Page 23 of Beast of Blood and Roses
“Cuts and bruises across her body,monsieur. She fought bravely but paid a price for it.”
My jaw clenched. “The wolves will pay for this. No one hurts what’s mine.”
Rosalie cocked a slender eyebrow. “Yours?”
Heat crept up my neck at the possessive slip. I quickly changed the subject, too tired to argue with that conversation. “I thought you said you weren’t a witch.”
She straightened defensively. “I’m not.”
I managed what might have been a gentle smile, though it probably looked more like a grimace on my monstrous features. “Then how did you create that shield?”
She shrugged helplessly, but I caught the tremor in her voice. “I honestly don’t know.” Her gaze dropped to her hands as if they belonged to a stranger. “Like I told you before, I’ve never done anything like that. Ever.”
She flexed her fingers slowly, wonderingly. “But when I saw those wolves about to kill you...” Her voice caught slightly. “Something just... awakened inside me. I couldn’t let you die. Not after you came for me.”
The raw honesty in her words hit me harder than any wolf’s claws. Here was someone who’d risked everything—including her own mysterious power—to protect me. A monster. A killer.
“I almost didn’t make it to you in time,” I admitted quietly. “The curse binds me to this estate. I can’t leave the property. When you ran, I was terrified you’d get beyond my reach and I’dbe powerless to help you.”
When was the last time someone, besides Marcel and Colette, had cared whether I lived or died? Marcel and Colette were servants. When I worked for Angelo Santi, I was an employee. I wasn’t one of the chosen ones that got to live in his house, not that I cared.
But after being trapped in this mansion for months, I almost wished I was. At least I’d be able to talk to more people.
“Those wolves were so huge,” she whispered, her voice still carrying traces of fear. “I’d never seen wolves do that, so coordinated, so …intelligent. I didn’t even know there were wolves in the bayou.”
Her words pulled me from my thoughts about her unexpected tenderness. The feeling was so foreign I didn’t know what to do with it. I shifted slightly, wincing as the movement pulled at my wounds. “They weren’t wolves.”
Rosalie’s face paled. “Then what were they?”
“They’re wolf shifters.”
She held the rag in midair. “Excuse me? You mean werewolves?”
“No, werewolves are slaves to the moon; they have no control over when they transform or what they do once changed. But wolf shifters have complete control,” I said carefully, watching her face to see if she would believe me, fall apart, or cower in fear. “They can shift at will, maintain their human consciousness in wolf form, and coordinate like a military unit. Much more dangerous than mindless werewolves. Their king, Trystan Hunter…” The name left a bitter taste in my mouth.
“The gangster?” She gasped, her hand flying to her throat. “Trystan Hunter’s a shape shifter?
The color drained from her face completely, leaving her skin ashen. Her breathing became shallow and rapid as the fullimplications hit her. “But I thought—my father always said he was just a ruthless businessman.”
“Your father knew him?” That was an interesting development. If Volaris had connections to wolf shifters, it could explain how he’d gotten mixed up with people far more dangerous than simple casino debts. Was he in an alliance with Tristan or did he owe him money like he did everyone else?
“Dad mentioned him a few times over the years.” Her hands began to shake visibly. “I think he owed them money like he did everyone else. Said he was someone you didn’t want to cross in this city, that people who crossed Trystan Hunter just…disappeared.” She swallowed hard, her amber eyes wide with terror. “Oh god, if he’s that powerful, and we just fought his pack...”
She pressed both hands to her chest as if trying to slow her racing heart. “I don’t understand. You just said you couldn’t leave the property. How were you able to come save me?”
I held up a clawed finger. “The bayou where we fought is still part of my estate. This property spans several acres.” I gestured toward the windows. “But Trystan has been encroaching on my territory since I was cursed. He doesn’t recognize me as the vampire enforcer I used to be. No one does anymore. Since his pack outnumbers me, I chose not to fight them...” I paused, meeting her eyes that were clouded with worry and fear. “Until today.”
“He won’t let this go unpunished, will he?”
“He’ll want revenge,” I nodded grimly. “Shape shifters don’t forget slights, especially public humiliation like what happened today.”
“Trystan was the massive white wolf, wasn’t he?”
“I won’t let him hurt you.” The words came out as a growl, my protectiveinstincts flaring.
She gazed out the window again. “Will they attack the house?”
“I don’t think so. They reside in the bayou, but I would suggest you stay close to the house.” The thought of her wandering too far from my protection made my stomach clench with dread. In my current weakened state, what if I couldn’t reach her in time?
