The Devil's Kiss - By Stacey Kennedy Page 0,2

unsure how to handle the situation.”

“I’m happy to hear she’s okay,” I said, curling my legs up to cuddle beside Kyden on the couch. He wrapped an arm around me, pulling me tight against his body. Never once would I admit aloud that I needed his strength at times, and never, would he point out such a fact. The result would end in a fight. Right now, however, I suspected this conversation was about to hit upon a place where having a little Kyden protection around me was a good thing.

Valor’s expression darkened grimly. “I said she was well, not okay.”

“Uh oh, what’s happened?” I asked, even though part of me didn’t want to know. Trouble seemed to be my constant shadow. We’d only been back a short time. I wasn’t at all ready to back into anything that resembled dangerous.

“After the transformation was completed, Dante and I brought her home. We have been unable to help her shift back since she is too distraught.”

Dante was Valor’s sexy beast of a son. Also very easy on the eyes. It came as a bit of a surprise that neither he nor Valor could help the woman transform. No woman, no matter who she is, wouldn’t feel comforted around these men. Their smooth-talking gorgeousness could not be missed. It meant she was in really bad shape. “Poor thing,” I exhaled.

Valor nodded, concern tightened his features. “It is very troublesome. I feel for the little wolf. She is very frightened and if we cannot get through to her.” He sighed deeply and met my gaze. “I am afraid I must destroy her. This is not something I want to do.”

“You have to kill her?” I snapped. “Why?”

“She is a liability,” Kyden interjected. “If she cannot control herself, she will end up facing our swords and taking a human life in the process.”

As if that answered my question. Kyden should have known better. This world, especially the wolf world was still very foreign to me. Having it spelled out what always a necessity. “It makes her a liability that she can’t shift?”

Valor’s nod was grim. “As wolves, we always need to be in control of our animal side. If we were to ever lose that control…the danger is too great. You have not witnessed a wolf such as this?” he asked.

I shook my head in silent response. The only wolves I witnessed were ones who were in complete control of themselves. Never had I seen a crazed wolf and knew with certainty that it wasn’t something I wanted to see either.

“It is not something to take lightly,” Valor continued. “When the animal inside us takes over, our need to kill, to taste blood and eat flesh consumes us.”

“And this will happen to her?” I asked.

“It will,” Valor confirmed. “If she cannot shift back to human form and learn to control the wolf within her, it will begin to take over. At such time, she would be lost forever.”

“Okay, I see the problem,” I replied, somberly. “Just seems so unfair. She didn’t ask for this, and now she could be killed for it.”

Valor inclined his head, acknowledged the depravity of this situation. “Exactly. You see my problem here. We need to get through to her, calm her enough to get her to shift, and then explain to her what has happened.”

“Can’t she hear you in her wolf form?” My interactions with wolves had taught me that much. “Why don’t you just explain it to her now?”

“We have explained it but nothing seems to be getting through to her.” Valor’s words came hastily and exasperated. “Time is running out.”

“So, what can I do to help?” I asked, a little lost as to what exactly he wanted me to do about it.

“I was hoping you would come with me, talk with her. Being that you grew up in the Earthworld, I thought you might be the best one to explain this new life to her. Help her accept what has happened.”

“Of course, I will try, Valor. But I don’t know anything about wolves.”

He waved away my apprehension. “That is not of any concern. Briggs is with her now. He has not left her side since returning to my home. If you can get her to shift, then he will explain everything to her in greater detail.”

Apparently, vacation time was over. My gaze connected with Kyden’s. “You’ll come too, right?”

He nodded as if I even needed to ask. “We will have to discuss this with the Council first.”

Valor