Once Bitten

I glared at Nathanial. Was he crazy? Yes, obviously. But the judge looked thoughtful.

"Do you agree to this, Kita, Shifter of Firth?"

I bit my lower lip. Find a crazed murderer or die right this moment? Hesitantly, I nodded.

"Say that you accept,” he snapped.

My voice didn't want to work at first, but I finally got out my acceptance. The judge's lips carved a smile across his face, and he turned to the demons.

"I banish you,” he said, and waved his well-manicured hand in a dismissive gesture.

A flash of light and the three demons were gone, as well as the barrier holding me. I ran toward Bobby's crumpled form, but the judge intercepted me halfway. With a hand twisted in my hair, he pulled me backward. His other hand fumbled with my sweater. He pressed his palm into the small of my back, and torrents of pain washed through me.

"You will mention this to no one.” He let me go, and I fell on my hands and knees in the snow. “You have two nights, Kita, Shifter of Firth. Bring me the one responsible for these murders, or you, and your two friends here, belong to me and my justice.” He turned and took a step back as I tried to focus past the pain. “Do not think you can run or hide. I can find you anywhere now. Two nights."

Then he vanished.

Chapter 4

I looked around to see if anyone else was waiting in line to threaten and utterly turn my world upside down. Vampires, demons, and psychos with wicked magic, so far. Perhaps Frankenstein's monster would show up next and demand my head for his bride. My quick search turned up only Nathanial and Bobby, the latter disturbingly still. I crawled through the snow to him.

His crumpled body leaned against the brick wall a few yards away, but I seemed to take forever to reach his side. He didn't stir. Don't you dare be dead. His chest finally rose, not much, the shallow breath rattling, but he was breathing. Movement behind me reminded me that it might not be time to stop and lick our wounds yet. I whirled around, growling a feline warning. Nathanial raised a single eyebrow and squatted in the snow beside me.

I backpedaled. “Get away from us."

"I saved your life ... again. Do you think you could try to trust me a little?"

"You didn't save my life, you postponed my death. There's a difference. Besides, I haven't forgotten you attacked us."

Nathanial made a sound of protest and waved a long-fingered hand in Bobby's direction. “Actually, he attacked me."

I ignored that, because I couldn't dispute the charge. Well, I could, but I was currently more concerned with Bobby's laborious breaths. I settled my weight into a more defensive position, watching Nathanial's body language for signs he would attack. But he didn't move. He only watched me. The rattling sounded in Bobby's chest again, and still Nathanial remained perfectly still. Like a well-dressed statue.

Angling my body, I kept one eye on Nathanial as I examined the extent of Bobby's injuries. I tipped Bobby's head to the side. Blood matted his tawny hair, and as soon as I caught sight of it, pressure built in my mouth. I spun away from him and covered my mouth with my hands. Sharp fangs pressed against my fingers.

I rounded on Nathanial. “What have you done to me?"

"There was an accident and...” Nathanial trailed off.

"I'm a monster!"

"Technically, ‘monster’ is a human concept, and by it you already were one."

"I hate you.” I swung, open handed and blind.

I must have looked as surprised as Nathanial when my palm connected with his face. Color rushed to his chiseled cheekbone in the rough shape of my hand. Okay, so he could be hurt. Good to know.

He touched his cheek lightly with three fingers. “Feel better?"

I did, actually, but I wasn't sure voicing that opinion was the best plan. I waited, but he just watched me, his grey eyes touched with amusement. This was funny? I turned away from him. Since he obviously wasn't leaving anytime soon, I ignored his presence and concentrated on Bobby. My hand still stung, and I rubbed it against my pants. I'd slapped a creature stronger than me and now was giving him full access to my unprotected back, but instinct told me he wouldn't retaliate. I didn't have any reason to believe that, but I also didn't know how much time Bobby had, so I trusted my gut.

Tilting Bobby's head to a more natural position, I averted my eyes from his wound. Not seeing the blood helped, but I could still smell it. I groped his neck for a pulse, but regretted the decision the moment the first beat danced hypnotically under my fingertips. The hunger rose in me, again.

I jerked back, my hands shaking. Oh crap. I buried my face in my hands, dragging in a deep breath meant to be cleansing, but the tantalizing scent of blood filled my senses. A half-scream, half-growl caught in my throat, and I turned to glare at Nathanial. He watched me, but the expression on his face was so blank it had to be intentionally neutral.

Swallowing the sound, I held my breath and returned to studying Bobby's prone body. Apparently my instincts weren't exactly trustworthy, because they were definitely telling me he was food. The fangs worrying my bottom lip agreed.

I pushed that thought away. I didn't know much about head wounds, but I was pretty sure Bobby should have regained consciousness by now, if his injury weren't serious. I reached a trembling hand toward his face, moving slowly so my blood thirst wouldn't betray me. If I could just get him conscious enough to shift...

I saw the movement in my peripheral, but didn't have time to process it as a threat before Nathanial grabbed my shoulders and jerked me to my feet. I stumbled as he dragged me. We halted several feet from Bobby. Nathanial shoved me behind his back.

"What the—” The words died on my tongue.

Not a foot behind where I'd been kneeling stood a woman in a floppy yellow hat and oversized pink coat. Her eyes were a little too wide as they followed the path Nathanial had carved as he dragged me away from Bobby. The edges of her smile wavered like she was concentrating hard on holding it in place. I tried to step around Nathanial, but he moved to block me with one arm, clearly more worried about the woman than I was. Peering under his arm, I reassessed her. Threats don't typically come in pastel or wear plastic rain boots, but, she had appeared out of nowhere.

She held out her hand, and the hat slipped over her eyes. “Um, sorry. Didn't mean to startle you. My name is Gil.” She pushed the hat back up quickly, but her fingers caught in her curly hair. Frowning, she fought with the hair before tugging free.

Okay, surely not a threat.

When she held her hand out again, her fingers trembled, betraying nerves hidden from her chirpy voice. She winced as Nathanial stepped forward, but pumped his hand enthusiastically.

"I am—” Nathanial started, but she interrupted.

"The hermit Nathanial. Vampire. I know. I read up on you before I came. And on you.” She tried to peek around him to see me, but he shifted his body again, ever so slightly, barricading me.

Goody, my very own vampire meat shield.

I slipped under his arm and circled to the side of the woman. She was between Bobby and me, and I hadn't heard or seen him breathe since she arrived.

I met her eyes. “What do you want?"

She winced at my harsh tone, but the smile grew across her face. “Ah, yes, you must be Kita, the kitten shifter from Firth, fugitive. I have read that you are one of the very smallest of your kind. That must be fun.” She didn't offer me her hand—not that I would have taken it. Her brown eyes widened as her gaze fixated on my mouth. “Mab's tears. You're a vampire. You can't be a shifter!"

I'd had enough of this. Bobby still wasn't moving.

"Are you here to kill me?"

The question startled her, but with the day I was having, I thought it was justified.

Still staring, she shook her head. “I was sent to—"

"Then get out of my way."

Panic flashed across her face as I stepped forward. She thrust her arms forward, fingers spread wide, and purple light danced in front of her hands. The blinding flash left yellow dots in my vision. I blinked rapidly, trying to force my eyes to readjust to the darkness. Around the spots, I saw her bounce off the wall next to Bobby, her butt hitting the snow.

Was that what she meant to do?

She jumped to her feet, her cheeks flame-red. “Stay away,” she warned, sidling along the wall. She tripped over Bobby's leg, and she shrieked, her eyes going wide. “Mab's tears.” The color drained from her face. “Is he human? What did you do to him?"

Her gaze accused me as she crossed her arms over her chest. Oh hell. I don't need this—not now or ever. I glanced over my shoulder at Nathanial, but his face was completely empty again. He could have vouched for me; could have told her it was the psycho judge-mage who slung Bobby against the wall. A sting of betrayal twisted in my stomach, though I didn't know why I expected him to defend me—obviously my instincts were way off tonight.

Crossing the alley without a word, I crouched at Bobby's side. Gil scuttled out of my way, but I felt her hovering around me, the scent of her fear and suspicion pressing against my back. I tried to ignore her. Bobby's face had taken on an ashen shade, his cheeks cool under my fingers.

"Step away from that human,” Gil said, her voice trembling. “Feed your monstrous craving elsewhere."

Bobby was running out of time. If it isn't already too late. I brushed that thought aside.

"She is going to force him to shift,” Nathanial whispered.

I flinched. Nathanial was crouched beside me again, and I hadn't heard him approach. I frowned at him. How the hell did he know what I planned to do? I didn't ask. I needed to concentrate. Reaching deep inside myself, I strained to find the coiled energy that would bring my shape-change. If my energy could call to Bobby's beast...

The cold and quiet lump in my center was all I found.

"Force him to shift?” Gil's voice was uncertain, then turned excited. “Ooooh, you know, I've read that the fastest way to coax a shifter's beast out is through food or sex."