Chapter 28
Cersi shivered at Tyson’s snarled declaration. Mine! The word zinged around in her skull like a ricochet. The last time she’d seen him, he offered himself to her, and she’d walked away. When she’d raced back to BlackLodge, she’d played over and over in her head how their first meeting would go since she’d run from him. In her head, it looked nothing like this. She’d hurt him. She knew she had and yet here he was. Come to her rescue like some white knight that she didn’t deserve.
“Bring them out!”
Cersi’s head whipped around to where The Council members stood. Between them, the front doors opened as a row of beautiful young women rushed out, hurried down the steps, and lined up behind the row of shifters facing off against Tyson. She couldn’t help the dread that pitted in her stomach. Who were these women? Why were they here? Were they on their cycle, meant to break Tyson’s medicine? Or worse, were they offerings? She never thought to wonder until now if Tyson would prefer a woman who was of his own kind.
Eyes darting from the women to Tyson, she felt her heart give a little fist punch of victory because Tyson wasn’t even looking at the women.
One of the men from The Council commanded, “Shift!”
Nobody moved.
Turning to eye the Councilman, Cersi felt a jolt of worry tear through her when his eyes narrowed on Tyson. “Show us your wolf, Tyson BloodMoon. Prove to us that you’re immune to a woman’s medicine.
So, the women were bleeding.
Shit!
Looking at Tyson, Cersi shook her head and mouthed, “Don’t.”
“Don’t make us draw him out,” the Councilman warned, and when Tyson still didn’t comply the Councilman huffed out an exasperated, “Fine! Regan, bring his woman.”
Regan turned and locked eyes on Cersi, but before he could take one step, Tyson bellowed, “Hey!”
Regan jerked around.
Tyson’s lip ticked up in a feral smile. “Eyes right here, fucker. Wouldn’t want you to miss the show.” Turning his attention to the Councilman, Tyson shook his head once. “When this is all over, remember that you asked for this.”
Without another word, Monster exploded from him. White fur, vibrant scars, snapping jaws, and then it was on.
The women gasped and recoiled. One of them made a break for it, and the rest quickly followed. It was a good thing too because Tyson was already tearing into the line of men who’d faced off against him. Stupid bastards. They’d brought menstruating women because they’d wanted to verify that Tyson’s medicine was stronger. They’d forgotten that while it’d prove Tyson was immune, it also meant they’d be unable to shift.
Left defenseless, they attacked as best they could, but their human forms were no match for Monster.
Cersi watched as Tyson’s animal lived up to his name. Ripping and tearing, bodies flew everywhere and cries filled the air.
Beside Cersi, Mary Alex shot The Council a scathing look and hissed, “Fools! You’d chop down the tree for one season’s worth of apples.” Turning her attention to Cersi, she pleaded, “Only you can stop him. The Monster is your animal as much as it is Tyson’s. Call to him. Calm him.”
Glancing between Mary Alex and the carnage Tyson was wreaking, Cersi had one moment’s hesitation. Tyson was right, these people had asked for this. They’d called Monster out! Still… Watching bodies fly as blood coated the snow, Cersi knew she needed to do something, especially when men began pouring out of the manor with rifles.
“Noooo!” she screamed and used all the strength she had to rush down the stairs and race for Tyson.
Engaged in battle, he didn’t hear her and continued to attack. These poor bastards were no match for Monster.
“Stop!” she screamed. “Monster, stop!”
But he was growling and snapping and over the screams of the men who were being tossed around like rag dolls, he couldn’t hear her. Racing up to him, Cersi fisted his fur and pulled hard, but he didn’t budge.
“Damn it! Tyson!” she screamed, appealing to the man since the beast was ignoring her.
Monster crunched down on some poor guy’s leg. The sound had Cersi’s stomach heaving. The scream that followed was terrifying and had Cersi flinging herself against Monster’s back. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she squeezed tight and yelled, “Please stop!”
Someone ripped her off Monster’s back. It was so unexpected that it hurt when her hands were ripped away from where they’d been gripping each other around Monster’s massive throat.
“Hey!” The guy holding her yelled, trying to get Monster’s attention.
Cersi spun in his hold and started fighting him, but he was really strong and had no problem grabbing her arms and pinning them behind her back. He spun her so that she was facing Monster again.
“I’m…trying…to help,” she grunted as she continued to struggle. Back kicking, her foot met the guy's shin, but he didn’t even grunt. When the guy wrapped an arm around her throat and squeezed too tightly, Cersi let out one last scream, “Monster!”
The beast spun and fierce flashing green eyes locked on them. There was only a brief second of ferocity before recognition hit and had Monster stilling. People scattered and ran for the Manor, but the guy choking Cersi held fast.
Monster’s eyes slid from Cersi up to her captor before Monster cracked his jaws. His front legs tensed and his massive paws curled into the snow-packed earth as an ear-splitting growl filled the clearing.
“Stop!” The man holding Cersi ordered, but Monster slowly stalked them.
The guy was holding Cersi so tight that her vision started collapsing from the outside in.
“Ty…” she wheezed and then mouthed, “Kill him!”
Her Monster obeyed. One second he was a snarling pacing demon in front of them and the next, his big body was sailing over Cersi’s head. She felt her body falling backward, but when it impacted with the guy’s body behind hers, his arm fell away, and she was able to suck in an agonized breath.
Rolling to her side, she clutched at her throat and dragged in gulps of air as her eyes sought out her attacker. His body lay motionless on the ground and his head…it was gone.
Maw dripping blood, Monster padded quickly to her. When he got near enough, Cersi fisted his fur and pulled him in close, wrapping her arms around one of his massive front legs, she clung to him.
Eyes pinched shut, they snapped open when Cersi felt an odd pulse in the air. It sent chills drifting over her skin and looking up, she watched in horror as several men staggered to their feet. Eyes locked on Tyson, they grinned wickedly as wolves burst from their skin.
Cersi had initially thought the women had run in fear of their lives, but now she understood. They had to get as far away as they could so that the men could shift and fight Tyson.
All around them men exploded into masses of fur and teeth and Cersi felt hopelessness swamp her because their numbers were too many, even for her Monster. Apparently, Monster felt different because he lowered his head and chuffed at her with his snout. Lifting a hand, she laid it on his cheek and stared into his eyes. She wanted to tell him so many things. She wanted to apologize and beg forgiveness for leaving the way she had. She wanted to tell him that he didn’t have to fight these shifters, not over her, but all she could do was stare up at him.
Monster dipped his nose pressed it against her jawline. Unable to stop herself, Cersi threw her arms around him and hugged him hard with a whispered, “Don’t let this be the end for us.”