Page 51 of Make Me

The Fae warrior nodded and ran off.

Cody’s wolf howled a battle cry that drew the attention of the enemy soldiers. Bethany let out her own roar as they leaped into battle. Three wolves charged at them, and Bethany collided with the first one. They rolled to the ground, both fighting to get the upper hand. Bethany kicked him off with her hind legs, her claws slashing across the wolf’s underbelly. He yelped and charged her. Mylo slammed into him, rolling him to the ground. Cody pounced and tore out the wolf’s throat. Her lioness should have been upset that her kill was stolen from her, but she just purred in approval. If she had been in human form, she would have rolled her eyes at the fickle cat.

The other two wolves had been knocked out, and Zack lit a circle of fire around them to keep them in place as they moved onto the next group. With the Fae warriors keeping the left flank pinned, Bethany and the guys were able to drive the prisoners towards Holly and her mates, trapping them between the two groups. With his boost in magic, Zack was able to throw rings of fire around small groups of the prisoners, trapping them without a fight. The Fae warriors caught on to his plan quickly and helped keep the barriers strong.

Bethany shook her head, spitting out a mouthful of blood from a dead shifter who wouldn’t yield. She didn’t enjoy taking lives, but her animal instincts helped override the human guilt she would feel when she shifted back. These people threatened her family, her chosen pride. They couldn’t be allowed to live in her cat’s eyes. She looked around for her next target, but there was no one left.

Cody and Mylo padded up next to them as Zack rested a hand on her back. “I think that’s it,” Zack said, scanning the battlefield.

Bethany sought out Holly and Desmond and let out a breath of relief when she found them unharmed. Synora, one of Holly’s mates, stood next to Holly while the twins were guarding… Holly’s dad?

“I’m going to talk to Holly,” she sent down the bondlink. Why was Holly’s dad here and in restraints?

Cody shifted back. “Mylo, go with Bethany,” he ordered. “I’ll stay with Zack.”

Mylo dipped his head but didn’t shift back from his panther form. Bethany padded towards Holly and shifted about halfway to her. Holly had moved closer to her twin mates and looked pointedly at the panther at Bethany’s side when she walked up.

Bethany laughed and rolled her eyes. “Don’t ask,” she fake-grumbled. Holly laughed but didn’t ask.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” she squeezed Bethany’s hand.

Mylo growled softly, and Bethany smacked his head lightly. It seemed Mylo’s panther was a bit more possessive than Mylo let on. “Stop that. No growling at my best friend.”

Mylo grumbled but stayed silent. Bethany caught sight of a familiar figure over Holly’s shoulder. “Looks like Claire couldn’t stand not being in the action a second longer.”

Even though her friend wanted to be in the action, Everett followed behind her like he was her shadow.

“Holly, Bethany, you’re okay?” Claire asked breathlessly, her blue eyes still blinked unseeingly, but she seemed to focus in on where they stood.

“We’re fine. Are you okay?” Holly asked.

“I’m fine.” Claire stepped closer and lowered her voice. “My vision is slowly coming back. I can see shadow shapes now!”

“That’s great,” Holly said, and Bethany agreed. Mylo bumped against her legs, and she let herself run her fingers through the silky fur behind his ears.

“Um, Holly, why are your parents here?” Claire asked.

Bethany turned. Holly’s mother was standing next to Kallan, sobbing into her hands. Her papa was still on the ground and looked to be restrained with vines? “And why is your papa in weird vine ropes?”

Holly sighed and explained how they’d discovered that her papa was actually Roland and Vanya’s right hand inside man and had been responsible for a lot of the lies behind the Great War. Bethany and Claire comforted Holly. It wasn’t her fault for not catching it, but Bethany knew Holly would carry the guilt about not seeing it for a long time.

The girls split off. Holly went to check in with her mates, and Claire went to comfort Holly’s mother, who was hysterical. Bethany decided to go check in with Cody and Zack and see if they needed help with the prisoners.

Cody had shifted back into his wolf, but he shifted as she approached, drawing her into his arms. Bethany snuggled into his chest, relaxing as she soaked up his comfort. She turned her head and saw that the rings of fire were still burning.

“How are you feeling?” she asked Zack. This was the longest he had kept up his magic before.

“I’m feeling fine,” he said, his eyes dancing with amusement at her concern. “It’s like I have an unlimited supply of magic now.”

“We’re stronger together,” Bethany murmured.

Cody smirked down at her. “Glad you’re finally on board.”

She rolled her eyes and smacked him in the chest but didn’t step out of his arms.

“Shouldn’t that go away now that we’re mates?” Cody complained, but she could hear the laughter in his voice.

“Never,” Bethany assured him.

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