Wild Things (BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance): Shifter Lovers Romance by Catherine Vale Page B

bag.
    “Now,
be ready, Senna. I’ll need to kill enough of them…”
    “Kill
enough? How many is enough?”
    “One,
if I can get a machine, and us away fast enough. Otherwise…” He shrugged. “As
many as it takes.”
    “That’s
a comfort. Oh…the comb.”
    Somewhere
in the confusion she’d dropped the comb. Turning in a frantic circle she spied
it under the divan. Diving for it, she grabbed it up, holding it like a knife.
The tines poked her hand. That wouldn’t do. Somewhere she had a pair of gloves
in her bag. Ana had actually insisted Senna wear them. But they’d caught on her
rings so they’d been relegated to the travel bag. Now she forced them over the
jewels and rings, the fragile fabric tearing. But she gripped the comb again, it
was much less painful. She took a few experimental pokes at the back of the
divan, tearing the fabric.
    “Here,
grip it like this.” Gabriel took the comb, turning it in her hand, slapping the
tines back into her palm. “Stab out and down. You’ll have more power than if
you thrust in, and try to pull up. I want you to aim for the neck, here…” He
reached out and touched her neck along the side, then touched his neck. “Here.
The big vessel that carries blood. Stab here…” He brought his hand, bringing a
pretend knife down in a short violent slashing movement.
    “When
you’ve struck him, twist. Twist hard. Blood will probably gush over your hand;
try not to panic. It will be hot. Pull the knife out. It will be slippery, but
the gloves may help.”
    She
was staring at him, open-mouthed, in disbelief. “I...I…oh…” She swallowed hard,
her throat suddenly dry, her stomach turning in queasy circles. Gabriel
frowned, then reached for the comb.
    “Give
it to me. Maybe you’re not…” His hand touched hers but she pulled it away.
    “You
shall not.” She squared her shoulders. “I will do this. I will look after
myself.”
    She
was surprised by Gabriel’s smile. “I will look after you, but you are allowed
to defend yourself. Don’t take chances or go off thinking you can take on a
full-grown man. Or an alien. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you, and
do not leave me, under any circumstances.”
    He
touched her cheek. “Take no offense when I ask you stay one step behind me. I
need you close and in the safest place that you can be. Agreed?”
    “Agreed.
I will do as you say.”
    There
was a noise outside, the sound of roaring, a strange rough sound. Gabriel moved
to the side of the window, looking toward the front of the train. Slinging the
handles of the travel bag over her shoulder, she waited, heart beating,
breathing fast and shallow. A wave of dizziness washed over her for a minute,
she thought she would be ill. But she took a breath, focused on Gabriel’s
voice, and it lessened.
    “Whatever
they’re doing, I think they’re done. The aliens are moving around and I can
hear voices.” His voice was tight.
    “What
do we do?”
    “We
wait. The train should be leaving soon. We can’t leave here until the train is
moving, or one of the Ottway’s guards might see us. Be ready.”
    After
a moment, she heard the huff of steam, but no whistle though. Then there was a
louder noise and from habit she braced her feet, reaching for the support of
the back of the divan. But her car didn’t move.
    “The
train is leaving. Get ready…” He looked at her and the message was clear. She gripped
her comb tightly as he’d showed her. The roar of the machines was louder, but
she saw only one rider outside the window. The huff of the train was loud for a
moment, then grew progressively distant. Against her arm, Gabriel’s fingers
tensed.
    “Now.”
    They
were moving toward the door. She’d expected somehow they’d sneak out, try to
remain hidden. But as soon as the door opened, Gabriel let loose what could
only be a war cry as he jumped to the ground. It was impossible for her not to
scream, to join her voice with his as she half jumped, half fell to