Unravelled

“Mistake, wolf,” Thomas said, turning to face Riley. There was enough menace in his expression to kill.

Apparently the answer to both of Aden’s questions was the same. Hells yes.

Without any more warning, the two leapt at each other, meeting in the middle of the room in a tangle of claws, biting teeth, odd bright lights and shimmering blades that appeared out of nowhere.

No question about this. As Elijah had said, blood would flow.

This match would be to the death.

THREE

Yep. True to Elijah’s prediction, true to Aden’s suspicions, blood ran.

Riley chomped at Thomas’s neck, and his sharp claws swiped at the man’s chest. The scent of burning cotton and flesh filled the air, smoke rising from Thomas’s shirt. Screams followed as a shaking Thomas grabbed thick hunks of the wolf’s fur and tossed him hard and fast. The animal flew into Aden, who in turn flew into the wall.

Plaster cracked and paint chips sprayed. Air was knocked from Aden’s suddenly deflated lungs.

Riley was up an instant later, again leaping for the fairy; the two twisted together as they fell. When the wolf’s nails next slashed, the scent of burning flesh intensified and blood sprayed. A few drops hit Aden in the face, and they were oddly chilled, like ice shards. When the fairy’s blades moved at lightning speed, Riley’s blood sprayed. Hot, like prickles of flame.

Help him, Julian cried.

This is why I’m a lover, not a fighter, Caleb, whose bravery had returned now that a wolf was taking the beating for them, said.

Breathing should have been impossible, but Aden managed to drag in a few mouthfuls of air as he lumbered to his feet. Dizziness hammered at him, and he swayed. “Elijah?”

Of course, the psychic knew what he was silently asking. How could he help? He had no weapons, and couldn’t leave the room to get to any.

I don’t know, Elijah said, agonized.

“Will Riley win, then?” He spoke quietly, not wanting to distract the wolf and cause his defeat.

I don’t know, the psychic repeated in that same agonized tone. I see the blood, washing through this home, bathing everything and everyone.

So much? And from this fight? Or something worse?

Over and over Thomas tossed Riley aside, and over and over Riley returned, a catapult of wrath and teeth. For some reason, he’d stopped using his claws. Furniture was smashed to pieces and more walls were ruined, including the invisible one, allowing the combatants out of the room and into the hallway. The fight then moved to another bedroom, the door smashed into puzzle pieces that would never fit back together. Aden followed. Somewhere along the way, Thomas lost his grip on his knives and dropped them. Aden tried to pick them up and insert himself into the action—multiple times—but the blades he couldn’t touch eventually vanished and the fairy and the wolf moved so quickly, they would appear in another location before he even realized he’d missed.

And why were they able to destroy the walls, doors and furniture, but nothing else?

The boys who lived at the D and M Ranch—Seth, Ryder, RJ, Terry and Brian—were in the entrance hall, each with a book in hand. Some were reading, some were pretending to read. None noticed the vicious fight unfolding around them.

Not even when their chairs were seemingly overturned and shattered. They just sat there. On air. Riley and Thomas ghosted through them, imperceptible, unfelt, unheard. Blood splattered over the boys, too, but again, they didn’t notice. Perhaps couldn’t even see it.

So freaking odd, all of it. Thomas had open wounds that were bleeding profusely, and yet he seemed stronger than ever. Riley, on the other hand, seemed weaker, his jumps slowing down, his snarls becoming slurred, and yet his wounds had already closed, healed.

What was weakening him?

Aden noticed that Thomas only punched to unhinge Riley’s jaw from whatever body part the wolf had decide to munch on. Then Thomas would tilt his head back and practically offer his neck to the wolf, rather than allow the animal to bite down on his hands. Why?

And rather than immediately batting Riley away, Thomas would flatten his palms on the beast for several seconds, allowing the wolf to do whatever he wished. That was stupid. That was—necessary?

Were Thomas’s hands somehow able to weaken Riley? That would explain Thomas’s determination to keep his hands free. That would also explain his lack of concern over his own injuries. What did a few cuts matter when your opponent would soon be too feeble to fight you off?

“What can I…do?” This time Aden’s whispered question trailed off. He knew. The answer had already slapped him, cold, hard. Stinging.

You know, Elijah said, and if he’d sounded agonized before, he sounded pulverized now. Clearly, he had realized the answer, too.

What? Julian asked. What are we going to do?

Aden gulped. “Caleb. You’re up.”

I’m u…p—oh, hell, no!

He hadn’t needed to explain. By requesting Caleb’s aid, they all knew what he now planned. They were going to possess Thomas’s body.

No. No, there has to be another way. If he’d had a body of his own, Julian would have been shaking his head and backing away.

“Sorry, guys.” This had to be done. For Riley. Hell, for himself.

The pain, Julian moaned. We’ve endured enough. This will wipe us out.

This is the only way, Elijah said. The fairy has to perish.

“We’ve been through worse.” Like burning alive. Nothing could be worse than that, he was sure. “And if I’m going to kiss Victoria again, I’ve got to save her bodyguard.”

Hate to be the harbinger of bad news, but Aden’s right, Caleb said, suddenly leaping on board the Plan Save The Day bandwagon. He’d do anything for another kiss. We’ll survive this. Even if Thomas doesn’t. That’s all that matters.

Aden focused on the two opponents. Riley lay on the floor, several feet away from Thomas, but inching forward as best he could, still determined to win. Having just been tossed like a rag doll, Thomas brushed big chunks of plaster from his chest and stood. His shirt was in shreds, his skin flayed, yet that skin was finally weaving back together, as if he’d somehow absorbed the wolf’s ability to heal.

Thomas smiled smugly as he approached the wolf and crouched down. “Tell your princess not to send a boy to do a man’s work. Oh, wait. As you won’t be leaving this room, you won’t be telling her anything.”

Riley’s eyes were glittering green fire and hatefilled.

The fairy sighed. “I admire your courage, wolf. Therefore, you will not die dishonorably. Know that I am not a mere Fae servant, but a prince. Indestructible. The moment you entered my realm, you were destined to die. But there is no shame in your death. You should see this as the favor it is.”

A favor? Hardly.

Echoing Aden’s sentiments, Riley growled.

Frowning, Thomas reached out. “Again, I admire your courage. A shame you serve the vampires. Would you, perchance, be interested in switching allegiances?”

Another growl. A clear no.

“Well, then, I am sorry for this, but it must be done. I’ll be swift, wolf.”

What are you waiting for? Whether the question came from himself or the souls, Aden didn’t know. Riley was his friend, for the most part, and he couldn’t allow a friend to be hurt. No matter the pain involved.

Just before fairy palm met wolf fur, Aden—who had obviously been forgotten—sprinted forward. He didn’t stop when he reached the fairy. He stopped only when he was inside the fairy.