Wildfire Griffin (Fire & Rescue Shifters: Wildfire Crew #1)(67)

“Yes.” Seth’s mirrored sunglasses reflected the dull red light of the approaching fire. “But she said you were staying up here.”

“I don’t have time for a debate.” He barely held back the alpha voice. It wouldn’t help to reduce the man to a sniveling wreck again. “Buck put me in charge. I’m ordering you to leave.”

Instead, Seth came closer. He licked his lips. “I already sent my squad away. Now yours is gone too. It’s just you and me.”

The back of his neck crawled. If he’d been in his griffin form, his hackles would have raised. “Seth, whatever idiocy you’re thinking of committing, don’t. Last chance. Get out of here.”

Seth took another step forward, as if he hadn’t spoken. His voice dropped to an oily hiss. “I’ve been waiting for this.”

His griffin snarled, straining against his control. Kill! Tear out its throat!

It wasn’t like his animal to be so bloodthirsty. He shook his head, trying to push back the odd, growing rage. Seth was emptyhanded, not even armed with a shovel. The man couldn’t possibly hurt him.

“You’ve made this easier than I expected, sending them all away like that.” Seth’s mouth stretched in a thin, close-lipped smile. He was almost within arms’-reach now. “I thought I’d have to catch her alone. Take her in order to slip past your guard.”

“Okay, we’re done,” Rory announced. He switched to the alpha voice. “Back off.”

Seth lunged. It was so utterly unexpected, Rory was taken completely off-guard. The man moved fast as a snake, far faster than any human should be able to move.

Seth’s weight crashed into him. They both went over, Seth on top. His cap and sunglasses flew off.

Rory stared up into glittering red eyes. Small horns bulged out from Seth’s distorted forehead. Seth’s lips peeled back to expose needle-like fangs.

“Now your strength will be mine,” the creature hissed, and sank its teeth into his neck.





Chapter 33





Edith knew it was the right thing to do. She knew she was just a distraction. She knew she couldn’t help him.

And yet, she also knew that this was wrong.

It was wrong, all wrong, to be walking away from Rory. She had the oddest sense of being stretched, as though there was an invisible elastic band between them. With every step, her discomfort grew.

“We should go back,” she blurted out.

Callum stared straight ahead, striding so fast she could barely keep up with him. “Can’t.”

“But Rory needs us.” She tried to stop, but she was stuck in the midst of the squad. She had to keep going, or get run over. “I don’t know how I know, but I do. We have to go back.”

Callum shook his head sharply. His steps never paused. “Can’t.”

“Joe.” Edith twisted round, seeking an ally. “You said yourself that he needed help. I’m begging you, go to him.”

Joe twitched, grimacing in a parody of his usual easy smile. “I wish I could. But Callum’s right. We can’t. None of us can.”

“It’s the alpha voice,” Wystan said, his face as white as his hair. “Rory’s special power. When he uses it, we can’t disobey.”

“Not for a while, at least,” Blaise spat out. Her fists clenched, shoulders rigid. “That short-sighted, arrogant, overgrown…when this finally wears off, I swear I will roast him.”

Edith stared around. There was something unnatural about their gaits. It was like they were being forced along at gun-point. Fenrir kept snarling and shaking his head, paws stumbling as though fighting against an invisible choke chain.

“Well, I’m not a shifter.” She planted her boots in the ground. “I don’t have to—ooof!”

Joe swept her up like a snowplow. She found herself being practically carried along, her feet barely making contact with the ground.

“Stop it!” She struggled against Joe’s chest. “Put me down!”

With a slight twinge of guilt, she kicked Joe hard in the shins. He let out a pained grunt, his grip slackening for a second. She twisted free, dancing frantically away from them all.

“I’m terribly sorry.” Wystan advanced on her like a quarterback, ready to tackle her. “We don’t have any choice. Rory ordered us to get you to safety.”

“No he didn’t,” she gasped, back-pedaling further. “He told you to go with me. And I am going back to my mate!”

All the shifters froze.

“Is she right?” Joe asked, glancing around at them all. “Does that work?”

Callum’s eyes lit up. “Yes. It does. Try it.”

Wystan straightened, rocking a little as though testing uncertain ground. “The alpha voice is very literal. I’m only feeling compelled to stay near her. Edith’s right. He ordered us to protect her, not to forcibly carry her off the mountain.”

Clever, clever Stone Bitch! Fenrir frisked around her like a puppy, his tail windmilling madly. Yes, lead us, lead the pack!

Blaise grinned, showing all her teeth. “Edith, I could kiss you. Let’s go.”

They pelted back the way they’d come. Edith led the way, following their own trampled trail through the dense undergrowth. Her heart lightened with each step.