Akio looked over to watch Michael pull his coat back and raise his pistol to check the power level. “Seven should be sufficient to slow them down.” Michael said, then casually shot both wolves in the head.

  Both heads exploded like dropped melons, the bodies flopping end over end in the dirt.

  Michael returned the pistol to his holster. “I didn’t want to get more blood on me.”

  “I’m guessing,” Mark said as he turned back from watching Michael kill the two wolves, “that Michael has ascertained these are bad people and killing them is an appropriate response.”

  “Seems like a fair assumption,” Jacqueline agreed. “It’s like being told there’s a pop quiz or something, then being given the answers from the teacher.

  “That would have been nice.”

  “Okay, I’m going to go for double or nothing,” Jacqueline said. “I bet I can take out more than you can and if not, I’ll double the massage time.”

  “I don’t remember there being a set amount of time in the first place,” he replied.

  “It was five seconds, since you weren’t smart enough to confirm before the bet was placed.”

  “Gott Verdammt,” Mark hissed. “What are you anyway, a lawyer?”

  “Worse,” she replied, her eyes going yellow. “Competitive.”

  Then she took off running towards the figures in front of them. “You fucking cheater,” Mark groused, then smiled. “I like that in my women.”

  He dashed after her. If he won this bet, that made ten seconds. Then twenty, forty and more than a minute.

  He wondered how many of these bets he could win in a row.

  The pack slowed down as the two came at them. Four started stripping, two burst out of their clothes and four more pulled their weapons.

  It was going to be a free-for-all. Ten against two.

  “She seems anxious to get started,” Akio opined.

  “Oh, she’s just trying to get into Mark’s pants.” Michael said.

  “She is trying to get into his pants?” Akio asked. Michael thought it was amusing that Akio found this surprising.

  “Yes, he’s a geek and won’t figure out she likes him until she knocks him upside the head with a large wooden stick.” Michael replied. “Well, larger,” he said, “than what she’s using at the moment.”

  “Do we need to get closer?” Akio asked.

  “No, these pistols will hit them from here. I want to see how they do together. This should be interesting.”

  Akio looked sideways at Michael, not sure if the ancient vampire was joking or serious.

  Chapter Nine

  Mark was getting pissed.

  Seriously pissed.

  He could read enough emotions to understand that the woman behind them had been running for her life ahead of this pack. She probably didn’t expect to stay ahead of the pack forever, but that wasn’t going to stop her from trying. Then, in an act of divine providence, she had run into the ArchAngel himself.

  Who had told Jacqueline and him to take care of it. He looked at the four humans and six wolves coming at them, and thought about his own recent past.

  His hiding who he was, his feeling of loss when the sister he had been trying to nurse back to health had turned on him even though he hadn’t touched her.

  He had needed her blood to survive, but he had sat by her bed and fed her the soup he had heated up so she could recover from her illness.

  Fighting the temptation to drink from her as he nursed her back to health.

  He still remembered those men in the alley, the Enforcers, who had planned to either kill him or strap him down for his blood.

  Trapped.

  Trapped like this woman, running from those more powerful than her. His growl caused Jacqueline, who was next to him, to glance over in surprise.

  She did a double take when she saw how red his eyes were and that his teeth had grown.

  “Oh, fuck,” she murmured.

  She had barely started to yell to Mark to fight with her when he ran towards the ten beings. She took off after him. “Marrrk!” she screamed, trying to catch up. “You fucking lunatic!”

  Mark slammed into the first, a female Were whose eyes glowed yellow. Her mouth stretched and teeth elongated as well, for all the good it did.

  He grabbed her head and twisted, slinging the body one way, her skull was still in his hands before he threw it at another attacker. His left-handed punch crushed the second human’s face in.

  Then a new wolf grabbed his right leg in its teeth and tried to rip it off.

  Mark reached down and squeezed the wolf’s skull. A small yip was all it got out before its skull popped. Another wolf jumped into the fray, running at full speed to hit Mark in the chest and knock him over. That was when Jacqueline arrived.

  “There are no bitches here!” Jacqueline screamed as she shoved her staff through the skull of the second wolf. “Stop laying down on the job, Mark and let’s kick some more ass!” she finished, kicking a human in the stomach as she parried a knife slash from her left.

  The arm that held the knife disappeared when Mark’s sword cleaved it off. “I’ll have you know,” he replied, “I was just waiting for you to show up, seeing as how you seemed to be admiring all the guys without shirts.”

  They moved together to fight back to back. “What of it?” she asked. “I noticed you looking at the tits on the girl in the bridge who was ready to...” She stopped talking when one of the humans and two of the wolves hit Mark behind her.

  “Oh, this is about to get really bloody.” Michael commented, watching as the human got a knife into Mark.

  “Why?” Akio asked.

  “Because she’s about to find out just how much of her father she really has in her.” Michael replied. “I hope the love that she feels is able to protect her from the curse.”

  Akio turned back to watch the battle, realizing what he was about to witness.

  “Marrrk!” Jacqueline screamed as her staff slammed into one of the wolves taking down her friend.

  Her…

  “You darrrre tooo touccchhh hhhim?” the guttural voice erupted from her chest as she grew. Her clothes ripping, the woman was replaced by a seven-foot-tall Pricolici. The eyes, yellow with a tinge of red around the edges, announced the death of all who would hurt her Mark.

  Her Chosen.

  Her Mate.

  The man who had stabbed Mark stared in horror as Jacqueline grabbed his arm. He flew over her head as she yanked him off his feet.

  But like Mark before her, she kept the arm for herself and used it to beat off a wolf that had tried to attack from her right.

  Two wolves chose to flee, turning around to head back to where they came from.

  Neither had taken ten steps before their heads exploded in mist, bodies dropping to the ground.

  Mark looked up in a haze of pain to see the change come over Jacqueline and hear her scream as she announced her proclamation to protect…

  Him.

  Him!

  Never! he promised himself as feelings just about overcame him. Never would another asshat hurt this woman without him by her side. He had turned over on his stomach to get up and back into the fight when her foot shoved him down.

  Gently, but firmly.

  “I’llll talllk too yoouu innn a mmmooommment,” she growled as she worked on the last human still fighting her. He looked up in time to see the claws on Jacqueline’s right hand enter the female’s chest and rip out her ribs. Then Jacqueline’s left hand grabbed the screaming woman by the shoulder and her right shoved back into the chest cavity. She ripped the Were’s heart out as she announced, “Yyouuu wonnn’t bee neeeeding thiisss annyyymoorre.”

  The look of horror on the woman’s face was complete as she realized that her heart was in Jacqueline’s claws. She dropped to the ground. Jacqueline tossed the bloody heart on top of her and spit on her. “Bitccch, heeeee’s minnne.”

  Both looked around to make sure that everyone was dead before Mark looked up at Jacqueline, who had finally removed her foot. He smiled with his arms open, inviting her to embrace him. “Hey, sweetheart!”

  Some distance away, Michael finished holstering his pistol, then turned towards the woman they had saved. “So,” he said as he and Akio walked towards her. “Why don’t we leave them alone for a little while and get your story, shall we?”

  The girl looked at the two men near her and the half-wolf, half-woman in the distance. Her eyes rolled up in her head and she started to collapse into a heap.

  “No,” Michael told the comatose girl as he jumped forward and caught her before she landed on the ground. “We can’t have you hurt yourself while fainting, now.”

  Mark played with Jacqueline’s hair. “You know, we should probably find a place to get this blood off you. It’s going to be sticky.”

  Jacqueline pulled her left arm out of Mark’s embrace and pointed towards the west. “The ocean is that way.”

  Mark smiled. “I think it’s a little far, plus the salt might not do anything for your hair, baby.”

  Jacqueline snuggled a little harder into him. “Do that again.”

  “What?”

  “Call me baby.”

  Mark smiled and just moved. Before Jacqueline had realized what was going on, Mark had twisted on the ground and grabbed her as he stood up, cradling her in his arms as he started walking west. “It stinks too much around here to cuddle.”

  “Mmm hmmm,” she replied, placing her arms around his neck. “But you were a badass and I was enjoying your touch too much to care.”

  “Let’s find a lake or some water.”

  “Whatever you say,” she said. Mark walked another fifty paces before he realized she was asleep. He assumed changing into her other form took more energy from her, and he carried her over two more hills before he found a small stream heading down towards the ocean. He gently laid her down next to the water, and for ten minutes he worked to get the blood out of her hair.

  It was a damned mess.

  But for the first time in Mark’s life, it was safe to love someone.

  “I can take her,” Akio suggested, paused, and then completed his sentence, “Michael.”

  Michael turned to Akio with the young woman in his arms and smiled. “Akio, you’re a friend, not a servant. You don’t need to hesitate to say my name. You serve the woman I love, and have done so for a hundred and fifty years. I think that qualifies you pretty damned well to call me Michael.”

  Akio nodded once. “Thank you.”

  “Now that we have that out of the way.” Michael stepped closer to Akio and held out the woman. “Here.”

  Akio accepted her, but raised an eyebrow. Michael smirked. “This way, if anyone attacks, I get to kill them.”

  Michael thought Akio’s soft laugh was one of the most pleasant sounds he had heard in a long damned time.

  Now, to move to phase two in his diabolical scheme to make a normal human being out of the vampire.

  Jacqueline could feel Mark near her, and the effort he was making to clean her hair without pulling it.

  He failed miserably. With each little jerk he would miss a few strands, and she was pretty sure there were a billion nanocytes playing tug-of-war with him, both of them yanking for complete control. Not that she cared. She put out a hand, her eyes still closed, and rubbed his leg. “No,” she said when he stopped to look at her. “Keep doing that.”

  She considered her feelings, the fact she had changed into the same form as her father, and her desire to protect Mark. “You need to work more on your fighting.”

  “Mmm hmmm,” he agreed.

  “Probably a lot on ground work, too,” she grinned. “Lots of us rolling around, sweaty, fighting for control, dominance, submission…” She let her voice trail off.

  “Sounds like a good time,” he said. “Don’t think I’ll be that good with a submissive role, but all’s fair in love and war.”

  “Still, going to have to practice, I don’t want to ever worry about you like that again.”

  “When do you want to do this?”

  Jacqueline’s eyes popped open, the yellow flaring as her lips broke into a mischievous grin.

  Michael turned his head to the right. “Seems like our two young ones are finally consummating their feelings.”

  Akio just nodded his agreement as he adjusted the young lady. Her eyes were opening and looking up at him.

  “Uh,” she looked around as the two strange men turned to regard her. “Hello?” she said.

  “Can you stand?” Akio asked, his voice soft.

  “Can you hold me like this all night?” she replied, a tiny grin on her face.

  “Yes,” Akio answered truthfully.

  She blinked a couple of times. “Oh.” She looked around, then closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

  Michael chuckled. “I guess she feels safe enough.”

  Akio shrugged. He tilted his head and said, “Eve, please bring the ship back down.” About half a minute later, the black Pod dropped through the night to the ground twenty paces away. Akio took the young woman to the Pod. “Open the canopy.” Once the canopy was open, he gently laid her in the back seat and turned to see Michael smiling at him. Akio looked around. “I said I could hold her all night. I didn’t say I wanted to. If we get attacked, I’d like to have a little fun as well.”

  Michael laughed, and soon Akio was laughing himself.

  Children.

  Jacqueline’s head lolled on Mark’s chest. She was sleeping again after their second go around at wrestling. The second time, he threw her bodily into the water. She was a shit-ton more slippery in the water. Somehow, in all of the strenuous activity in the stream, they had managed to get off most of the blood, but gained a little mud in the process.

  Just me at the moment. Mark sent back. Jacqueline is sleeping.

  Is she tired from changing forms? Michael asked.

  Uhhhhh… sure, Mark replied.

  There was a flicker of amusement in the connection in response to Mark’s answer. Well, I hope you’re not in a compromising position, since you’re going to have company in a little while. Yuko and Eve are arriving soon, and have new clothes for both of you.

  Advanced stuff, Akio explained. Jacqueline’s strong desire to protect you caused her to change to Pricolici, so Yuko had to go back to the base for stretchy fabric for when she changes the next time.

  Mark thought about that a second. Okay. But what about when she goes doggy? he asked.

  A half mile away, Michael winced before replying, I say this only so that you don’t put your foot in your mouth when she is awake. So listen very carefully, Mark.

  Yes?

  Do not ever, and I mean ever, call her wolf form doggy. You will regrow your teeth faster than you will be able to find them after she slaps you.

  Mark thought about that a moment. I’ve got a few things to learn.

  Yes, but welcome to love and all the ups and downs that go with it.

  Mark could feel Jacqueline trying to squirm further into his embrace, and he smiled. Michael, how did you ever figure it all out?

  There was a pause before Michael answered.

  Who said I had it all figured out?

  Chapter Ten

  “Akio?” Eve’s voice resonated in Akio’s ear.

  “Yes?”

  “The biological readings show the young lady in the Pod is waking up.”

  Akio looked up. “Please bring her down here.”

  Akio turned to see the Pod descending. As he walked over to it, the canopy was already opening.

  The young lady was blinking her eyes open as she stared around the little ship she was sitting inside. “The…” she started, then stopped when Akio walked up. “I thought you were carrying me?” She ran a hand along the side of the chair inside the ship. “I didn’t know you were from the future.”

  “I am from the past, Sabine,” Akio replied. “The ship is not from the future. Let me help you out.”

  “Awwww.” She bit her lower lip as Akio reached in and easily lifted her out. “Sorry, but this was the most comfortable and safe I’ve been in a while.”

  Akio just nodded.

  “Where were you going?” The other man stepped up and Sabine turned. “Hello, my name is Michael.”

  “Originally?” Sabine replied and pointed behind her. “Paris.” She turned to look at the few lights in the distance. “I have a few friends who are holed up in a defensive group inside the city, helping each other from all of the… uh…” She turned to look at the two men. “Others.”

  Michael smiled. “You mean werewolves and vampires?”

  She nodded, believing that she now understood how Akio could hold her all night.

  “Do you need to be taken to them?” Akio asked. “We can easily see you safely all the way there.”

  Her eyes opened wide. “Would you?” she asked. Then she looked confused. “Wait, what about the sun?”

  Michael grinned in the moonlight. “What about it?” Her eyes darted back and forth between them. “It won’t affect us any more than it does you.”

  “But,” she looked at Akio, who just raised his eyebrows. “I thought you were…”

  “Were what?” Michael smirked. “Vampires?”

  “Yeah,” she admitted. “That seems kind of silly when I think about it. But,” she looked over to where the fight had taken place. “I know I saw the girl change into a monster.”

  Michael pursed his lips and sighed. “No. No, you didn’t,” he said as he reached to touch both her forehead…

  And her mind.

  Jacqueline yawned and punched Mark softly on the shoulder.

  “What’s that for?” he asked, his eyes searching the night sky.

  “That’s for making me think that technology was your first lust.”