The wolves kept coming, curling their lips and baring their teeth.
“It’s fine,” I assured her…until one beast lunged.
I swung as white fangs glinted, and the beast’s teeth sank deep into my forearm. Mother Night! I unleashed a roar, drove my fist upward, connected with the beast’s jaw and dropped it where it stood. The other wolf lunged forward, only it didn’t come for me. It went for Violet.
The fuck you do.
I lunged, grabbed the wolf around the neck before I sank my teeth into the beast’s neck hard enough for the creature to yelp and claw to get away. I let it go, watching the creature drop to the ground and slink off. “Do not come after my female.”
The sky above let out a savage roar and smacked me in the head.
What is it with this place?
I lifted my face as the rumble sparked pure white light. The sky cracked open, blinding me. I jerked my wings up and stumbled backwards.
“Dregon!”
I tried to find her as agony tore through my eyes and stabbed through my head. “911!” I screamed. “It’s 911!”
My first instinct—my only instinct—was to protect her. “Violet! VIOLET!”
“I’m here! Dregon, I’m here!”
I narrowed on the sound as the rumble came overhead. Slaps descended, smacking my eyes and my face until the sky opened up, unleashing a downpour that roared in my ears. Dripping, I swung my gaze, turning to her, then drove my wing out until it covered her, shielding her until I knew what this beast was.
She shook her head. “It’s just a storm!” she yelled and lifted her hand, holding it outside where my expanded limb covered. “See?” she called. “It’s just water.”
Rivulets ran between her fingers and along her arm. “It’s n-not g-going to h-hurt us.”
I took a step closer as my body shuddered and shook. It was colder now. The temperature plunging fast under this…rain. I knew what that meant, especially to someone so small. We needed to find shelter. I lifted my gaze as that white, terrifying brilliance came once more, lighting up the surrounding trees.
I winced, unleashing a snarl that was smothered by the beast rumble overhead and forced myself to look as the mountain revealed itself to us. It was big, stretching up into that flickering neon power. We’d be high up there, safe from these beasts and…rain.
I grabbed her around the waist and lifted. “Hold on to me,” I barked and drove my wings down, lifting us into the air.
She wrapped her arms around my shoulders, pressing her trembling body against mine and that made me push harder, spearing us into the air and toward that towering cliff side. As the terrifying white glow ebbed, giving way to the darkness, my senses came rushing back.
I searched the cliff face, finding jagged cracks that weren’t big enough for her, let alone the two of us. The tops of trees brushed my feet as I rose higher until midway along the surface, I caught a ledge…and a cavern. One that was plenty big enough to keep us dry and safe until I could figure out what to do next.
My arms tightened around her, giving her all the warmth I could, and I drove us toward that shelter as the rain splattered against my face and stung my eyes. Rocks came close, making me steady our weight and adjust our speed. All I saw was that hollow as I gave a roar and pushed harder.
My muscles strained with the effort. Agony flared deep, cutting through the muscles along my back until my body burned with the effort. With one last push, I shot us higher, then eased, balancing the descent and touched down on the jutting ledge.
She still held on. Her eyes slammed closed and her face pressed hard against my chest.
“You can look now.”
Still, the tiny mortal wrapped those legs tighter around my waist until I wore her like a damn vest.
My pulse thundered as that thought hit me and my body welcomed the image.
Her, naked, smothering my body. It could tempt me. Mother Night it could tempt me.
My wings dropped, settling as that ache settled deep into tired muscles and strained tendons.
I lifted my arm and winced at the burn. Trembling fingers brushed her dripping hair. She was protected by the mountain and me. That booming in my chest grew louder as I looked down at her. “Violet.”
She slowly lifted her head, her hair plastered against her face. It was all I could do not to kiss her right here.