Page 21 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

Did you not hear the screams?

With a haughty huff, she says,Fine, but soon.

Yeah, yeah.

“Let’s go,” I say, starting down the hall and dragging Carter along with me.

Everett, Draco, and Brayden fall in behind us. A sweep of cool air washes over me and an icy finger traces down my neck. I toss a glare at Brayden, but his hands are at his sides. The curious smile he’s wearing makes me uneasy. Can he use both forms, or is he stuck to the one now?

I focus on the ballroom doors again, fighting off a wave of nerves when the cackle from earlier—Jinx’s maniacal laugh—reverberates through the air.

“You know what makes you all so soft, don’t you?” she asks as we enter the ballroom.

Morg and Layla are lying on the floor. Neither are moving. My stomach cramps and churns with unease. I rush toward them but stop when Jinx steps in my path, blocking me. The woman’s eyes are so white it’s creepy, and the skirt on her ridiculous gown is so big it brushes against my legs even though she’s a few steps away.

“Hello, my pretty.”

I squint at her. “You chose to play the ugly witch.” Despite her crazy eye color and being an insane demon, Jinx is pretty.

She grins. “Perhaps, but underneath all the green skin and warts, I have a feeling she was more beautiful than Glinda, the dunce.” Leaning closer, Jinx whispers, “Besides, I quite like being wicked.”

Stepping toward her, I clench my hands into fists. “If you hurt them—”

“Relax, your friends are asleep. For now.” Her eyes stray over my shoulder, taking in the men. “I see you’ve found your harem.”

She knows about Adler,Joan says.

Of course she does, she locked him in here with us.

“Do you know the answer?” she asks, grabbing my arm in a firm grasp. Her fingers are freezing and my skin goes numb where she’s touching me.

“What?” I try to tug out of her hold.

She yanks me closer, bringing the scent of dead roses with her. I gag on the heady smell filling my nostrils.

“The heart makes you soft.” Her nails dig into my biceps hard enough to draw blood. “Where do you think you’re going?” she asks with a growl, flinging her other hand up and blasting the men with some sort of power.

They fly back and hit the wall. Each landing in crouches, ready to launch themselves at Jinx.

“Morg will die if you take another step.” She tips her head and tsks at Draco’s growling. “Do you think Raven will forgive you for getting her friend killed?”

Everett’s fingers curl into fists, but heeds her warning. Carter glances around the room, probably trying to figure out how we can get out of this. I already have a plan.

Going limp, my body starts to drop toward the floor, forcing Jinx to let go or follow me down. As soon as her hand is off of me, I kick at her legs, connecting with her freezing form.

“You little witch.” She grabs my hair, yanking on it hard enough to make me grunt in pain.

Before she pulls me all the way to my feet, I punch her right in the vagina, making her scream in rage. I may not be a warrior, but I know a few things. The self-defense moves Aunt Lou taught me have never been more appreciated. Her grip on my hair loosens, and I duck, grinding my teeth as a few strands are ripped out with the maneuver, but I’m out of her hold and that’s all that matters. Crouching on the ground, I kick at her but miss when she spins away.

“Bad decision.” Jinx disappears and reappears next to Morg. Her hand turns transparent, and she plunges it into Morg’s back.

Morg’s shrill cry is immediate and filled with agony. Her body curls into a ball, trying to hide from the pain.

“No!” I scramble to my feet. “Leave her alone.”

Jinx lifts her gaze to meet mine. “Soft,” she whispers, withdrawing her hand and making it solid once more.

Morg’s fingers press into the marble, and her arms shake as she tries to crawl away.

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