Page 18 of Snips, Snails and Werewolf Tails

"Of course, you are," she says with a smile, sounding more like she is trying to convince herself than me. "You're the toughest man I know."

Elspeth starts to pull on my ties to loosen them, but nothing loosens.

"It's okay, I can use magic to break you free," she says as she straightens herself up and rolls her shoulders, readying herself to cast a spell. But before she can open her mouth, Tala appears behind her.

I see Tala's vicious face for a split second before she lunges at Elspeth and knocks her down. I pull against my chains, wanting to jump to her aid, but there is nothing I can do. Tala's eyes are murderous, like she wants to kill Elspeth on the spot.

"I knew wouldn't take long before you came for Lucian," Tala growls as Elspeth tries to get to her feet. "How foolish of you to think that you could save him all by yourself though. You should have stayed with the others. At least then you would have survived this failed rescue attempt."

I yank against my restraints so hard that I nearly break my wrists trying to get free, but I still can't break them. The vampires have a bit of a sick fascination with chaining people up, and since I'm unable to shift and bite the locks, I'm stuck.

"Tala, stop!" I scream at her, knowing that Elspeth won't stand a chance against her once Tala shifts into her wolf form. But Tala isn't going to stop. She has wanted Elspeth dead since the moment she laid eyes on her.

Tala shifts and lunges at Elspeth with her teeth bared, but as she leaps, Elspeth reaches into the bodice of her dress and pulls something out. I can't see what she has clenched in her fingers, but I watch as she shoves it into Tala's open jaw.

Instantly, Tala starts to choke. She shakes her mangy head back and forth as if she is trying to hack up a bone, and then involuntarily shifts back into her human form. I stare in shock as Tala clutches her neck with one hand and tries to reach into her throat with the other. But her attempt to pull out whatever Elspeth jammed into her fails. Whatever it was, it has already taken affect. Tala claws at her throat and struggles to breathe. In the chaos, she doesn't see Gregory and Renna, in their wolf forms, slip past her into the room.

They manage to bite through the restraints and set me free. But when I try to stand and run, I can't. I guess I'm a bit more beat up than I thought.

Without thinking, I shift into my stronger wolf form and push my muzzle against Elspeth's legs so she'll fall onto my back. Then, the four of us get out of the vampire club as fast as we can.

We run all the way to pack territory without stopping to look behind us. I can feel Elspeth on my back, pressing her chest into me as her hands grip tightly onto my fur. I'm too full of adrenaline and purpose to feel any pain.

When we finally arrive in Back Bay, it finally hits me, and suddenly every step is a struggle. I collapse in the street and Elspeth rolls off my back and away from me as I shift back into human form.

My eyelids are leaden as I stare up at Gregory and Renna. They shift back to human form too, and Gregory bends down to lift me up and toss my limp body over his shoulder. He's brutishly strong, even in human form.

"We should take him back to his apartment," Renna says. "He can rest there, and we can go check on the others."

"I'm coming with him," Elspeth says as she walks over to them. Her tone makes it clear she isn't asking for permission.

"You need to go back to the coven," Renna says. "The other witches will be looking for you."

"No, I'm staying with him, and if you try to force me to leave, I'll have no choice but to use magic on you. I can help with Lucian's injuries. I'm not leaving his side until he's recovered."

I can feel Gregory's shoulders shrug as he responds to her.

"Suit yourself," he says. "I'll send word to the coven that you're here and safe."

I want to tell Elspeth I'll be fine, and that I just need some time to heal, but I can't get the words out before everything starts to go dark. I'm too tired to do anything but sleep.

Off and on, my eyes flicker open, but only long enough to recognize the feel of my bed beneath me, and Elspeth curled on her side, sleeping beside me.

A few times, I almost wake up, but a shadowy haze keeps me sedated while my body works to repair itself. I'm not sure if it's my body keeping me asleep, or a spell Elspeth has cast on me. Either way, I am comforted by her presence.

I think that I manage to wrap an arm around her, or it's just that she's pressed right up against me. I can hear her soft, rhythmic breathing, and I can smell the sweet scent of flowers from her rooftop garden in her hair. Being wounded and asleep isn't so bad as long as she's next to me.

At some point, I'll wake up, and the conflict with the vampires and my feelings for Elspeth will need my attention.

11

ELSPETH

When I open my eyes, I see Lucian staring back at me, and I'm overjoyed. He looks almost entirely recovered.

His dark eyes are wide and alert, and he's sitting up in the bed with one arm wrapped around me. I feel a bit awkward for falling asleep and waking up in his arms.

The last thing I remember is fashioning a compress for one of the gashes on his chest. I was pressing on it while I cast a healing spell, and I must have been so tired that I fell asleep.

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