Page 100 of Out of Peril

Something in the stands caught my attention as I watched in horror as Anastasia lifted her hand and smirked down at me.

I dared a look around even knowing all our witches were safely hidden away.

Chaos broke out on the visitors' side. A tornado had people screaming and running for cover. One person kept blipping in and out, jumping all over the place uncontrollably. Plants were suddenly in bloom. Fire burst from someone's mouth. It was hard not to freak out. Their screams filled my ears, and I couldn’t help but wonder just how much worse it would have been if we hadn’t protected our own shifters.

But the girl I was battling either knew it was coming or was too lost in her own beast to even notice. She didn't react to any of it.

As she charged me, I easily jumped out of the way, causing her to stumble and face plant into the ground.

“No!” Anastasia cried.

She pointed her hand directly at me and knew she was sending the full brunt of her power right at me.

I felt nothing because I was no witch.

“This isn't possible!” She yelled. “They don't have a single witch in their Pack? It's the largest Pack in the world!”

She was kicking and screaming as they dragged her away, but at the last minute she redirected a wayward ball of water and slammed it into her attackers, giving her just enough time to run away. Moments later, an eerie calm came over the stands as those present looked around in confusion.

“Lindsey, look out!” Walker screamed.

I'd completely forgotten I was in the middle of a fight.

Turning just in time to see her charging me at full speed, I moved and hoped she’d just run right by, but she altered her approach at the last second and sharp claws dug into my hindquarters. I tried to knock her off, but she was in too deep.

The pain sliced through me, and for a second, I considered turning myself over to the beast. But there were far too many innocent bystanders watching. I simply couldn't do it. So I started to run around the perimeter of the structure. I ran faster and faster until everything around me was nothing more than a blur. Still, she hung on.

My wing was damaged and hurt like hell, but I lifted off and flew up in the air. My speed was too much and I couldn't sustain airflow with only one wing.

We stalled for a good hundred yards above the venue. And then I went into a tailspin. The world surrounding me in a sickening blur. There was no way for me to tell if I was right side up or upside down.

The motion must have affected my stowaway too as she finally let go, making a hallowing scream of sorts as she plunged to the Earth. I heard the break of bones as she collided with the ground.

Bat hearing.

I didn't need to see what was around me. I could hear it and fly blind.

Closing my eyes allowed me to make more sense of my surroundings. I listened and quickly righted myself.

The gasp of my audience told me I had been scary close to the ground as I stretched my wings and flew. I didn't last long in the air, though, because the pain was overwhelming.

I opened my eyes once more and then carefully landed, stumbling a little as a sharp pain in my rear surged through me.

My challenger laid lifeless in the center of the arena.

I quickly shifted and rolled across the ground. When I stopped moving and stood, the crowd went wild, cheering for my victory.

Looking up to the platform, Walker was pale but smiling. Kyle held his hand high in victory, and the someone from the Grand Council stepped forward to declare my win. Only one of them looked upset by it—Roy Douglas. And in that moment, I knew he had been a part of this all along. Neutral my ass. He was working for my former Alpha and no one would ever convince me otherwise. I was going to have to keep tabs on our newest councilman until I figured out exactly what he was up to. But for now, all I wanted to do was claim my mate.

I shifted once more and flew up to the platform. There were a few screams of concern, but the second I landed, I was back in my skin and running into Walker's arms.

He caught me easily and kissed every inch of my face, dirt and all. There were a few chuckles and cheers around us, but most averted their eyes from our public display of affection and the fact that I was entirely naked in front of everyone.

I didn't care. Even though Walker briefly stopped to pull off his own shirt and covered me with it before kissing me once more.

“Is it over?” I asked Kyle.

“It's over. And something tells me they'll reconsider putting another shifter up against you after that.”

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