“It’s sad to see how she changed.She used to be so nice and cheerful.”
“I’m surprised it took this long for her to snap.I can’t imagine losing my wings and being forced to live eternally in a loch.If it happened to me, I’d probably misbehave, too, so someone would put me out of my misery,” I admitted softly.
“Speaking of misery, I’ve got a headache suddenly pounding.”Oliver grimaced.
“Happen often?”I asked with some concern.Not that I cared about his health, but it would be inconvenient having to find someone to replace him.
“No, hence my annoyance.”
“Will this affect your control on your beast?”Unlike most wulvers, Oliver had found a way to not live in a permanent half-man/half-wolf state.
“If I switched every time I felt pain, we likely wouldn’t be talking, as I’d have to abandon my life and live like a wild creature in the woods.”
“Just making sure.”
“More like making sure I won’t hurt your lady.”
“She’s not my lady,” I growled, even as a part of me silently yelled,Mine.
“If you say so, boss.See you in the morning.”
Oliver set off, and I remained sitting, nursing my glass of scotch, wondering what the morrow would bring.I really dreaded the meeting with Nessie.I couldn’t fathom any good coming from it, but at the same time, maybe I should give the other dragon a chance.Sometimes epiphanies could happen.Look at me.I’d gone from ruling as an arrogant dragonlord to being an arrogant recluse—and, yes, there was a distinction.
Just as I thought of going to bed, a faint creak of a floorboard from overhead drew my attention.Probably just Davina visiting the bathroom.However, given the issues with Nessie’s minions, I took no chance.I rose and padded silently to the stairs for a listen.Despite hearing nothing, my body tensed as if readying for a fight.
Apparently, it had better instinct than I did because, when Davina screamed, my legs immediately pumped.I bolted up the steps and dashed to her door, which stood wide open.
Even before I entered the room, I smelled Oliver, or should I say, his wulver.The headache must have been worse than he’d let on if he’d lost control.More than lost it, he appeared rabid as he snapped his teeth at Davina, who’d had the sense to put up her hands to try and hold him off.But she wouldn’t be able to keep him from biting for long.Already, her arms trembled.
“Oliver Callum Donaldson.”I bellowed his full name, trying to snap him out of his ferocious state.However, there was no recognition in his gaze as his shaggy head swiveled.His eyes, usually an amber gold when he shifted, held a hint of red.A malevolent tint I’d never seen before.
“Naughty boy.There will be no dog treats for you,” I taunted, wanting to keep his attention on me.
It worked, since the wulver snarled and took a step in my direction.
And what did the dumb professor do?
“Don’t hurt Ollie.I’m sure he didn’t mean to frighten me.”
Oliver might not, but the wolfman did.Immediately, he whirled and threw himself at Davina, who yelped as a claw slashed across her chest.
The sight of blood staining the shirt she wore had me bellowing, “ENOUGH!”It should be noted, my commanding tone had power in it.A power that slammed into Oliver and froze him in place.
I stalked for him, growling, “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but it ends now.You will not harm Davina.”
The wulver chuffed.
“As a matter of fact, you will change back into your man form right this instant.”I poured more power into that order, pushing it at Oliver, something I’d not had to do in a long time.Not since he’d gotten control of his beast.
With a whimper, the wulver sank to its knees, shoulders hunched, head bowed.He knelt there quivering, and with each full-body tremor, hair receded, his shape changed, until only a bare-chested man remained.
“Oliver?”I said his name softly, and my lawyer—and, yes, goddammit, my friend—lifted his head, his expression stricken.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered.“I couldn’t stop it from happening.It’s as if I had no control over my body.”
“It’s okay.”Davina proved quick to forgive, but I wanted answers.
“What triggered the change and attack?Was it the headache?”
