CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Talon shook the blood out of his eyes and pushed himself to his feet. Cliff shifted back to human form, gurgling and convulsing in his own blood.
Even as his life flowed out of him, Cliff stared at Talon with undimmed hatred. With his dying breath, he rasped to his sons, “Kill her!”
Fury surged through him and Talon charged madly, blindly forward to finish the bastard off. He bit savagely into Cliff’s jugular, delivering the killing blow. Talon almost regretted granting Cliff such a quick, merciful death. The piece of shit deserved to suffer for what he did to Bianca.
Bianca’s scream wrenched him out of his blood-soaked haze. Talon jerked away to see Rake prowling towards Bianca, his teeth bared. Before Talon could move, Rake flew at Bianca, his jaws aiming for her throat.
Talon lunged forward, his heart stopping in his chest. He knew. He knew he wouldn’t reach her in time. He would be too late to save her.
Everything happened at the same time.
As Talon tried to reach his mate, the top window of the barn exploded.
Two witches came smashing into the barn on a flying broomstick.
One of the witches jumped from the broomstick and dropped in front of Rake. She covered Bianca with her body, shielding her from the murderous wolf.
Talon pounced on Rake, slamming him to the ground. Sariah was still shielding Bianca when Yaya and Boris landed beside them.
Rake fought like a wolf possessed. He was determined to avenge his father’s death. Crazed with grief and rage, Rake attacked Talon with savage violence. The young black wolf was unstoppable and unrelenting. He kept attacking, ripping skin and flesh from Talon’s body.
Dazed and weakened by blood loss, Talon knew he was no match for the maddened, younger black wolf. Rake pinned him down and his teeth sank into Talon’s neck.
“Rake! No!” Rufus stood up and shouted. Rufus was in human form and was running towards them.
Rake turned at his brother’s voice. He narrowed his eyes at Rufus, baring bloodstained teeth at him.
“Don’t.” Rufus’s voice was quiet but authoritative. “Don’t do it, Rake. It’s over.”
Rake growled and dug his claws into Talon’s belly.
“No, Rake. Stop. He’s gone. We don’t have to be like him,” Rufus said.
Rake closed his eyes for an instant. When he opened his eyes again, Talon saw that all the rage and fight had gone out of him. Rufus came forward and held his brother back while Talon staggered away.
Talon shifted back to human form and stared at the two brothers, his eyes still glowing with rage and blood lust. His claws glinted, his wolf still in control. His beast was not appeased and refused to back down. His wolf bayed for blood, and Talon was happy to spill the blood of his enemies. No one hurt his mate and got away with it!
“Talon...” It was Bianca’s voice.
He snapped his eyes to her and saw her stretch out her hand to him. “Don’t, Talon,” she said. “Don’t kill them.”
“Why,” he snarled. “They hurt you.”
Bianca shook her head as Yaya and Sariah helped her up. “They were afraid. They were afraid of Cliff. I...I know what it’s like to be afraid of someone. You keep doubting yourself, and nothing you do is ever good enough. You’re scared of going against them because you know what they’ll do to you when they get mad.” She looked straight at Talon and said softly, “Let them go, Talon. They deserve a chance.”
Talon took a sharp breath and stepped back. He didn’t want to let them go at all. But he would do it, for his mate.
“You.” He pointed at Sariah. “Get away from Bianca! Don’t touch her, witch. You’ve caused enough trouble!”
Yaya tsked loudly. “Sariah just saved your mate. She got me and Boris here. Even with all her injuries, she rushed to get help for Bianca.” Yaya turned to Bianca and said gently, “Come on, dear. Get on the broomstick. Sit between me and Sariah, so we can keep an eye on you. I called Dr. Leela. She’s waiting for you at the clinic.”
Talon glared at them and snapped, “I can drive Bianca to the clinic. My truck is parked...”
Yaya waved a hand. “Boris is faster. I want to get both Bianca and Sariah to the doctor as soon as possible.”
Sariah protested. “No, just get Bianca there. I don’t...”
Yaya ignored her and addressed Talon, “They are both hurt,” she said quietly but firmly, her sharp, knowing eyes boring into his. “I’ll get them both to the doctor before you’re even out the door.”
As the broomstick rose into the air, Yaya quirked a smile and said, “Boris is loving his new handle, by the way. Thanks, Talon!” She slapped Boris’s bristles and shouted, “Let’s go, Boris. Giddy-up!”