in case Red considers stopping.
“You think it was after me?” Red pants as she tries to keep up with me.
“The Ogre planned on taking you somewhere,” I say. “After the ice mage, it’s too much of a coincidence.”
“I was still hoping. . .”
I cut her off. “Hope will get you killed.”
Red frowns and I half expect her to start arguing with me about the merits of hope. Which would be a tremendously bad idea, since I’d be forced to rip her throat out on the spot.
Instead, she gently asks, “You okay?” Red gives me a worried up and down look.
Her concern softens me a little. She’s not the one who tossed me like a bag of beans. “A couple cracked ribs. They’ll heal in a few hours.”
“Oh, good,” she says, though her eyes and voice are vacant. “Okay, well let’s get back to my place.”
“Forget that. We are leaving town.”
She stops and rears back. “What? No.”
Irritation scratches at my insides as I’m forced to stop and explain. “They found you not once, but twice. Whoever wants you won’t stop.”
And if Red gets nabbed, there goes my only connection to Grandma. It has absolutely nothing to do with wanting to keep the little redhead safe.
