Page 65 of Wolves Always Bite

Adrianwhimpered.Hishands clenched and unclenched.

“Ilove you, wolf man,”Isaid.

Thiswasn’t howI’dplanned to tell him.And, truthfully, it was way too early to have feelings like that, but hey, if this was my last hurrah,Iwas going to make it count for something.

Mywerewolf’s eyes turned glassy.

“Move,”Babettesaid.

Istepped forward slowly, careful not to jostle her and cause her to snap her mouth shut on my neck.Iliked my neck the way it was, thank you very much.Itdidn’t need any holes, at least not the kindBabettewould give me.Besides,Babettewas a lot heavier than she looked and walking with her on my back wasn’t easy.Shemight be short, but she was solid.

Anotherstep.

Sheslid down a little.Hermouth tightened, butIdidn’t think her teeth had broken through the skin yet.Iwas sure the dampnessIfelt on my neck was just her saliva.Unlikemy sides.Thosewere wet with blood.Iwinced, closing my eyes against the pain, as she stabbed the claws of her feet deeper into my body to keep her perch.

Iopened my eyes, trying to ask with my eyes what the plan was, because there had to be a plan.Whyweren’t any of these supes telepathic?Noone had mentioned a telepathic supe yet, butGageshould add one to his team because that would come in fucking handy.Likeright about now.

Adrian’seyes darted over my shoulder.

Didthat meanNelsonwas back there?

“Don’tdo anything stupid.”Babettegrowled as she pointed her gun directly atAdrian.

Adrian’sface contorted, his nostrils flared, and sweat dripped down the side of his face, butIdidn’t think it was because he was scared for himself.

“Thinkabout this,Babette,”Adriansaid.Hewaved toward the caged people. “Weknow about your operation now.Youcan’t think you’ll walk out of here and everything will be forgotten.Andit won’t be just this team hunting for you.Youknow that.”

IwishedIcould seeBabette’sface, but insteadIcould only feel the way her mouth moved against my skin.Italmost felt like she was smiling.Asthey talked,Ikept inching forward.

“Ifyou thinkIdon’t have a plan, you’d be wrong.”

“Whatdoes that mean?”Adrianmoved slightly closer to us.

“She’stelling the truth,”Dillonsaid.Basedon whatI’dlearned about hellhounds since discovering myBFFwas mated to one,Iknew he was able to tell when someone lied.

“Sheisn’t concerned about us,”Gageagreed.Hiseyes were still all red and swirly. “Hergreatest want is to eliminate us, and she thinks she’s already done that.”

“Ididn’t find a demon, butIdid find a bomb,”Nelsonsaid.

Babettejerked at the sound of his voice behind us, but she didn’t let go.Instead, she cackled. “It’sa handy little bio bomb.Onethat doesn’t hurt goblins but will wipe out the rest of you.Icouldn’t resist toying with you whileIwaited for the thing to count down.”

Mystomach dropped.Abomb.Onethat only she would walk away from.Allthose caged people didn’t have a chance.Ashand the others were here too.Theycould move fast, but it might already be too late.

AndAdrian…Myeyes locked on his.

Astrangely familiar energy grew inside of me, so much like the sensationI’dhad whenAdrianandIhad made love for the first time thatIstaggered.Wasthis what love felt like?Orwas it something else?

Hairsall over my body rose.Myskin tingled.Warmthfilled my chest.

Adrian’seyes widened andIwondered if he felt it too.

“Whatis wrong with him?”Babettesquawked and jumped off me, ripping through the flesh where she’d been digging in her claws.

Gageflew toward her in a blur, but it was too late.Deepinside meIfelt the moment the timer on the bomb reached the end.Whiteheat exploded through me.AllIcould think about was savingAdrian.SavingAsh.Savingeveryone in this terrible awful place.

Purewhite light poured out of me.Whatthe hell was that?Iwas just a human.Thiswas not normal.HadAdriangiven me magical cooties?

Ididn’t know what it was or what it was meant to do but thought gave way to instinct, and my instinct screamed “protect, protect, protect.”Withoutlooking,Iinstinctively knew this strange light had attached itself to the bomb just as it detonated.Ripplesof power rolled from me to the bomb and back again through the light being cast from my body.Lightand heat blasted through me.Andit was so freaking loud!LikeI’dcreated my own personal sonic boom.