Page 72 of Hunted By Her Demon Wolves

Cupius powers? A wish granter? That explained how Tigress’s den had all those supplies.

Cadmus shook his head, his voice ringing with disgust. “We drained their blood.”

Damon gave her an apologetic look. “We couldn’t function without fresh blood when we were lechers.”

“I’m not judging you.” She squeezed his knee, looking from Damon to Cadmus. “You were spellbound.”

They both visibly swallowed. Damon looked down at his feet and Cadmus refused to meet her gaze, choosing instead to look at something beyond Damon’s shoulder. They were both obviously traumatized by their actions. She didn’t think hell had any therapists, but they certainly needed it after what they’d been through.

“What’s the third dimension like?” She had to know if Tigress would be okay.

Cadmus frowned, rubbing the stubble on his chin. “I’m not sure, but it can’t be any worse than this one, especially not when one of her mates is a cupius.”

Phoenix buried her face in her hands, stifling a groan. “How will we find the rest of the crystal now?”

“Let’s just work on defeating Gorgo and saving my brothers,” Damon answered, his voice laced with pity.

What if they were stuck in this dimension forever? They would have to find a way to defeat Gorgo. It wasn’t like Daeva could come get her since Phoenix had stolen their only crystal. It had been worth it, though. She pulled back her hands, inwardly smiling as she looked up at Cadmus. He was standing beside her, nostrils flaring while he scanned the wasteland, light from the hazy sun reflecting off his silver skin.

How she wished for a few more stolen moments with him, that they could go back to that cave and make love once more. He’d been sweet and gentle when she’d needed it, passionate and fierce when she’d wanted it. He was more than a beta. He’d been a brave protector, filling in the alpha roles, too, and she would forever be indebted to him for keeping her safe, however long forever would be. She jerked back when he let out a low wolf growl.

His lips pulled back in a snarl, hair sprouting all over his face. “We’ve got bigger problems.”

She stood, staring out across the desert at what looked like spilled ink rolling down a dune. “What is that?” She squinted at the ink as it moved toward them with amazing speed. They reminded her so much of the spiders that had attacked her family near the Hoia Baciu. She clutched her throat.Ancients, no!

Cadmus’s eyes flashed red. “Run!”

She latched onto her mates’ arms and teleported them across the desert.

“Teleporting is easier than running.” She winked at Damon. “Don’t you agree?”

A thunderclap rent the air, and millions of black spiders poured out of a giant rip that formed on the dune across from them.

What the hell? The spiders could teleport, too!

Cadmus hit the dune with his wind. The spiders dispersed, but many took to the air, riding out the wind in an arc before floating back down. Flying spiders?

Cadmus transformed into a big, black wolf.Shift!

Damon immediately shifted, whimpering while nudging her leg with his nose.

“The crystal and the claw!” She stepped back, jerking them out of her pockets.

Cadmus snapped at her, the clap of his strong jowls echoing across the sand.I don’t give a fuck! You can’t outrun them on your demon legs.

Cadmus snapped at her again, and she shifted with a howl, then snatched up the shards and claw, along with a mouthful of sand, and raced after Cadmus, Damon following at her heels.

They ran up one dune and down another, those crystal peaks looming larger. She kept tossing glances over her shoulder, dismayed to see that black ink spill had grown. The spiders were drawing closer.

Faster!Cadmus yelled.

She pushed herself harder, willing her legs to move faster, all while trying not to choke on the objects clenched in her teeth or the grit that coated her mouth.

She smelled the water rushing from the nearby river, felt the dampness of saltwater on her skin. Cadmus was leading them to the river. She could hear the patter of their feet clicking across the desert, and nearly stumbled when she looked over her shoulder. They were only a few feet behind Damon, and she couldn’t mind-speak him to warn him, so she howled a warning instead (as much of a howl as she could manage with the objects in her mouth). It worked, because Damon caught up to her, his tongue lolling as the muscles in his legs rippled beneath his fur. Her paws burned and her ribs ached, but she pushed herself harder, praying they made it across.

She yelped when they slid down an incline toward the narrow embankment. She kept her eye on Cadmus’s tail and his movements as he leapt across the river. She and Damon followed, and she barely cleared the river, scrambling over the embankment to the other side. She came to a skidding halt when Cadmus turned around, facing the river.

She turned, too, her jaw dropping at the sight—a sea of black spiders with red glowing eyes for as far as she could see. The frontline was positioned at the bank of the river, raising up on their back legs and hissing like demonic snakes.

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