Page 9 of Centaur Bolt

He gave a single, sharp nod.

“Let’s go,” Brock rumbled.

The coven members approached the gate and raised hands that glowed crimson. The Bellatis arranged themselves in a group around me, with the Dragons at the edges. Some transformed into their human halves as we waited for the women to orient the gate.

I glanced back to where a smaller group of Bellatis gathered around the prone form of my father. Two Dragons in beast form lifted the Centaur. They’d better hope the antidote didn’t take effect before they got there. When my father awoke, there would be hell to pay.

“Send him through first,” I insisted.

The Dragon’s eyes narrowed. “Or what? You’re lucky I honor the bargain at all. They’ll gate him to Richin after we get you to Isobel.”

I gritted my teeth, but he was right. I was here, and collared. He knew that I wasn’t likely to try anything with my father unconscious and vulnerable. With him gone, a different story.

The gate snapped to life with a crackle of displaced energy, and the bronze Dragon shifter gestured to it. “After you, freak,” he said.

If he could see into the chaos that Iskar held at bay, he wouldn’t be so damn cocky.

I’m losing control,Iskar warned.

Just a little longer,I said.Hold it back a little longer. We’re almost there.

I wrenched my gaze away from my father, and followed the Bellatis through the gate.

5

Riley

Cara stared at Marcus’s mother. “Marcus wasn’t at the meadow gate?” It was as much a statement as a question.

The female shook her head. “No. They were moving lumber through. No sign of him.”

Cara gestured to one of the big males. “Check the forest gate,” she said, and he was gone toward the back entrance in a flash.

The Watcher herself jogged out the front doors, and we all came with her. “If I’m fast, I might be able to track him.” Cara’s voice sounded odd as her outline blurred. It wasn’t until her gown fluttered to the ground that I realized what was happening. And by that time, what ran before me was sleek and silver with a flowing tail.

And a horn.

The Centaur’s hooves skidded on the polished stone beyond the door as they leaped to the ground. We spilled out onto the meadow path. A huge shadow passed overhead—the male Centaur that had gone out back must have told Tyrez. The Dragon arrowed for the gate.

I yelped as a strong arm grabbed me, swinging my body through the air. When I next blinked, I was astride a big male Centaur. Afraid to grab what was so clearly his hair, I almost slid right off.

“Hold on!” he called back to me, and I wrapped my arms as far around his muscled torso as I was able. Another had grabbed Kiko. The Satyr’s hands slid over her mount’s skin—was she feeling him up? Or just trying to stay on?

I concentrated on staying on. The thought of Marcus back in the clutches of that ruthless Sorceress… I closed my eyes, and tried not to think of it.

The Centaurs’ hooves thundered over the meadow, but Cara’s flying form was already far ahead, racing to where Tyrez had landed. I saw the Dragon shift back to human, and address a Bellati who stood near the gate. Piles of lumber lay in orderly rows just outside the gate itself, surrounded by confused construction workers who were too tall and skinny to be human.

By the time my mount slid to a halt, Cara had returned to human form, clad in a skin-hugging hair bodysuit. She positioned herself before the portal, and blue light chased over it.

More hoofbeats, and a second Unicorn joined us, shifting to human so fast my eye couldn’t catch it. Bess moved up beside Cara at the gate, and the blue gleam intensified.

My mount twisted his torso and offered me his arm. I took it, and he lifted me easily, holding me until my feet hit the ground. I immediately wove through their huge forms to be closer to Cara. I’d just reached her when Marcus’s mother stiffened.

“Manny…”

Cara glanced toward her.

“I can feel him,” the Centaurina continued. Her eyes were closed. “He’s not making much sense.”

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