Page 265 of Halfblood Deceived

“Useless, bitch,” Brittany growled. “Brian.”

The werewolf approached Aella in a flash and hit her hard. Her face jerked to the side, and she tasted blood. Pain buzzed in her head. But it was by far not unbearable.

Still, she didn’t want to get hit more than necessary, so she groaned, hung her head, and clenched her jaw, bracing herself.

He hit her again… and then hissed in pain, drawing back, right hand cradled against his chest. “What the fuck is she made of?”

Bright spots danced in Aella’s eyes. She blinked hard and straightened.

Brittany gave her a revolted look. “It doesn’t matter. She’ll be dead soon enough.” She walked to the table, grabbed the catheter, and attached a huge needle to it. Then she approached Aella again. “Once I drain her, she won’t be able to resist the curse, and I’ll make her do something Darkwood will never forget.” She smiled, looking diabolical. “Maybe kill a few brats in that werewolf daycare.”

Aella’s stomach turned. She barely suppressed a gag.

Carina growled at Brittany. “Are you fucking crazy?!”

“Duh,” Aella muttered.

Carina grabbed the witch’s arm. “I am not going to help you kill children—”

Brittany sank a needle into Carina’s neck with uncanny speed and injected her with something from a metallic syringe. “You won’t have a choice, bitch.”

Carina hissed and stumbled back, falling to her hands and knees. “What have… you… done?” Her body convulsed.

Brian laughed, kicking Carina’s side.

“You’re sick!” Aella cried, struggling against the cuffs.

Brittany laughed, watching as Carina whimpered and seized until she exploded into a massive wolf with white-gray fur. She whimpered and clawed at the floor with despair.

“Sit,” Brittany ordered.

Breathing hard and whimpering, Carina sat.

Cold horror gripped Aella’s chest. A low sound of panic dropped from her mouth.

Brian stared at Carina, open-mouthed. His eyes shifted as he gave Brittany a horrified look. “That’s black magic.”

“It is,” Brittany said breezily, then turned her attention to Aella. “Too bad you can’t shift like your beast of a sister. I might even keep you as a pet.”

Aella stopped breathing. No. Please no.

The sound of something or someone being tossed against the barn’s door drew Brittany’s and Brian’s attention.

“What the Hell?” Brittany asked.

Aella turned to see someone fly through the door, and right behind them came Aylana.

Sweet relief flooded Aella’s veins at the sight of her friend.

Aylana zoomed closer, but stopped midway to Aella, as something dropped from the ceiling. No, not something, someone. A vampire male that Aella hadn’t even seen or felt. She recognized him as a patron who had insulted her a while ago.

The back door of the barn was knocked down, and in came Andreas.

“Make yourself useful!” Brittany ordered Brian.

He snarled and ran toward Andreas, jumping in the air and shifting into a brown wolf before landing in front of Andreas and launching himself at the vampire.

Brittany removed a gun from under the back of her shirt.

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