Of Blood and Twisted Roots (Rise of the Morphlings Book 1)
Page 14
Fuck me. It was relentless. How was I going to get out of this one? I was much slower than the panther. Its agile body was made for quick movements, while I was clumsy, and untrained.
I gasped as a thought ran through my head. If I could turn into anything, I could probably turn into one of them--a lethal panther.
My body tingled and before I knew it, a growl ripped through my throat. In mid stride toward me, the panther faltered, its front leg giving out. I smiled, but in the panther body, it looked like a snarl. It pushed up to its feet again and stared. I didn’t wait until it realized I was a Morphling. I jumped forward, aiming right for its neck as it had done to me. My sharp teeth clamped through fur, and then muscle. I shook my head until I heard a crack that told me I had broken its neck.
I dropped the limp body. My mouth had the most awful taste in it as it filled with saliva. Pink tinted spit dripped from my muzzle as I looked for my guys. I’d figured out a way to take these things out. I could actually help.
The crystal clear vision of the panther made everything look like it was 3D even though the colors were all off. Riah was holding his own against one panther. Mekhi, on the other hand, was covered in scratches and looked like he was going to fall over at any second.
Seeing him that way made my body bunch. Without even thinking, I coiled, readying my body to spring. With a roar, I unleashed the full fury of the panther and ran toward the panther circling my serpent mate. I ran and slammed into its side, pushing his body up with my head. He flew through the air, but landed perfectly on its feet facing me.
Shit. This one was not going to be an easy kill.
It eyed me with a ferocious glare. We parried back and forth, slapping out with our paws. I knew he was just toying with me. Anger ripped through me. Whatever he had in fighting ability, I matched him with the need to save my mates from the same fate of the owl people. How dare they do this to them? The owl people were as reserved as they came. They weren’t fighters like the wolves or the serpents. They were the wise ones. They attacked an innocent group.
His paw lashed out, biting into my cheek. A half growl, half cry gritted out through my fangs.
“Anika!” Mekhi yelled, his voice desperate with worry.
Overconfident, the panther stepped back a few paces. Its lips turned up as if it were laughing at me. Fuck that. I ran forward and then ducked to the side. It lifted its left paw to swipe at me, but I was already under it with a straight shot to its body. I sprang forward and latched my teeth into its side. Shaking my head, I ripped into its abdomen.
It fell to the ground, his body wheezing as blood ran from my puncture marks. The metallic-gamey taste of its blood ran from my muzzle. Quickly, I pounced for the head of the panther and snapped its neck between my teeth.
Just one more to go.
I prowled through the low grass to sneak up behind the one attacking Riah. Riah batted at it. At the same time, I jumped on its back and latched on. It was like riding a bull, the thing bucked like crazy to the point that I had to dig my claws in as well to hold on.
Riah didn’t waste any time using my distraction to his advantage. All I saw was his gleaming white fangs before they buried into the black fur.
The panther stumbled, then fell to the ground. I didn’t let go until I looked over and saw that Riah had ripped out its throat. That would do the job. I released my grip and walked over to Riah. His remarkable wolf eyes blinked at me. His muzzle was stained in blood too. What a pair we probably looked like. I rubbed my muzzle against him. Turning to Mekhi, I snuggled up against his leg, showing the worst signs of the attack. Blood seeped through his pants.
I didn’t know if it was because I was in full on animal mode, but I rubbed up against them both again. These men were mine and they would smell like me now.
A cry sounded from the direction Shane had left in and without another thought, I took off toward him. Using my sense of smell to lead me to him, I darted down paths and leapt over obstacles.
When the full scene came into view, I skidded to a stop, my claws digging into the earth. In an instant, I changed back to the real me.
Shane was on the ground helping a scratched up Eli to his feet. The fact that I was naked never crossed my mind as I ran the rest of the way over and helped him stand.
I examined his body as he stood on two shaky legs. From what I could see he was scratched up, but nothing life threatening. I was so relieved that at least one of them had made it and that it was Eli. He’d been a friend, an ally. Not to mention that he had information about what was going on here. He’d been the one to tell me everything I needed to know.
I took a deep breath, happy that there was at least one light in this bleak tunnel. Eli was alive.
“Why did this happen? I thought it was over. I put the moonstone on her head,” I told Eli, hearing the panic creep into my voice. I didn’t understand it at all.
Riah and Mekhi came up behind me and laid a hand on each of my shoulders. Just them doing that helped soothe me enough to get the craziness in my head in order. I had to calm down so I could actually think through this new twist known as my life.
“We were wrong,” Eli said, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked all around him, his face getting more pale as he did so. “I do not know how, but we were.” Finally, his stare landed on me. “The end is coming and you are the only one who can stop it, Anika. You need to find the elders. They are the only ones who can help you know. Go to the dark woods and find the fae they will lead you--AHH!” Eli screamed as a giant panther jumped from the woods behind us. I hadn’t even noticed it until it was too late. Its fangs were already sunk into Eli’s fragile skin. The panther jerked, and Eli’s head went with it. Eli’s body slumped to the ground in front of us, Shane still grasping his arm while his head flew in the other direction.
The giant Panther landed in front of us. It reached up to swipe away the blood on its mouth and then bowed its head before changing into a beautiful nude woman. Flaming red hair billowed out around her. Glowing green eyes scored right through me, but all I could look at was the crescent birthmark on her forehead.
Artemis.
The goddess examined all of us as we poised to fight. In the most beautiful voice I'd ever heard, she said, “Hello, my children. You have been very naughty.”
Beth Hendrix
Beth is a single mother of two, who has worked in a custom cabinet shop since she was young. She always has so many ideas flowing in her head, but never thought that writing was a reality until some other amazing authors pointed out that she could. She loves all things paranormal, and has a very unhealthy obsession with chocolate and doughnuts. She can usually be found chasing after her kids, typing like a mad woman or lost in a book.
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_______________________
E. M. Moore
USA Today Bestselling Author E. M. Moore loves everything paranormal--especially witches. She's visited Salem more than a few times and can't get enough of their ghost tours and witch museums. She's written in every major genre, but fantasy is her first love. She currently has books out in Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Witch Cozy Mysteries.
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Other Books by the Authors
Beth Hendrix
Demon Exchange Series
Hoodwinked
Losing Alyanna (Can be found in the What goes bump in the night Ant
hology)
Underworld Falling Series
Nightmare (Can be found in the All Hallowed Tales Anthology)
E. M. Moore
Ravana Clan Vampires Series
Chosen By Darkness
Into the Darkness
Falling For Darkness
Surrender To Darkness
Ravana Clan Legacy Series
A New Genesis
Tracking Fate
Cursed Gift
Coveted by the Dark Series
Thirst For Her
Order of the Akasha Series
Summoned By Magic
Tempted By Magic
Ravaged By Magic
Indulged By Magic
Chronicles of Cas Series
Reawakened
Hidden
Power
Severed
Rogue
The Adams’ Witch Series
Bound In Blood
Cursed In Love
Witchy Librarian Cozy Mystery Series
Wicked Witchcraft
One Wicked Sister
Wicked Cool
Wicked Wiccans
The Story Continues…
Of Clans & Kinship:
Rise of the Morphlings Book 2
We fulfilled the prophecy, but it was wrong. Now Mother Panther is awake and wreaking havoc.
It is said only a Morphling can return Artemis to her eternal sleep...and I am the only Morphling left.
With the earth in utter chaos, we search for clues to help us defeat the tyrannical goddess, for good this time.
Dealing with three mates--and finding others along the way--is proving challenging as we figure out where we stand and how to save the world.
Will I be able to stop the reign of Artemis, or will the world burn?
Coming Late September/ Early October