Page 183 of Volik

The boy—dressed in just a pair of baggy shorts—stops at the curb and waves back. “Hi,” he says to Nix, then looks up at me. “Is it true you can fly?”

“It is true.” I look over my shoulder to where Henry and his mate are still standing on their front step. Then I bend down, getting closer to the pup’s level. “Would you like to see it?”

The kid’s eyes go wide as he nods with jerky movements.

Nix snickers beside me. “I thought you weren’t supposed to jump on pack land.”

I smirk. “I am not. But my new friend here will not rat me out.”

The kid shakes his head. “I won’t tell nobody.”

“See?” I tell Nix. “Plus.” I look back down at the pup. “If your Alpha finds out, tell him I owe him a small favor.”

The kid looks back and forth between Nix and me, finally settling on my mate. “You gonna let him do it?”

Nix taps a finger against her chin, then she grins. “Da. But we should hurry.”

The kid turns his head and shouts over his shoulder. “He’s gonna do it!”

Three more pups pop their heads up from behind the bush.

Nix faces me. “Better make this good for your audience.”

Since I am already showing off…

I reach down and lift Nix with one arm, tucking her against my side, with her legs wrapped around my waist and her arms around my neck.

“You pups ready?”

They nod.

“Brace yourselves.” I gather my power. “And don’t blink.”

Chapter 76

The Pup

The gigantic vampire bends his knees while his pretty mate hugs him.

I do the same thing, bracing myself like he said.

Then they blur. Right in front of me.

Shooting straight up into the sky like a bullet.

I start to whoop, but then something crashes into me. Like wind. But it’s heavy.

And it’s full of energy.

I grin even as I stumble backward.

Excited by the wave of power knocking us over, my wolf bounds free. And when I hit the grass, I’m on all fours.

Then I lift my head and howl.

Chapter 77

Nix