Hopefully, that would change now that she was with the wolves. Not that they were informative, or even helpful. Once again, theyd walked beside her, silent.
Now she studied them, searching for a weakness. One word described them all: gorgeous. Nathan was all white, from his hair to his skin, with eyes so pale a blue they were almost eerie. But like Riley, he was tall and leanly muscled, with a hard expression that said, Ill do anything, yeah, even stab you. Maxwell was tannera golden variation of him.
They were warriors, definitely, who looked like they ate glass shards for breakfast and anyone who got in their way for dessert.
So were not hunting witches? she asked. At this point, any other activity seemed extraneous and unnecessary. Shed thought Riley understood that, which was why shed been so surprised to see his brothers. Had he told them what she wasor rather, what she might be? He still hadnt accepted the truth.
Hunting? Finally, something from one of the brothers. Nathans voice was low and husky, like a shiver over her skin.
Were teaching you how to defend yourself, Riley said. Hunting can wait.
And let me state again that I think this is stupid, Nathan added.
Shes human. Maxwell, the other brother, had a much harder, more determined voice. Shes also fragile as hell. Werenot.
Just do it, Riley snarled at them.
Mary Ann would have cringed at his tone, but it wasnt directed at her, so she took heart. Besides, hed never looked sexier. He wore all black, and there were cuts along his forearms, as if hed recently fought something with claws.
Her knees were actually weak at the thought; she wanted to throw her arms around him and hold on forever, basking in his strength. Youre broken up, remember?
Dont cry.
Nathan shook his head. Shes yours, Ry, and we know how you are. If we bruise her
Ill behave. Another snarl from Riley. Just dont scratch or bite her.
She noticed that he didnt disabuse them of their shes yours notion. Well, she wouldnt either. Right now she felt a little too much like the cheese in a mousetrap.
Youre right. Learning to fight is important, she began. But right now there are even more important
No, Riley said, cutting her off without looking at her, there arent. Teach her how to defend herself against wolves and vampires. Everything you can in the next two hours, then she and I will be on our way.
Mary Ann gulped as realization set in. Even before saving her from the death spell, he wanted her to know how to defend herself against wolves and vamps. Which meant he thought they would figure out she was a Drainer very soon. Which meant he thought they would try to kill her. Painfully. He wanted her prepared, able to defend herself.
Would they later punish him for that?
A tremor swept through her, and those tears shed fought against burned her eyes. Shed made the right decision, ending things. She would not hurt him. Ever. Even accidentally. Even after shedied.
Look what hed donewas doingto protect her right now. He deserved better than she could give him.
Fine. Maxwell sighed.
Sure. Why not? Nathan shrugged.
Such enthusiasm. Didnt matter, though. She would listen and she would learn. She would never have another chance like this one.
Youreyoure not going to help them? she asked Riley, blushing at her stutter.
His gaze didnt flick to her, but remained on his brothers as he gave a stiff shake of his head. She remembered what shed once told him, that if he taught her how to fight, hed have to put his hands on her, and if he put his hands on her, she would want to kiss him, not learn from him. Did he remember? Did he not want her lips on his?
Oh, God. She wanted him to want her, wanted to keep him. Dont you dare cry.
How many times would she have to issue the command to herself?
Do it, he said, backing away from the group. He stopped at a tree, pressing his back into the wide trunk, and folded his arms over his middle. His expression was dark, stormy.
Do not interfere, Maxwell told him with a finger pointed at his chest.
Nathan snorted. Like hell obey you. He always does what he wants. You know that.
She nodded in agreement, and both brothers focused on her. Uh-oh. All that intensityclosing in on her, one in front and one behind. Why had she agreed to this, again?
You ready, little girl?
You gonna sob like a baby if we get a little rough?
Both were taunting her, and at first, her hackles rose. Then she remembered what Aden had told her. When fighting, emotions could ruin you. They made you dumb, kept you distracted. You had to remain distanced. You had to do whatever was needed to survive.
I feel nothing. Except nervous. Argh! She raised her chin, pretending, at least, to be calm. I wont cry if you dont.
Surprise flickered in both their eyes, and Maxwell even looked like he was fighting a grin.
Spirit, he said. Lets see how quickly we can crush it.
In a snap, they were on her, tossing her to the ground like a doll, their now sharp, long teeth near her neck. She was too shockedand terrifiedto move or even block them. Theyd swarmed her so quickly, her gaze had failed to track them.
Slowly, they backed away from her, standing over her and peering down. Something to note: they hadnt chewed her face off.
Weve got our work cut out for us, Nathan grumbled, and offered her a hand to help her up.
Her knees almost gave out when she tried to balance her weight.
Vamps and wolves are faster than any human you can imagine, Maxwell told her. Clearly, youre much slower.
Yeah, uh, I just figured that out. Thanks.
Both chuckled.
Vamps want your blood, and while they dont have to dive for your neck to get it, thats what they prefer. Its harder for humans to push them away that way. Plus, it weakens the victim faster.
So basically, were like cows to them, she said dryly.
Except, you kill cows. Vamps just drink and discard, their food still kicking when theyre done. Nathan shrugged. For the most part.
For the most part. Such a pleasant add-on. Mary Ann pressed her lips together as she recalled an exception to that for the most part. Shed watched several vampires torture and kill a boy named Ozzie. Theyd splayed him out on a tableTucker, tooand used him as an appetizer at their party, until the life drained out of him.
Either the wolves read her mind or her pinched expression gave her away. Yeah, we heard about that, Maxwell said. Like humans, there are good and bad vampires. Good and bad wolves, too.
Speaking of, wolves dont feed on humans. Nathan picked up the lesson, expanding it. If a wolf is attacking you, that wolf just wants you dead. And a wolfs claws can ruin you in seconds, so your main goal when fighting a shifter is to avoid being slashed.
I never would have figured that out, she said with a roll of her eyes. So exactly how am I supposed to do that?
Well show you. Just try and keep up.
For every minute of Rileys allotted two hours, the boys worked with her. They tossed her down; they even threw her into trees. She lost her breath, nearly broke her wrist and definitely twisted her ankle, yet still she persisted. Still she made them keep coming at her.
They taught her many things. Mainly, she couldnt hide from them. Their sense of smell was twenty times greater than a humans. Their hearing was forty times greater. Also, they liked it when she ran. She became a game, a prize, and their heart rate would quicken with the challenge, their need to conquer intensifying.
If wolves approached her while in a pack, she was to remember that they were territorial and very rigidly structured. There was always a leader. Always. That leader controlled the actions of the others. If she could defeat the leader, she could defeat the pack. Unless, of course, the leader told the pack to glom onto her.
Warning signs of an impending glomming: their hair would rise. They would bare their teeth and growl.
Every time Maxwell and Nathan demonstrated that, in human and wolf form, her fear ratcheted another notch. They scented that fear, and it upped their hunger level, increasing the odds against her. She would have to learn to control her physical reactions, to show no fear, as Aden had already told her.
How? It was possible to hide an expression. It wasnt possible to stop her heart from racing.
In the meantime, she now knew their noses were sensitive, more so than a humans, so if she could hit them on their noses, she could buy herself several precious seconds to find a weapon. A stick, a rock, anything would help.
If they managed to pounce and push her down while she did so, she had to try and snap their necks with a firm twist of her wrists before they tore out her throat. Also, it was better to shove her hand into their mouths to keep their teeth busy with her fingers and wrist than to let them bite into her neck. Because if that happened, she was dead, no question. She could live without a hand.
If she was near water, she was to jump in. Wolves had a hard time fighting in water. They could do it, but it wasnt their preference. And if she was lucky, they would give up and move on at that point, eager for readier prey.
By the end, she was sweaty, dirty and yeah, bleeding, not to mention grateful for the darkened sky. The boys hadnt scratched her, per Rileys orders, but the rocks and bark had. A few times, from the corner of her eye, shed seen Riley stalk toward her, but then he would catch himself and return to his post, watching.
Maxwell and Nathan, at least, were just as sweaty and dirty as she was.
Good job, human. Maxwell patted her on the shoulder, and she pitched forward. Laughing, Maxwell caught her and helped her straighten. I expected you to beg for mercy after five minutes.
With that, the two sauntered away, clothes flying behind them as they undressed, leaving her alone with Riley. Howls soon erupted.
Meet us in town, Riley called. One hour.
More howls.
Agreement?
Come on, Riley said to her now. Time to leave the forest. Goblins are starting to emerge.
Together, they raced to the car he had stashed at the edge of the forest and slipped inside. Soon her heart was pounding in tune to the cars revving engine. From all the exercise, yes, but also from being so close to her now-ex. Dont cry.
Do your brothers know about me? she asked, even though she knew the answer.
No, and we wont tell them.
Wont they realize somethings different about me if I lead us straight to a witch? I mean
Riley was shaking his head. Believe me, Ill be taking credit for finding the witch. If we find one. So no worries. Right now were going to the vampire mansion.
I should go home, shower and change first, she said, very conscious of how she must look. Hobo central.
Why? Youll just get dirty again.
At the mansion?
In town. Thats where were going after. To hunt, remember. If I dont hunt with you, youll go alone. Believe me, I havent forgotten your ultimatum.
She wouldnt apologize for that. Her intentions were too pure.
Anyway, he said, not quite so grumpy, you cant go home.
True. Her dad was there, and hed ask questions she wasnt prepared to answer and think things she didnt want him to think. What have you been doing? Where have you been? Someone hurt you. Did they force you to dothings? Then hed get the police involved. No, thanks.
So why are we going to the mansion? she asked.
I want to take you to Victoria and get some of her blood inside you.
What? Oh, no. No, no, no. Im not drinking anyones blood. She shook her head for emphasis.
Itll strengthen you, heal your injuries.
In her seat, she swayed back and forth with the bump, bump of the tires. Itll also force me to see the world through her eyes, and I have enough problems facing it through my own.
Thatll only last a few hours.
Dont care. Im not injured badly enough to justify it.
His knuckles tightened on the wheel. Had she not been watching him so closely, she would have missed the telling reaction. Yeah, but it just might slow down your new ability.
Thanks for the reminder. Are you sure about that? Because maybe itll speed the abilities up like the spell did. Not that youre one hundred percent certain Im a Drainer, remember? she added in a rush.
He massaged the back of his neck. Fine. He maneuvered the car off the grass and onto a nearby dirt road, then turned around and headed in the opposite direction. No blood.
Thank you.
Save your thanks. I know you want to break up with me, and thats coloring your reaction to my helpful suggestions, but you have to
Wait. Want? No. Not even close. She wouldnt have him believing he meant nothing to her. He meant everything. I just dont want to hurt you, Riley.
And I dont want to hurt you. He reached over and clasped her hand, their fingers intertwining. His skin was warm, callused. So heres the thing. We have two days. Two days before the death curse takes effect, and I dont want to spend those days fighting with you.
Oh, God. Shed never thought of things that way. Two days, yeah, shed realizedand hatedthat, but how she would spend those days? Enjoying them or lost to misery? No. Not even a blip.
I dont either, she admitted.
He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss into her pulse, hot, soft, his tongue even flicking out for a quick taste. Goose bumps spread. Good, because I want to be with you while we face this. After that, you can break up with me if thats what you still want. Just dont expect me to like it or walk away without a fight.
Two more days with him, enjoying rather than wallowing over what could have been. She couldnt resist, even though every new minute she spent with him, as if they were a couple, would deepen her sense of connection to him. Even though breaking up with him the first time had nearly killed her, so doing it again would definitely finish her off. She wasnt hurting him physically, wasnt destroying his wolf-sideyet. Two more days with him would be fine.