Chapter 19

Kennedy's forces secured the scene before she climbed out of an armored SUV with Ike and Jagger, her large handbag slung over her shoulder. She scowled. Michael circled the Caddy, growling at anyone who got close. The teens peeked out from the backseat, locked tightly together. After a final circuit of the area, I descended.

Kennedy approached Michael as Ike and Jagger fanned out.

Inky smoke one moment and fully formed the next, the shade commander appeared behind Kennedy. He gripped a garrote.

I dove. Fast and hard. I banged into him, both of us crashing to the ground. My wing snapped. Fuck, that hurt! My vision swam. When it cleared, Michael had clamped onto the guy by his nape, his powerful jaws incentive to stay still.

Kennedy glanced my way. "You okay, Abe?"

I squawked and sat up, fluffing my feathers and focusing on my shift.

She turned to the shade commander, her expression smug. I wouldn't want to be him. She rummaged around in her handbag, probably searching for one of her many weapons. "Figured you'd take your shot, Joris. Guys like you are always over confident. Have mediocre sex with a girl once and you think you can assassinate her without a fight. Can't wait to have a long chat and stroll down memory lane."

She didn't have to say what that chat or stroll would entail. The commander could guess. Michael dragged him upright, keeping a firm hold of his neck, a low growl rumbling from his chest. Michael wanted to kill the guy. He'd hurt me, scared the kids, and planned to strangle our boss.

The shade actually smirked. "So good to see you again, lekker ding. Such a pity I cannot accommodate your request. Until we meet again . . ."

He dissolved into inky smoke. Michael's teeth gnashed, trying to keep hold of him. No use.

Kennedy pointed her magical flashlight in his direction and hit him with the beam of light. He reformed, his eyes wide with shock. Before he bolted, Jagger stepped up, yanked the commander's hands behind his back and snapped on magical cuffs.

Joris recovered quickly, snarling, "You think this is over? You don't know the powers coming after you. Not even your family can protect you."

"You talk too much." Kennedy's expression chilled my blood. She flipped the beam on her magical flashlight higher, and he screamed. Within seconds, he turned to ash. She stepped to his remains and ran her boot through them. "I hate monologuing. So unprofessional."

At her gesture, several of her contingent pulled out similar lights and swept the area. Caught three more shades in the sweep. The others had vanished.

One shade struggled especially hard in his magical cuffs, lunging for Kennedy. Jagger intercepted.

Kennedy grinned. "I knew where Joris went, you wouldn't be far behind. So pleased we'll have plenty of time together, Nigel."

"Fuck you! I'll kill you," he spat.

"You're welcome to try." Sounded like she'd revel in it.

She nodded as Jagger led the resisting shade to an SUV and stuffed him in the backseat, climbing in after his charge.

Since I had finished transforming, Kennedy stepped over and offered a hand. I clasped it with my uninjured one.

"What took you so long?" I groused.

"Now, now, it worked out for the best. You're all fine, and I have a new plaything." She leaned in and kissed my cheek.

I huffed. "You're impossible."

"True."

Michael, still in wolf form, nosed me, whining.

"My arm will be okay, wolf. It just needs to heal. No biggie." It ached like a bitch, and I could already feel the bones knitting back together. "What about you?" I searched for any sign of more serious wounds. Under all the drying blood, it was hard to tell.

He barked, before nudging me toward the guy with a medical kit.

"All right, I'll have them look at it." I rolled my eyes, though secretly pleased he cared. "You should get looked at, too."

He shook his head, his fur fluffing. It was ridiculously adorable.

"What's good for the goose, er, raven . . ." I stared him down.

He actually grinned at me, tongue lolling and tail wagging. Not overly majestic, but, hell, did it make my heart flutter.

Shaking off the moment, I stepped around him. "Let me see to the kids first—"

The damn wolf nipped my hip—hard—and continued pushing me.

"Ugh, fine. You're so annoying." I stomped to the medic, watching from the corner of my eye as Michael returned to the kids.

Fifteen minutes later, I stood talking to Ike, my feet numb, my arm in a sling, while others cleaned up the area enough to let a snowplow through. They'd removed Sally's less-than-pristine corpse from the battered trunk. I'd found her phone on the floorboards in the backseat along with my own and passed it to Ike.

Michael stayed in his shifted form. The raven teens now bundled in blankets and draped over his back, huddled for warmth. Kai had transformed to his much smaller wolf and curled against Michael. Poor kid needed comfort. No one approached without getting a flash of Michael's teeth and a menacing growl.

As I watched him soothe and protect the kids, my heart felt too big for my chest. I stood on the edge of a cliff, ready to jump. When we made eye contact, I stepped off.

Falling wasn't anything like I thought it would be.