Angelo had a moment’s hesitation before he nodded and was off, leaving them alone once more. When Mino returned to his half-asleep state, she moved, gathering what she could of the cloth he wore and cocooning him without touching his lower body. There was nothing else she could do for the rest, so she paced the cavern and waited it out until she felt a presence nearby again. Two familiar figures delved in, but her focus landed on one.
“Michael.”
“Anne.”
Michael didn’t look relieved to see her. Rather, he looked at her suspiciously.
“Trouble always seems to follow you,” he commented. “Or you bring it with you.”
Disbelief blossomed that he would accuse her now, and her mouth dropped open.
“When was the last time I—”
“Your old clan. The recent visitor.”
Her back turned rigid, awareness slithering at the knowledge in his expression. So, it wasn’t a well-kept secret, after all.
But you did nothing wrong.
Her chin lifted.
“That woman meant no harm.”
“But you accidentally led her to our territory. Now you are leading us here.”
“To hell with that.”
“What are you—”
“Now, now, Michael, stop picking a fight when we are supposed to be working here.” Paul Bennett stepped between the two, trying to put on a friendly smile even while he gave them each a warning look. Curiosity feathered in when he finally took in Mino’s form. “Is he sleeping?”
“Severely injured. We need to get him out of here.”
“Not until Angelo comes back,” Michael warned.
“Then we need to get him ready,” she snapped.
Perhaps they heard the urgency in her voice as Michael stopped arguing and Paul was moving forward. So was Michael. She exhaled, fretting over the process and ready to give instructions.
Mino shot up so fast it was a blur. His energy spiked, choking her with its power, before he collapsed back on the ground—but not before she witnessed the fear that burned in his eyes. She swiveled and blocked their path in an instant, claws out as she crouched.
“Stay back.”
Panic thrummed from the energy, but so did hunger. She locked her knees and snarled when the two tried to move.
“I said stay back.”
“What is wrong with you?” Michael asked, glaring but tightening into alertness.
“We are here to help,” Paul added, the teasing gone as concern covered his features.
The panic heightened until it connected to hers. Then it was all she could feel as her lack of response had the two men moving again more carefully. Michael’s watchful eyes swallowed her whole while Paul’s confusion tugged on her doubt. But everything felt real this time, the missing factor from Angelo’s appearance transforming into a certainty that made her lose her breath. This was the evil. The evil was here.
Mino flayed, trying to get away from that evil and his hunger for her animal side. Paul made a sound while Michael watched on. Instinct snapped and Anne chose.
Then she leaped towards evil.
Chapter 19