Page 32 of Mated to the Enemy
An angry roar distracted both of them, the mage spinning to see Klaue on his feet still in bear form, and coming running at them both.
She kicked at the man, trying to occupy his attention for a bit longer, but she missed. He was already moving. The mage disappeared into the bushes and a second later, a bear as big as a pickup truck charged in after him, shrubs and small trees blown aside by his passage.
Jessica rose to her feet, feeling confident that victory was in their hands. Klaue had caught the mage flat-footed, and in his pursuit wouldn’t give him time to recover and focus enough to use magic.
A moment later, the bushes nearby shivered and she opened her mouth to call out to Klaue. But there was no need. The bear was backing hurriedly out of the woods.
“Ah! I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” the mage said as he emerged and Jessica wound up to throw her asphalt softball at him. “Do that, and I releasethis.”
He turned slightly to show her the sparking ball of blue energy he had in his left hand, aimed squarely at Klaue’s head. She went still, the memory still fresh of what the last blue magic had done. Her eyes darted over to the downed tree.
“Good. You do remember. The same thing will happen to your friend here if I hit him with it. I’m on a hair trigger, you understand? I open my fist, and it hits him. Simple as that. Got it?”
Jesssica nodded, trying not to tremble. This was exactly what she’d feared! Klaue had come after her, and now he was in danger, all because of her.
“Now. Do exactly as I say. Drop it.”
Her fingers opened and the asphalt slipped out of her grip, bouncing twice on the ground. Jessica kept as still as possible, not wanting to jeopardize Klaue.
“Good, now walk over to me. Slowly, that’s it.”
As soon as she was in reach, the mage snatched her roughly by the arm and held her close. She tried to flinch away as he raised the blue-ringed fist toward her head, but he was too strong.
“Back away now,” the mage ordered Klaue.
Glaring at him with crazed eyes, the giant bear hesitated.
“It’s fine,” she yelped as the deadly energy came nearer. “Klaue, it’s okay. I’ll go. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt because of me.”
“You should do as she says,” the mage gloated, already backing away and pulling Jessica with him as he retreated toward the edge of the property. “If you come any closer, I’ll fry her, right here.”
Klaue growled angrily and pawed at the ground, but it was just a show. There was nothing he could do, and everyone knew it, even Jessica. She was well and thoroughly trapped.
You’re more than trapped. You’re dead, now.
This wasn’t something she’d anticipated. Klaue had assured her that here, on the grounds, she would be safe. That the mage would be sneaking around the property just as she was leaving was a hell of a coincidence.
Plenty of people inside are probably willing to rat you out though. Most of Klaue’s House thinks you’re a Canis spy anyway. Someone must have called to say they’d kicked you out or something.
Whether that had truly happened or not, her fate was sealed. Jessica figured she would probably be taken back to Moonshadow Manor. The wolves would want to know if she’d told anyone what she knew. After they most likely tortured her to get the truth, they would kill her. She was positive of it.
Why would they hesitate in killing a human if they were already set on ridding themselves of their own brothers and sisters? No, hope wasn’t something she could afford right now. All Jessica could do was try to make peace with what was about to happen to her.
At least I won’t get anyone else hurt.
It wasn’t much solace with her imminent death looming over her, but it was better than nothing at all. Klaue and his brethren would live.
“Come on, dear,” the mage snarled in her ear. “We have a meeting to attend.”
He turned and forced her to start walking, his fist still poised near her head, ready to act on a moment’s notice.
Jessica tried to keep her spine straight as she walked, not wanting to look the part, but it was proving to be near impossible as the fear of dying grew within her. She didn’t want to go. Not yet. Not without spending more time with Klaue first.
What?
