Page 66 of Taken By Raider Kings
The shape erupted into wild motion.Ropes snapped.Sophie let out a short, surprised cry, tipping over.Her knees failed, her eyes shut tight, and she had enough time to thinkI’m going to hit, it’s going to hurt, dammit?—
Yet something broke her fall.Something hairy, very warm, smelling of musk, and growling loudly enough to shake the foundations.
The noise stuttered, stopped.They were definitelyarmsaround her; she hadn’t hit the floor.
The animal’s face was inches from hers.He inhaled, deeply, blew the air back out, and inhaled again.Those teeth were curved and wicked sharp, and the flat greenish eyeshine reminded her of a cat’s nighttime glance.
This thing looked like it could chow down on her bones without any trouble at all.But she’d still take it over Marc’s plummy, contorted face any day.
This was one monster she didn’t have to be afraid of.
“Zach,” she whispered, as the beast continued snuffling.“Come back.Please.”
He stopped sniffing, shuddered.The strength in those arms could snap her in half, but she felt only a dozy faraway concern that she might pass out before he came back.
That’s funny, I can see him in there.Why can’t they?
A crackling, creaking sound like boughs snapping under ice.Fur melted.Bones restructured themselves as she watched, fascinated, the dimness suddenly kind.
He was trembling in great gripping waves.So was she.The arms holding her thinned as his face rose through the animal’s.He fell heavily to his knees, a stunning jolt, and Sophie raised her leaden arms.
“S-s-s-s—” He stuttered, his lips working over the word.
He’s still trying to say my name.Her heart cracked.She finally got her arms around him.
“That’s nice,” she murmured.“Do you do parties?”
And the darkness became complete, the heat of Cullen’s drink deserting her at last.Even as she drifted away she saw themajirsmiling with approval, stroking Zach’s trembling shoulders.
“Sophie—” He was hoarse, his voice scraped raw.
She was out.Again.
twenty-six
Two dayslater Zach was still on the knife-edge between wanting to kiss her so hard she couldn’t breathe—or shaking her so hard her head bobbled.
She’d been deep in shaman-sleep, the restorative, vulnerable unconsciousness replenishing more than just the body.She smelled like a full shaman now, and a powerful one, too.
Zach held out his hand, watching his own fingers vibrate.The rage wasn’t completely gone, but breathing in her smell kept it tightly leashed.It would take weeks for the adrenaline and violence to fade.
They were nervous around him.Not his Family, but the sleuth who owned this house, and even the Tanuki healer-shamans who came to visit, smoothing their slim clever hands over Sophie and reassuring everyone that she would, indeed, be all right.
The sun had come out, and it filled the small room.Sophie’s pale eyes were open, and she was looking at him.
He tried to figure out what her expression was, failed miserably.Down the hall Julia was humming in the bathroom, Eric was probably in the kitchen downing shots with a couple of the Felinii, and Brenn was out looking for a new van.They all slept in this room, piled on the floor, Zach waking up every hour to make sure Sophie was still breathing.
Her lips were dry, and slightly parted.She examined him for a long breathless while, her grey gaze steady.
Zach stood, frozen in place.Was she disgusted?Still frightened of him?Angry?Had he tried to hurt her?Brenn said he hadn’t, but you never knew, with the beast’s rage burning in your veins.She probably had no idea how to even begin handling it—but she’d brought him out, hadn’t she?
Silence stretched between them, the animal shifting restlessly inside his bones.
When she pushed the covers back he almost tripped over himself getting to the side of the bed.“Take it easy, Sophie.Just take it real?—”
“To hell with taking it easy.”Hoarse but steady.“I want a shower and a toothbrush and some fresh clothes.I feel greasy.”
She sounds fine.Thank God.
