Alvin’s deep voice boomed from behind Myles.
Myles jerked away from Erin, turning toward the vampire. Jamie was still facing the wall, looking at a serene painting of children in London’s Hyde Park. Myles felt Erin retreat toward the windows.
The vampire leapt toward Myles, vaulting over the couch toward him. Myles squared himself to absorb the blow, but a dark shadow collided with Alvin, sending the mass crashing against the side table and then the sideboard. Glass shattered and wood snapped under the weight.
Jamie’s shift from man to werewolf had been silent and effortless. His massive body moved with ease as he twisted, tumbling with Alvin. The two rolled across the floor back toward the fireplace. A low, vibrating growl echoed in the room. The fire brought Jamie’s auburn coat to life, a shimmering wave of red-gold fur.
Myles watched the other vampire. Agnes looked torn between intervening in the fight on the floor and running away. She met Myles’ gaze and he shook his head. Agnes scowled and bared her teeth at him. He returned the expression.
Jamie snapped. Alvin shrieked and jerked his hand from the wolf’s mouth. Jamie grunted as Alvin slammed his fist into the wolf’s chest. Ribs cracked.
Myles felt Erin approach him from behind. She laid a hand on his arm. “Come, Colonel,” she said again, ignoring the tussle on the floor. “You must have known I would know you were here. Let’s stop this now.”
“Jamie,” Myles commanded, letting Erin draw close to him.
Jamie snarled, rolling onto his feet and stepping back from the vampire. Alvin pushed himself up on his feet.
Myles glanced at his partner then turned toward Erin. He smiled at her and in one smooth, sweeping motion he caught her chin, bent his head to hers and twisted, his fingers tightening against her skin. Her neck snapped before she had time to realize Myles wasn’t under her spell. Erin fell in a graceful arc then dropped to the floor with a thud – all her magic vanished.
“Stop,” Myles said, turning toward the vampires and jerking the dark glasses from his face.
The two vampires crouched, preparing to attack once more.
“Do not force my hand,” Myles whispered, his eyes contracting.
Alvin sneered. “You cannot kill us, wolf.”
Myles scowled, his eyes still on the pair of vampires. Alvin’s face lit up with malevolent desire. Jamie growled. Agnes hissed. Myles remained silent for a moment.
“I know the risks,” he said. “It’s worth it to me, if you press your luck. I advise you to go.”
Agnes said, “Alvin? Leave it. For now.”
Alvin’s dark eyes became slits and he seemed to disappear, little more than a dark blur as he moved toward Myles. It took only a second for Myles to see the threat. He shifted. When Alvin reached Myles he came face to face with an enormous white wolf with glacial blue eyes and a muzzle of jagged, sharp teeth.
Alvin twirled away with the same speed, dancing past Myles. The white wolf moved with blazing fast, elegant speed, spinning and lunging in one single motion. He snapped at Alvin, gripping the vampire’s forearm and jerking, twisting the vampire back toward him. Alvin snarled and jerked his arm free. Tatters of cloth dangled from Myles teeth.
Agnes watched the fight without moving. Jamie shuffled toward her, a low growl of warning the only sound.
Myles squared himself on Alvin and shook himself, setting all his heavy white hair on end. Alvin and the wolf met midair. The collision reverberated and fanned the flames in the grate, sending sparks into the room. Myles snapped and jerked his head, coming away with two of the vampire’s fingers. Alvin howled, holding his left arm in his right hand. Myles landed softly and turned to look at the vampires. Jamie vaulted over the dead body on the floor and came to rest next to Myles.
The two vampires stared at the wolves for a moment then turned, threw open the door and fled.
The red wolf turned to the white. Myles had shifted, returning to his human form in the blink of an eye.
“Let’s go,” he said. “They’ll begin to wonder about the Siren. The vampires are doing us a favor, running like they did.”
Jamie shifted as Myles pushed open a window and the two men jumped one after the other into the dark night. They ran naked toward their car, dodging lights and seeking out shadows.
Myles sighed as he turned the wheel toward his apartment outside the city. The lights of the city were dim behind his dark tinted windows. He scowled.
“Well,” Jamie said, pulling on a black shirt, “I didn’t kill anyone.”
About the Author
Jackie MacKenzie grew up in the pretty part of Montana. She is a veteran of the Iraq War, as well as Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Southern Watch. She has a degree in English from the University of Maryland University College. In her free time she works as a bookkeeper (where she puts that degree to good use). She is the author of Call Down the Moon. You can find her online at www.jackiemackenziebooks.com
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