Page 106 of Rafe

“Even I know he’s Alpha.”

“I’m not a wolf and neither are you. I can’t see from here and I might be able to help. I need a good shot.”

“Sorry but did you see those things out there?” Dominique blinked her eyes wearing a look of disbelief. “Or maybe, did you see the giant-sized witch? Kind of hard to miss her. No, this is a bad idea.”

“Listen to me, Dom. I know you don’t know me that well but I’m asking you to trust me. I’ve already faced Zyaire. By myself. She threw one of those things in a small prison cell with me, and I killed it. By myself. I have every reason to be afraid of her. But something happened to me when I was there.” I turned into a bird. “I escaped. I survived. And I intend to do the same now. Let’s go.”

“But—”

“But nothing. Look, I don’t ever plan to be in this situation again, but I’m not a coward. And neither are you. Yes, I know Rafe asked you to watch over me. But you need to trust me. Something with Rafe and I, something happened during that time. I am bonded with him. Do you get what I’m saying?” Skylar couldn’t be quite sure exactly what had happened to her, but the reality was she’d transformed and flown with the raven.

“Magick is complicated,” Dominique admitted and blew out a breath. “I want the whole truth. Then we go fight. I’m not going into a battle with a human unless I know the source of your confidence.”

Skylar looked into the skeptical eyes of the beautiful vampire. Though Dominique appeared hardened on the outside, she cared for others, had been willing to help Ilsbeth fight her sister, to help Rafe.

“I shifted. I think…I mean I can’t be certain what kind, but I’m fairly sure I flew,” Skylar confessed. “Now before you say anything, I know it sounds crazy, but there was this small window far above my reach…I got angry, just after shoving the metal into that thing’s eye and…well, you get the idea. All I know is within seconds I was outside and following the raven.”

Dominique sighed. “You’re sure you didn’t just bump your head?”

“No, I’m telling you the truth. Why else would I be in the middle of the Mojave Desert completely naked? I didn’t hallucinate. And the ravens? I know it sounds crazy again, but they led me away. They gathered around me.”

“And did you talk to these crows?” Dominique stared at her, impassive.

“The ravens? No. I didn’t talk with them, but I could feel them. It’s almost like they were protecting me. I was flying. What else could I be? I had wings. I’m certain of it.”

“I don’t know. Rafe did say he was not feeling like the bond was broken. It’s possible the vampire magick did something, maybe it left Rafe but not you.” Dominique brushed at her face, attempting to restrain a few stray strawberry blonde strands that had broken free of her otherwise perfect ponytail. “Just give me a second to think.”

“We don’t have seconds. We can’t stay here much longer. Those things are going to come into the cave. We’ve got to get out of here and hope they can’t climb.”

“Okay, but if they come after us, you need to stay back. You might have killed one, but it looks like there’re hundreds of them out there. I don’t know what we’re really facing.”

“Let’s get the hell outta here.” Skylar removed her gun from her holster and set off running.

“Behind me.” Dominique moved with preternatural speed, passing her.

Skylar steeled her nerves, determined to survive. A bright orange sunset nearly blinded her as they emerged from the cave. She caught sight of the creatures nearly thirty feet away. She headed toward the rocks above, bouldering over one after the other. She’d always had keen senses, and she thanked God she’d insisted they leave.

The slope morphed, and she heaved a breath, traversing several steep sections. Skylar’s lungs burned as she attempted to keep up with Dominique. With the expert navigation of a bighorn sheep, the vampire climbed the mountain. She kept close enough to Skylar to offer a hand, helping her navigate over several large boulders.

Dominique ducked behind a section of brush and rolled onto her side. Skylar followed, careful to stay out of the zombie creatures’ line of vision. She adjusted onto her stomach lying flat on the ground and peered over the edge.

“Jesus, I should have taken more spin classes.” Skylar sucked a breath, studying the landscape.

“Good call by the way. Looks like they went into the cave.” Dominique shot her a sly smile. “Oh honey, I’ve gotta give you your props.”

“Those things are kind of hard to forget.” Skylar’s heart raced as Zyaire grew larger, pounding the ball of light with her fists. Ilsbeth continued to mock her, then spontaneously began speaking in a language she suspected wasn’t of this world.

“Look.” Dominique pointed to Greyson who busted through Ilsbeth’s protective shield.

“Where’s he going?” Skylar aimed her gun, following him. “Oh shit.”

“Looks like he’s got some attention. Where’s Kenji?” Dominique asked.

“Over there. On the right.”

“What’s going on with Greyson? Why isn’t he running? He’s got some stalkers.”

Skylar glanced to Dominique who retrieved her dagger. “Nice. Silver?”