“You’re right, it won’t,” Dad agreed and stuffed him in the van.
Focusing on the alien presence, I pulled my pistol and carefully approached it.
Phosphorescent yellow blood splattered the dead shrubbery and pavement. I wrinkled my nose. Tai-Kok blood smelled like piss. A cold knot formed in my stomach. Was that a foot?
I took a step closer. Yep. It sure was and over by the dumpster was a mangled leg. An arm hung from a tree branch. Whatever it was, it didn’t like monsters.
My senses went on red alert. It was behind me. I slowly turned. Oh, my, God, a huge, black saber-toothed tiger was stalking toward me.“Nice kitty.”
A deep, guttural growl rumbled in the nice kitty’s chest.
I froze and sent out calming vibes like I had seen Kaylee do when we came across an injured critter.“I won’t hurt you. I like killing the Tai-Kok too.”The poor thing was skin and bones.“Bet you’re hungry.”
The tiger cocked his head and chuffed.
Huh? It, no, he was trying to communicate with me but the spiky metal collar he was wearing stopped him.“Don’t worry. I’ll find a way to get the collar off.”
He padded over to a control device with a clawed hand still attached to it and nudged it with his nose.
“Okey-dokey. Let’s take a look.”I holstered my pistol. Ick, I had to touch the dead monster. Their skin had a rubbery texture that creeped me out. Gingerly, I pried the bloody hand off the device. Hmmm. I didn’t recognize the symbols on it. If I pushed the wrong button, I could hurt the tiger. I linked with Kaelen.“I hate to be a pest, but I found a saber-toothed tiger. It’s wearing a funky collar, and I need to know how to remove it.I sent him a mental image of the device.“Which button do I push?”
“Where is the Vaziri?”Kaelen demanded urgently.
“In front of me, why?”
There was a short disbelieving silence.“He has not attacked you?”
“Nope, but he did make a mess out of his Tai-Kok handler, and he is really hungry.”I noticed Dad was hunkered down behind a pile of rubble with his rifle pointed at the tiger. I shook my head and held up four fingers.
Dad grimaced and motioned for me to run.
I made a slashing motion across my throat and held up four fingers again. Dammit, I had the situation under control.
“Your father is right to be concerned. Vaziri are dangerous creatures.”
“He needs my help, and he hasn’t tried to hurt me,”I shot back.
Throwing his hands up in the air, Dad pulled out his satellite phone.
Bet he was calling Jake or General Jones. I could feel Kaelen scanning the tiger.“That is not a Vaziri. That is a Katanic shapeshifter. A very hungry one.”
“Okay. How do I get the collar off?”
Zarek was suddenly in my head.“You do not. He is starving. If you remove the collar, he will eat everything within a ten-mile radius.”
The tiger growled and nudged the controls again.
I patted his head.“Hang on. If I push the wrong button, I could kill you.”
He bared his fangs.
“Bad tiger.”I smacked his nose.“Sit.”To my surprise, he sat.“Good kitty.”
Zarek wrapped himself around my mind so tightly I couldn’t move.“Do not strike the Katanic shapeshifter. They are powerful beings who can live for ten millennia. They are deadly, difficult to kill and feared by all.”
“Even you?”I squeaked.
“Yes, even me.”
