Part 33 (2/2)

”Where to?” Bran shouted next to me.

”The building.” The only place we might form a defense against Vaverek. I glanced over my shoulder to see where he was and groaned. He was already wheeling around and pawing the ground for a new charge. The building was the only option but it was a good forty feet away. And I had no idea if we could even get in.

One thing at a time.

That's when I heard the cry. A howl of pain. A wolf's roar.

Van?

I skidded to a stop, Bran whipping past me, shouting, ”Come on.”

”It's Van.” But where was he?

I looked around, noticing the others. Must be Weres, not humans, as they had been racing toward where Bran had been. And Vaverek still was, which had everyone double-timing backwards.

Vaverek was in such a rage he didn't seem to care who he was took out as he gored the nearest Weres, several in the process of s.h.i.+fting.

Bran ran back to me, grabbed my arm, and tried dragging me along, but I was digging my feet in.

”There!” I spied Van, in wolf form, chained between the doctor man and another, straining against the silver chains binding him. But silver against a s.h.i.+fter meant it was pointless. Vaverek and a dozen Weres were between him and us.

CHAPTER 67.

I was Van's only chance. The only one who might be able to stop him. ”I've got to go back,” I shouted at Bran, still playing protective caveman warlock as he wrapped his arms around me, dragging me toward the building.

”He'll kill you.”

”He'll die without me.”

And that's what it was coming down to. I knew Vaverek had Van drugged. I knew Van had been programmed. I knew my brother was out of his mind.

But if I didn't try to reach him, there was no hope.

I twisted toward Bran, for once not wanting to slug him as much as make him understand. At least he'd stopped, which gave me hope. ”Can you cast a containment spell?”

”To stop a raging Werebison?”

”No. I'll handle him. You keep my brother from harming anyone.”

He looked past me, indecision written all over his face. ”Please,” I said. ”Help me.”

His face tightened, as if at war with himself, then he released me. His voice a low growl. The sound of a p.i.s.sed off warlock. ”If you can't stop Vaverek you get out. Understand?”

I nodded, too choked up to do anything else. Bran released me and started running at an angle to intercept Van. It also meant he was moving toward the other Weres. My goal was clear then. Get Vaverek to attack me. Get the Weres to do the same. Give Bran the s.p.a.ce he needed.

One thing at a time.

I stood in the middle of the gra.s.sy lawn and started jumping up and down, waving my arms. ”Here, fur-b.u.t.t,” I called to Vaverek. ”I'm over here you big dumb cow!”

Since bison were not bovines, I figured the insult would work. And it did. A little too well as he dug in those powerful front hooves churning up the gra.s.s as he rocketed my way.

No material for a banis.h.i.+ng spell. My reverse punishment spell had sizzled. What was left?

Not time, that was for sure.

The building behind me? That was a copout and left Bran exposed. What was the Noziak motto? Do the unexpected. Which was a given considering we were all pigheaded and not because my dad was a pig farmer.

Mind made up I started running toward Vaverek. Closer. Closer. Closer. Until I could smell his furry stench, see the foam around his nostrils, the hatred in his eyes. d.a.m.n, he was huge!

But I kept running straight toward him, my heart in my throat, my skin iced with fear, until I was within a few feet and then I hurled myself to the side.

He raced past so close the wind of his pa.s.sage slapped against me.

I landed with a tumble and roll, the earth rattling my bones. But I was still alive.

For now.

As I staggered to my feet I heard a familiar voice call from the tree line. ”Alex? Over here!”

I turned to see Kelly waving at me, backed by Jaylene, Mandy and Vaughn. No Stone, not that I expected him.

They'd come. My team was here.

But what could they do except get killed? I wanted to shout run, hide, protect yourselves, but instead I pointed to where the Weres were circling Van.

”Get them.”

Vaughn nodded and that's all I needed.

I turned back to Vaverek who'd sprinted past me with so much force and speed he was now a good twenty feet away. That's what I needed. Some maneuverability.

Seeing Kelly had given me an idea. It was a long shot and a spell I'd only tried once before, but I didn't have a lot of options.

I planted my feet wide, said a quick prayer to the Great Spirit to protect my back while I focused one hundred percent on the threat in front of me and started my chant. Out of the corner of my eye I could see two Weres racing toward me from the side furthest from my team.

Ignore them. Focus. I swallowed deep.

Defluo modo.

I call the chameleon to me now.

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