Anomaly (Causal Enchantment #4)(16)

I felt pity for him. Still, I couldn’t keep the sneer from my lip, ready to show him just how useful my magic was at inflicting pain to insolent bastards.

If not for the sudden burst of purple light flashing from my wrist, I might have.

It was time.

“Follow me.”

Like ghosts, we passed through the streets at inhuman speeds, the call from the bracelet growing stronger with each block. When we rounded a corner to see people screaming from a boutique hotel, we knew we’d found our first battle site.

Chapter Three – Evangeline

“Was I like this?” I leaned against the tunnel wall, Max’s head resting on my lap, my attention riveted to the woman and man who lay motionless about ten feet away. Earlier, when Caden had led me out to them before leaving for New York City, they were already covered in puke. Much to my relief, Caden confirmed that I had missed the actual vomiting part of the transformation phase.

No, you were different.

“Of course I was.” Why did I always have to be different? “Is this normal?” Aside from some beads of sweat, I’d seen nothing to indicate that they were even alive. I certainly sensed no heartbeat.

From what I’ve seen, yes. Though, I’ve only watched this transformation a handful of times. Well, a paw-ful, Max’s deep voice rumbled inside my head, followed by that odd snorting sound that meant he was laughing.

His tacky joke made me smile and earned him an ear scratch.

“Didn’t Mortimer turn anyone before he lost the ability?”

In case you hadn’t noticed, Mortimer generally despises everyone. He wasn’t keen on creating fledglings. Said he was afraid they’d hang off him like glue.

“Hmm … I guess that makes sense,” I said as he leaned into my hand. “Hey, I thought you didn’t like being scratched like this.” Max may once have been a dog but he’s been this giant three-hundred-pound werebeast for almost four hundred years. He took offense to all comments and gestures that alluded to him still being a dog.

I suppose a few ear scratches are fine.

I could always rely on Max’s droll sense of humor. “What do you think is wrong with me?”

You mean besides the new color of your eyes?

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

I take it Caden didn’t mention it, he muttered. Sure, leave it to good ol’ Max to break the news. Why not?

I sat up straight. “Break the news about what, Max?” When he didn’t answer, I grabbed hold of one of his ears and yanked.

He grunted in pain. They may be more yellow than brown, okay?

I let go. “May be? How much more yellow? What do you mean, yellow …” Panic bubbled up. “Like Rachel’s eyes?” It seemed an eternity had passed since I last had to face that viper.

I wouldn’t say as scary as that.

His words offered zero comfort. “But they’re bad? You’re telling me they’re bad. I’m supposed to wake up beautiful and instead they gave me yellow snake eyes. Why would the Fates do that to me?” I banged my fist against the dirty stone floor.

They’re not bad. They’re just different.

I searched for a smart-ass remark, but a change in Cecile instantly pulled my thoughts away from ugly yellow eyes. “Do you see that?” I whispered excitedly. In awe, I watched as the two puncture wounds on the side of her neck, where Mage had injected her venom, began to shrink until nothing but a hint of dried blood remained. Other things changed as well. The ends of her frizzy blond hair smoothed into shiny waves, as if she’d spent hours in a salon. A small scar near her left earlobe vanished; her splotchy complexion smoothed to a porcelain finish. Even her body, already slender, seemed to fill out slightly.

Cecile’s going to wake up first, Max informed me. When she does, pierce that blood bag and shove it into her face. We may as well get them feeding right away. Saves us from having to chase them down.

I was completely enthralled, watching her transformation. My eyes darted back and forth between her and the unconscious man—Brian, I remembered Kait calling him—a man in his forties with salt-and-pepper hair. He was moving through his final stage as well.

Finally, Cecile’s eyelids fluttered open, revealing bright cornflower blue irises.

Break the bag now, Max instructed.

I listened, stabbing my thumb through the plastic. I tried to staunch the blood flow. With the blood shortage, we couldn’t waste a drop.

A second passed and Cecile was on her feet, her wide eyes taking in our primitive surroundings. She finally looked at me, quickly zoning in on the bag in my hand.

Her nostrils flared.

I tossed the bag to her feet just as those pretty eyes began to morph, as her lip curled back into a vicious sneer. She dropped to her knees, teeth sinking into the fluid. Yet again, the difference between the other fledglings and me was becoming more and more apparent.

Had the Fates made me the village idiot of fledglings?

So focused on Cecile, I hadn’t noticed that Brian had regained consciousness until he was already on his feet, his cognac-colored eyes morphing with the reaction to human blood.

Bag! Now! Max ordered.

I tossed it and Brian caught it midair, biting down until crimson spurted out the sides.

“What now?” I mumbled quietly to Max.

Grab the crate of blood and start moving toward the haulage tunnel. We need to lead them there.