Page 150 of The Wolf and the Chimera
When I opened them, the fight continued, and I didn’t hesitate another second.
“We have to stop them,” I told my friends.
“Ryder can handle himself,” Melanie assured me. “We need to get you out of here.”
As Kieran studied me, concern etched a line in his brow. Though pain indeed plagued me in unforgiving waves, I shook off their concerns. I searched for the silver dagger and found it on the floor. As I reached for it, growls and grunts and snarls echoed in the hall. My heart cleaved.
“Ryder could take on any wolf,” I agreed, “but Lyall—he, he—”
I took a shuddering breath and willed the calm, cool instincts of a predator to guide me.
“Lyall has injected himself with anddrankmy power,” I said in a rush. “He’s immune to silver, and he’s unnaturally fast and strong. He’s given it to the twins too.”
Kieran and Melanie balked.
Using the silver blade, I cut the thick swaths of the skirt shorter. I wanted nothing more than to run to my mate, but I would only be a hindrance to him in this wrecked gown. Kieran and Melanie ditched their hazmat suits.
“Careful,” Kieran urged.
As I cut, a realization struck me.
“Bo,” I said, but Melanie interrupted.
“We know,” she said tightly.
Her pain was evident in her voice, but a growl stole my attention. My mate still raged against the other most powerful werewolf of our time, made only stronger by the magic he had stolen.
We can lick our wounds later.
“We need to get out of here,” I said.
“Can you walk?” Kieran asked. As he took in my shaky, battered form, he cringed, “or run?”
I willed steel into my spine and summoned the last of my chimera’s strength.
“Yes,” I promised.
Together, we ventured through the wrecked doorwayand into the hall. Both wounded, Ryder and Lyall battled. Blood spattered both of them, as well as debris from the walls they had crashed into. They circled and lunged and struck with matching dexterity. Pride and fear warred. Echoing my emotions, my chimera prowled under my skin.
Through the double doors at the end of the hall, werewolves ran into the room. Some of them wore white coats, but many of them were dressed in the pale uniforms of guards. They hesitated at the fight before them, but one of them tried to grab Ryder. Kieran mirrored the movement, diving to intercept it.
“Do not interfere!”Lyall ordered. His voice was garbled by his inhuman teeth and power. “This fight is between me and this mongrel.”
Despite the command, Kieran charged closer, but Ryder gave him a warning growl.
No,I thought.No, no, no.
This wasn’t just a fight for escape—it was a challenge—thechallenge that would end with only one wolf as Sovereign and the other dead.
Lyall was a coward. He never would’ve conceded to this fight if he thought there was any chance he wouldn’t win. It was why he hadn’t challenged Ryder immediately, but now…
Now, in addition to being the other most powerful werewolf in existence, Lyall had the power of a chimera flowing through his veins. He had drank it and injected it right into his vile body.
Finally,Lyall had said when Ryder attacked.
Lyall would kill Ryder.
And he will use my power to do it.
