Rise of the Gryphon by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love Page B

much alike, you and me.”
    I’d cut my own throat to protect the world if I was anything like you.
    “You are not ready to come to me voluntarily today.”
    Hold your breath and wait for that to happen. Should he shift so he could talk to her? Or was she hoping for that? He was strong in his human state, but far more powerful in his jaguar form.
    “I must leave you, Storm. I have much to do, andwe will see each other again, but I cannot allow you to interfere with my Langaus now that you have the scent. Why do you make my life so difficult?”
    Langau? He searched his mind for what she could have brought to this country . . . or created since coming here.
    “I will allow you to live because you have much to do for me. You force me to make you regret coming in here unless you are ready to give your word and come to me on your own.”
    He snarled, showing his fangs.
    “So stubborn. It is a shame that you do not accept your destiny. Perhaps a lesson in humility will show you who holds the most power between us. Adiós , Storm.” In the next moment, he saw the witch doctor outside the clearing, walking away.
    Still beautiful and hadn’t aged a day. Had gotten younger looking if anything.
    Or was that a spell?
    If so, did she have to renew it often? Something to keep in mind when he did face her later.
    She looked back once, smiled, and continued on, disappearing in the trees.
    Storm tensed for whatever threat she’d conjured up, sure he could not simply walk out of here the way the witch doctor had. And neither could he turn his back on an unknown threat.
    A form wavered into view.
    As it took shape, Storm moved toward the invisible perimeter around this clearing. He kept an eye onthe image of a brunette woman as she solidified into a human form. She had a college-girl face with deep golden skin and layered hair that stopped short of the black-and-pink scarf draped over a pink sweater. An unnatural breeze swirled through the clearing, lifting strands of her hair and ruffling her black pants.
    Pretty hazel eyes without a flicker of life to them.
    Now he understood what the witch doctor had done. Her Langau was an alma condenada, or a condemned soul. Very likely a soul the witch doctor had stolen, then used to create demons.
    Just like she wanted to do with Storm, since she owned his soul.
    That meant this Langau was deadly, but the witch doctor had indicated she would see him again.
    That meant she wanted him left alive, but she’d said nothing about what condition he’d be in.
    The brunette took a tentative step toward him.
    He’d never harmed a woman, but he reminded himself this was nothing more than a creature the witch doctor created from dead parts and blood sacrifices. Fighting it was not an issue, but the witch doctor wanted to punish him.
    To slow him down from hunting her Langaus. Plural.
    Where had she released them?
    What made the witch doctor think he couldn’t kill this thing? She had to know better, which meant she might have given the Langau a poison to inject in some way. A poison from South America she’d know would cripple him.
    Avoiding this Langau was the smartest move.
    The creature sauntered closer with a feminine sway.
    He snarled, a low, throaty sound that stopped her and warned another step could be her last.
    Her slender hands twisted and lengthened into razor-sharp nails with enough curve to cause maximum pain. Or death. Her face lost its youthful appeal, skin wavering and sliding until rotted flesh showed through in spots and the eyes sank in.
    Her mouth widened and lips narrowed, much like a mouth on a large snake, but this one was filled with spiked teeth.
    That’s how she’d inject the poison.
    She lunged at him, but adrenaline had kicked in and Storm leaped to the side, leaving her to stumble through air. He bumped into the barrier and mentally marked the spot for when he had an opportunity to get out. He couldn’t now, with this threat at his back.
    Swinging around, she came at