Page 141 of Hoofin’ It

“Luca Ricci,” I ground out through clenched teeth.

“How flattering. You know my name. You’ve been a thorn in my side, Shane Gibson. I would kill you, but you’ll be far more useful as a pawn forced to work at my side, turned against everything you believe, dead and gone, made new in my image, so I can savor the moment when those who claim to love you are forced to put you down. You’ll become just another monster among many. Aren’t you excited? I am. I will only regret you will be unaware of it at the end. You’ll have forgotten everything. That black werewolf is your father, is he not? I think your first task in your new life will be to kill him for me—and that red bitch of his. Your mother, right?”

I said nothing because he was right. If he turned me, I’d die and carry a new soul, one with no memory of who or what I’d once been. I should’ve been afraid, but there was no room for fear. I trembled, but in growing rage because I couldn’t pull free from the vampires holding me down.

Leaning towards me, Ricci brushed his leathery fingertips down the line of my scar over my right eye. “It burns so beautifully, this eye. Tell me, what do you see through its flames?”

Flames? Movement and a flash of green and gold drew my attention behind Ricci. Bai Bao Chen stilled, her head held high with her fire-bright eyes staring at the vampire as though she was considering the best way to slay and devour him. At her side, his suit untouched by the carnage of war, stood Ernesto.

One by one, Abil Ili and his hive shimmered into view, and their claws dripped red and black. Several more kirin popped into being, their coats stained crimson. Towering over them all was a creature with the body of a lion, the legs of a bull, and a human head on a short, sinewy neck. Great black wings banded with white folded over the shedu’s back.

I met its gaze, and it judged me with brilliant emerald eyes and found me lacking.

“Your death,” I answered, although I wondered if I’d live to see it. The shedu might choose me as the one to punish first. “You’ve made a mistake, vampire.”

Bai Bao Chen had told me she could work magic of misdirection, and I figured the kirin and the shedu were doing just that, for the vampires were behaving as though we were alone on the roof. Then again, maybe I was hallucinating. Blood loss could cause delusions, and I’d easily believe I’d conjure such an army to comfort myself.

Even if Ricci killed me, Ernesto would protect Marian. I’d already taken care of O’Conners and Stripes. They wouldn’t touch her.

That left only me. Whether I was dead or alive, if Marian stayed safe, I won.

Ricci smiled and patted my cheek. “You’re such a mouthy little delight. No wonder Chicago’s elite brood master calls you his own. I’ll enjoy taking you from him and flaunting my victory before I send him to his final sleep. Humor an old man, one soon to be your sire. How have I made a mistake?”

I counted Babylonians and did the math. “One to three odds, and they aren’t in your favor.”

“You drank too deeply, Wilhelm. His thoughts have become clouded. It’s no fun for me if he doesn’t fear me while I’m killing them.” Ricci’s gaze turned to one of the vampires pinning me from behind. “I told you when we found him to take a sip, just enough to stun him.”

“He’s already been bound, Father.”

“Bound? To who?” Ricci’s tone sharpened.

Ernesto smiled and remained quiet, watching and waiting, catching my eye and giving a slight nod.

“To Ernesto, of course. Who else? You really are as stupid as you look.”

Mouthing off to a vampire always caused trouble; in Ricci’s case, the sort of trouble born of a sharp kick to the collarbone. He rose, wound up, and kicked me hard. Bone cracked, and I shuddered from the pain. His second kick wasn’t as hard but struck the side of my throat, stunning me, and I struggled to breathe. “Ernesto is too busy fighting to save his true children to help the likes of you. This city becomes mine tonight, and you have only yourself to blame.”

Ernesto looked heavenward as though praying for patience, lifted his hand, and mimed a duck’s quacking. I found his lack of concern both comforting and disturbing.

Behind Ricci, where the roof ended in an alley, something large and black slinked over the ledge and landed in a crouch. In his hybrid form, Dad inspired fear, but he seemed even more menacing than usual. While smaller and younger as a lycanthrope, Mom slinked behind him with equal grace.

“I have one thing to say to you, Ricci.”

The vampire hissed at me. “What?”

“Woof.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Ricci broke my nose with his heel, and I swore I’d never make fun of someone for crying over a broken nose again. The pain blinded me and robbed me of breath. The flow of fresh blood stirred the appetites of the vampires, and one of them sunk his fangs into my arm before Ricci could tear him off—literally.

That would leave a scar, assuming I survived to tell the tale.

In retrospect, if I had yelped from the start, Ricci never would’ve gotten a chance to land the second blow. My pained sound unleashed my parents’ fury, and the lycanthropes abandoned their careful stalk for the sort of assault I shouldn’t have attempted.

Dad hit Ricci at full throttle, and the vampire and werewolf rolled across the roof, fur and flesh flying while the pair tore into each other. With excited yips, Mom dived into the fray, lifting her claws. She snatched one of the vampires off my back, lifted him up, and threw him off the roof, taking his place with a roar worthy of a lioness.

I’d have to remind Dad he needed to teach Mom to howl.