Page 250 of Volik

Letting my wrath take over, I hold my arms wide and bare my teeth as I release a hiss that slices through the air.

The six vampires before me match my position.

But then there’s a crackle of magic behind me. Above me.

And a giant wolf leaps over my head, flying through the air.

He is silent.

His fur is nearly black, gleaming a rich brown in the rays of the setting sun.

The vampires react, but not fast enough. Because they did not know.

The shifters are on my side.

I watch as the Argus Pack Alpha locks his jaws around one of the vampire’s shoulders.

The crunch is audible over the thud of the wolf’s large paws hitting the ground.

The vampire yells, but the Alpha still does not make a sound as he shakes his head back and forth.

Humans somewhere scream. Keep screaming. But my mouth pulls into a grin when the wolf rips the vampire’s arm off.

Because it is no longer one against six.

The Alpha throws his head back and releases a howl that echoes off the palace walls.

I bare my fangs.

The vampires lunge.

But then another wolf jumps through the portal above me.

And another.

And another.

With snarls and growls, I watch as wolf after wolf leaps into the fight.

For Nix.

For me.

One of the vampires lifts from the ground, starting to jump away.

Two wolves turn toward him.

And their speed is immense.

The vampire lifts higher, his attention up to the sky.

The wolves veer into single file.

The one in front crouches, starts to jump. And the one behind leaps onto the first one’s back, using them as a launching pad.

And it is enough.

Their teeth sink into the vampire’s ankle, and the sudden weight drags the vampire lower.