“I’ve got to get my men out of here. Where are you?”
“Above your position thirty feet.”
“Okay, listen up. Mary said Julio’s men are leaving the club and taking up positions opposite the Strip entrance.” Another confirmation the Hummer would be lighting up Ralph’s club.
“Then it’s time we went in.” Warren still held Kiara tight. You ready for this? Because we need to go in now.
Her knees were shaking but she lifted her chin. I’m ready. I can feel the wolves. They’re in a lot of pain.
Warren nodded. I can feel them, too. Once we get inside the safe room, we should be okay.
To Fergus, he said. “We’re going in. Call Ralph. Tell him to be ready to open the door for us.”
“Will do.”
Warren squeezed Kiara’s waist again, then swept them swiftly straight to the back door which lay wide open. Once he set them on the ground, Kiara took his hand to sustain their connection then led him to the office on the left. There were bloody bodies everywhere, but Kiara didn’t let it affect her. Time to deal with the trauma later.
Once outside the safe room, Warren spoke to Fergus who relayed the message to Ralph. Seconds later, the thick steel door slid open. Kiara heard the rumbling of the Hummer as well as Fergus’s troops shouting as they fired on the vehicle from high in the air.
Once within the small, cramped space, Warren spoke into his phone to let Fergus know they were inside. He would have to inform Ralph because they were still within the invisibility shield.
A moment later, Ralph answered his phone then closed the door. Just as the bolts slid home, the mortar struck. The explosion rocked the building. The wolves, already whimpering in distress, cried out. Some were wounded in addition to suffering from the partial-shift.
Warren, we need to leave the cloak.
Let’s do it.
Just relax this time. She squeezed his hand as he nodded.
As he drew in a deep breath and she watched his shoulders drop, she configured the releasing spell. She closed her eyes and gripped Warren’s hand tighter. She felt the waves move through her and slowly eased out of the shield. Warren followed behind her.
She shifted her gaze to Warren. “Better that time?”
“Much.”
Ralph was staring at her. “Damn, woman, the things you can do.” He was a tall, lean warlock with thick curly black hair that he wore to his shoulders. He had an almost gaunt appearance and wore a silver sharkskin suit. A black cross dangled from his left earlobe. He definitely looked like a strip-club owner.
His gaze went to the wolves. “Can you help them?”
She went to Ralph first and gave him a hug. “Yes, I can.”
“Thanks.” When she released him, he crossed his arms over his chest as though holding himself together.
She slid her satchel strap over her head then went to the first half-shifted wolf. The woman’s body was twisted in agony. Her muzzle was partially elongated, ears only half-formed, her hands and feet were twisted painfully.
Kiara poured out a capful of the emerald liquid then offered it to the wolf.
The woman glanced at Warren, her lips drawn back and her fangs glistening. Warren nodded to her slowly.
Warren met Kiara’s gaze. “You’ll need to help her.”
Kiara cupped the nape of the woman’s neck then eased her head back. Tears ran from the woman’s eyes. Her fur had appeared in ugly patches on her head and down her back. Kiara tipped the liquid into her mouth.
The wolf struggled to swallow.
“You should start feeling the effects…”
Before Kiara got all the words out, the woman arched once then released a heavy sigh as her shift resolved and she was in her human form once more.