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defending their own. But they were in a round, so who knew what they would do.
Ivy, I said breathlessly as we jogged to the road, knowing she could hear. We re outside between the
mall and the Shit! I exploded, skittering to a halt when, in a sliding sound of gravel on pavement, a trio
of Weres skidded around the corner.
They were wearing khaki pants and matching polo shirts to make them look like they were in uniform.
Even worse, one of them dropped a duffel bag, and after unzipping it, started tossing nasty looking
weapons to his buddies. I stood there, frozen. Were they nuts? This went way beyond a public show of
strength. Hell, even vamps never did this! Not in broad daylight and on the street where any passing
human could see, anyway.
Someone cocked their weapon, and Jenks jerked me back. My mouth was still hanging open when we
landed against a salt-rusted four-door, the front full of crumpled fast food sacks.
Brett came around the corner, his pace fast and his eyes darting everywhere. Seeing me, he smiled. We
have them, sir, he said into the phone at his ear, slowing to a stop behind the three Weres with
aggressive stances. Behind the fudge shop. It s all over but the howling.
Heart pounding, I looked at the road and the sporadic traffic. The memory of finding Nick tied to the
wall swam up from my subconscious. A chill purged everything from me but a fierce determination. I
wasn t strong enough to survive that. I couldn t let them take me.
You want me to make a circle and wait for Ivy, or you want to fight our way out, Jenks? I said, my
grip on my splat gun going sweaty.
In a sliding sound of metal, Jenks pulled a dull metal bar from the nearby recycling bin, swinging it a
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couple of times. The three Weres with guns took a more aggressive stance. You think we need Ivy? he
asked.
Just checking, I answered, then turned to the Weres, my arms shaking. Right. Like you re going to
shoot us? I taunted. If we re dead, you can t beat Nick s location out of us.
Brett s jaw clenched. From the other side, three more Weres loped into view, to make seven men. I had
fourteen sleepy-time potions. I had to act, and act now.
Subdue them, Brett said, squinting from the sun. Annoyed, he snatched the weapon from the nearest
man. Use your fists. You outnumber them, and I don t want the I.S. out here because of weapon
discharges.
Adrenaline surged, making me feel weak, not strong. From beside me, Jenks shouted, then leapt
forward. Half the Weres came to meet him, their speed and ferocity shocking.
Panic struck. Taking aim, I downed one with a charm. Then another. I wanted to help Jenks, but they
were coming too fast. One slipped past him, and I gasped, falling to one knee.
Not today, you son of a bitch! I exclaimed, plugging him. He slid to within three feet of me. I leveled
my gun for the next one. He got three steps closer than the first.
Jenks! Fall back! I shouted, retreating with my gun goingpuff-puff-puff.
Three more went down. Frantic, I tossed the hair from my face. There were a lot more then seven
Weres. I had downed at least that many. Where in hell was Ivy?
Rache! Jenks shouted in warning. Behind you!
I spun. A Were in leather was running for me. Behind him, the door to the kitchen was wide-open and
full of rough-looking Weres in street clothes.
I stumbled backward. They had come through the shop? Damn it! I had been afraid they would. They
were not acting normal!
Rachel! Jenks shouted again as the Were smiled to show his beautiful, beautiful teeth and closed his
grease-stained fingers about my wrist. Big mistake.
Grunting, I twisted my arm to grip his own thick wrist. My right foot came up and my sneaker smacked
him in the kidneys. Wrenching around, I used his own weight to yank him down, falling to kneel so his
elbow hit my upraised knee, bending it backward and snapping. He grunted as his elbow shattered.
Puffing in satisfaction, I let him go and got to my feet.Where in hell was my splat gun?
Spotting it alone on the pavement, I darted for it.
Hey! I shouted, my foot pulled out from under me. Arms flailing to get between my face and the
uprushing pavement, I hit the cement. Shocked, I twisted to find the Were I had downed wasn t
withering in pain and holding his broken arm, but using it!
You bloody bastard! I shouted, kicking at his face. Let me go!
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But he didn t, grimily holding on. Panic slid through me as I realized they were using the full potential of
the round and someone was muting his pain. He utterly ignored the broken nose I gave him with my heel,
and I smacked him again. Blood gushed and he finally let go, but not before he fastened one of those
damned zip-strips on my foot.
You freaking bastard! I shouted, scrabbling for my gun and plugging him right in the face. Furious, I
turned to the two Weres following him and shot them too.
The three collapsed, and shuddering, I got to my feet, holding three more at bay, my arms shaking as I
shifted the aim from one to the other.
Jenks! I shouted, and he was suddenly at my back. Stupid,stupid witch. Until I got the thing off, I
wouldn t be able to make a circle. All I had were the four charms in my gun and Jenks, his back now
pressing lightly against mine.
I could smell the sweat on him, reminding me of a meadow somehow. He had lost his disguise amulet at
some point and his blond curls were tousled. The cut on his forehead was bleeding again, and red
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