Page 49 of Quick on the Claw

For a heartbeat, everything froze. Then, chaos erupted.

The door burst open. Tiffany caught a glimpse of Rickon’s shocked face before instinct took over. She turned and ran, her heart thundering in her chest.

“After her!” Rickon’s bellow echoed through the corridors.

Tiffany’s legs pumped furiously as she tore through the castle. The opulent surroundings blurred into a dizzying kaleidoscope of color and shadow. Her lungs burned, each breath a ragged gasp.

“Zakhar!” she screamed, her voice raw with desperation. “Zak?—”

A hand clamped over her mouth, cutting off her cry. Strong arms yanked her out a side door and into the courtyard. Tiffany thrashed wildly, her nails raking across her captor’s skin.

“Shh, little Earthling,” Grixxar’s hot breath ghosted over her ear. “Wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise, now would we?”

Tiffany’s blood ran cold as Rickon materialized before her, his eyes glinting with cruel amusement.

“My, my,” he purred, reaching out to trace a finger along her jaw. “Such spirit. It will be a pleasure to break you.”

Tiffany jerked her head away, glaring daggers at him. “Zakhar will stop you,” she spat. “He’ll?—”

Rickon’s hand shot out, gripping her throat. “Zakhar,” he snarled, “will die screaming. And you, my dear, will watch every moment.”

A low, menacing growl rumbled through the night. Tiffany’s heart leaped as Zak emerged from the shadows, his golden eyes blazing with fury.

“Let. Her. Go.” Each word dripped with barely contained rage.

For a moment, no one moved. Then, everything happened at once.

Grixxar shoved Tiffany aside, her head cracking against the stone wall. Stars exploded across her vision as she crumpled to the floor.

Through blurred eyes, she watched in horror as Grixxar and Rickon shifted, their bodies contorting grotesquely. Where the men had stood, two massive panthers now crouched, muscles coiled to spring.

Zak’s own transformation was a sight to behold. One second he was human, the next a colossal bronze panther, easily dwarfing the other two.

The beasts collided in a fury of claws and fangs. The courtyard became a battleground and the quiet night amplified every snarl and roar, the cacophony deafening.

Tiffany scrambled back, her head throbbing and her vision swimming. She watched in terrified awe as Zak fought, his massive form a whirlwind of lethal grace.

Grixxar was quick, darting in to slash at Zak’s flanks before dancing away. But Zak was power personified. His massive paws swatted Grixxar like a toy, each blow driving the smaller panther back.

A particularly vicious swipe sent Grixxar tumbling. Before he could recover, Zak was upon him. Powerful jaws clamped down on Grixxar’s throat. There was a sickening crunch, and Grixxar went limp.

Zak turned, his golden eyes seeking Tiffany.

Something told her to turn around. She whirled, but too late. Pain exploded across her back as Rickon, seizing his opportunity, raked his claws down her spine. Tiffany screamed, the agony white-hot and all-consuming.

She collapsed, her vision darkening at the edges. Through the haze of pain, she saw Rickon circling her, his dark eyes gleaming with triumph.

Suddenly, Nyx was in front of her, growling at the much bigger Rickon. The panther didn’t seem to care that Rickon was bigger. He placed himself between them in order to keep Tiffany safe.

As Rickon tensed to deliver a blow, a bronze blur slammed into him. Zak had crossed the distance in a heartbeat.

The two panthers grappled, a whirlwind of slashing claws and snapping teeth. But where Grixxar had been a challenge, Rickon was barely a warm-up. Zak’s superior size and strength quickly overwhelmed the older panther.

With a roar that shook the very stones, Zak pinned Rickon to the ground. His massive jaws closed around Rickon’s throat, and with one powerful twist, it was over.

Silence fell, broken only by Tiffany’s ragged breathing and the soft pad of Zak’s paws as he approached her. As he neared, his form shimmered, shifting into his human self.

“Tiffany,” he breathed, gathering her gently into his arms. His golden eyes were wide with concern and love. “My brave, foolish Tiffany. I’m so sorry, I should have seen this coming, I?—”

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