Page 28 of The Lynx and the Llama
She managed to sleep, waking up to face the first day of the SHIT and, with that, the likelihood that they’d all have to face Zagan again. Erika was terrified. She never thought she’d deal with big bads up close and personal. She wasn’t on Marathi Island when Zagan attacked King Rayan and Carol last year, but it still irked her she walked the same halls that Zagan once had.
“We all know the plan?” asked King Rayan once the team of four entered the helicopter that would transport them to Santorini.
“Yes, dear,” Carol answered. “Our team is keeping an eye out for Zagan. We have loads of BS all over SHIT, so you don’t have to worry. You be your usual regal self and just let me take care of you. Nothing will happen to you or Erika, even if shit hits the fan.”
“I’m pretty sure the SHIT will be inside with air conditioning. Yeah, there’s that whole thing about conserving natural gas because of Russia. But I’m certain they won’t be resorting to portable fans. The warm-blooded shifters like me will get cranky otherwise.”
Carol squeezed Rayan’s knee. “Leave it to you to think I wasn’t actually swearing.” Her face lit up with a broad smile as Rayan chuckled.
Their helicopter landed, and no sooner had Erika’s feet hit the ground than a now-familiar man strode toward them, flanked by two others Erika didn’t recognize.
“You finally arrived!” Zagan called out, a smug smile plastered on his face and his eyes glued on Quinn.
“Quinn? What’s going on?” Erika asked, bewildered.
“I’m taking the little llama with me, that’s what,” Zagan said in a taunting, singsong voice.
“No,” Erika whispered. She’d hated when Quinn had suggested it in the restaurant, but thankfully, Lear had been against it.
Why hadn’t she even considered that this plan might still be in the works?
“That’s right! Take me, Zagan, but leave the royals alone.”
“Are you serious right now, Quinn?” Zagan let out a cackle. “Have you really not figured it out? Why I held you captive for so many years? And how I became a bull-griffon, to begin with?”
“Did you kill my parents?” Quinn asked, ignoring Zagan’s questions.
“Of course not. It was pure coincidence that a prince landed in my lab. Well, it wasn’t my lab at the time, but working as an underling allowed me to discover the secret of your blood and get away before those bastards at FUC captured me like they did my bosses.”
His eyes went to Erika, looking her over like she was his next sexual conquest.
“Don’t look at her,” Quinn commanded. “This is between you and me.”
“I’m changing the deal. I want the girl, too.” Zagan jutted his chin in Erika’s direction, making her stomach roll in disgust.
“What do you want with her?” Carol asked, her calm voice breaking through. “I thought you were all about royal blood?”
“She’s gorgeous,” Zagan answered with a shrug. “And Quinn, my boy, this woman deserves a real man.”
Quinn’s face was set ablaze. “You can’t have her!”
Two males headed in Erika’s direction and grabbed her. She tried to fight them off in her human form, but their hands clenched tighter around her wrists with each struggle. She knew they couldn’t herd her lynx, so she quickly turned into it, biting and scratching at the men. Quinn shifted instantly into his llama to go after Zagan and the men. Zagan lunged for Quinn but he spat on Zagan while getting up on his hind legs, intending to strike. Zagan backed up.
“If it’s a fight you want, you’ll get one! Boys, hold the girl while I finish this up.”
Zagan shifted into his bull-griffon and let out a guttural growling moo before charging at Quinn with his horns. Quinn stepped to the side, and when Zagan flew past him, Quinn lunged for Zagan, connecting with Zagan’s thigh. Before Zagan could break from the hold, Quinn clamped down with his razor-sharp teeth. The teeth pierced Zagan’s skin and muscles, but for good measure, Quinn used his hoof to clock Zagan’s head, causing Zagan to fall to the ground.
At the sight of blood, Erika turned away, diverting her face from the gruesome scene.
She heard Zagan howl, which turned into a whimper. She chanced a look behind her to see that Zagan had fallen to the ground and both he and Quinn had gone back into their human forms.
The two men who Zagan had instructed to grab Erika had fled after being bitten and scratched around every exposed part of their skin.
Carol handed Quinn a set of cuffs. “Don’t count on the injuries to keep him down. Thanks to his ultra-healing powers, he’ll be up in no time.”
Quinn nodded and slipped them on Zagan. “You have the right to remain silent. I suggest you do that during the entire plane ride back to British Columbia because I’m in no mood to listen to your sorry ass! Let’s go!” Quinn growled.
Only then did Erika realize what was happening. “Wait! You’re leaving, now?”
