I could catch her, the voice inside me observed.
No way am I shifting, I thought back at it.
Fine. Suit yourself, slowpoke.
The gravel and asphalt tore into my bare feet, but the thrill of the hunt
blotted any pain from my mind. The Viper was fast, but I was faster—way
faster than I’d ever been before.
You’re a werewolf now. It comes with perks, the beast inside me said.
The Viper darted around a corner. I released my claws and dug them into
the brickwork to slingshot myself around after her.
Nice move.
It was a blind alley, and my prey was trapped. She backed up as I
approached.
A week ago, I’d been a terrified girl running down an alley with a savage
werewolf on my heels. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on me, but I
didn’t care.
I gave her the look. “You’re going to answer my questions.”
The Viper pulled a little flask from her pocket and a knife from her belt.
“Don’t come any closer. I mean it.”
“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to the blue vial.
She frowned, then gave an incredulous laugh. “A potion bomb. It’ll stun
the hell out you, and then I’ll sink my knife into your throat.”
Apparently, I should have known what a potion bomb was. I was way out
of my depth. It was time for bravado and some desperate bullshit.
I began pulling the darkness around me and walked forward, drowning
my fear. Her eyes widened as I made the shadows drip down the wall like
ink, and I could smell her rising terror.
She brandished her blade. “Back off!”
I wrapped the shadows completely around myself like a black robe. “I’m
a being of shadow. Your blade, your magic—it’s meaningless to me.”
I was lying through my teeth and was very much hoping that I wouldn’t