somehow making me skim the undergrowth and hidden hazards, almost flying across the terrain. If I wasn't shit scared right now, I'd be revelling in this new found freedom. Speed, but more speed than I had ever used before in my life. I have had to run fast since joining and Bonding with Michel, but I'd never managed this type of speed before.
I made it to the fence before the Taniwhas, but not quite at the right spot. I recognised the area, so it wasn't far away. I had to scan quickly, slowing my speed a fraction, but I spotted the gap and made for it, closer to the Taniwhas coming from the right than I wanted. But I knew now, I could make it. I knew I could get there before them.
I slid to the ground, feet first towards the gap. Don't ask me why, I think most people would have thrown their arms forward and let their bodies follow, but I have skidded through tighter spots feet first before, so I knew it was a move I could pull off. My feet slid through the gap, followed by my body, then my head. I landed crouched down on the grass on the other side of the fence and turned my head in time to see a claw slice through the gap towards me.
One of the most nifty new things to happen when I joined with my kindred, was an increase in reflex action. I thanked my luck stars tonight for that.
I rolled back from where I had been crouched, doing a complete reverse somersault away from that claw; head over back, feet flicking out behind and over, just managing to stay out of its reach. I landed with a thud against the Land Rover Discovery I'd driven tonight. One of Michel's pool vehicles, but mine to use when I needed it. At least I could be grateful it wasn't the BMW Series 1 Convertible Michel had presented me with. I gave that one back. This was our compromise. I borrowed the Discovery when I needed a car. That way Michel knew I was driving something suitably safe and I didn't feel like a kept woman. The Discovery never came home with me, it stayed at Michel's. I was adamant about that.
I sat there stunned, trying to catch my breath and make myself move, but unable to pull my gaze away from the muddy brown Taniwha eyes that watched me. I knew those eyes, even in Taniwha form, I still recognised them.
“Congratulations.” My voice was even, if just a little breathless. “On your promotion in the Hapū.”
He just growled, low and long.
We stared at each other for a moment. Him unable to get through the small gap, me catching my breath, then I stood shakily and opened the door to the Land Rover, slid in and turned the key.
I guess, at least, I knew where I stood.
Rick was Alpha of the Westside Hapū. And I was at the top of his shit list too.
Chapter 2
Laying Down The Law
I'd made it about a kilometre down the road. I knew the Taniwhas wouldn't leave their land in Taniwha form, too dangerous out in the country like this, they'd be shot on sight by some well meaning farmer who just happens to carry his shotgun in the back of his Ute. They couldn't risk discovery, even if I was the one that got away.
Despite that knowledge though, I was still pretty much a wreck. I had scrapes and bruises and cuts all over me, but that wasn't the worst of it. No, the worst was the image of Jerome falling to the ground. The worst was the knowledge that Rick had killed him. Rough, tough, gruff Jerome, who had a heart of gold and a bear hug to rival the best of them. He'd welcomed me on pack lands, he'd opened up his world to the lost Nosferatin and been there when I needed to call on old ties.
My depth of respect for Jerome was bottomless. And now he was dead, because of Rick. I stifled a sob and tried to brush the tears away so I could focus on the road. I really didn't want to pull over, I was still too close to Hapū land to feel entirely safe, so I was risking an accident just to get away, but it was getting harder and harder.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a figure appeared on the road ahead. I slammed on the brakes and made the four-by-four
I made it to the fence before the Taniwhas, but not quite at the right spot. I recognised the area, so it wasn't far away. I had to scan quickly, slowing my speed a fraction, but I spotted the gap and made for it, closer to the Taniwhas coming from the right than I wanted. But I knew now, I could make it. I knew I could get there before them.
I slid to the ground, feet first towards the gap. Don't ask me why, I think most people would have thrown their arms forward and let their bodies follow, but I have skidded through tighter spots feet first before, so I knew it was a move I could pull off. My feet slid through the gap, followed by my body, then my head. I landed crouched down on the grass on the other side of the fence and turned my head in time to see a claw slice through the gap towards me.
One of the most nifty new things to happen when I joined with my kindred, was an increase in reflex action. I thanked my luck stars tonight for that.
I rolled back from where I had been crouched, doing a complete reverse somersault away from that claw; head over back, feet flicking out behind and over, just managing to stay out of its reach. I landed with a thud against the Land Rover Discovery I'd driven tonight. One of Michel's pool vehicles, but mine to use when I needed it. At least I could be grateful it wasn't the BMW Series 1 Convertible Michel had presented me with. I gave that one back. This was our compromise. I borrowed the Discovery when I needed a car. That way Michel knew I was driving something suitably safe and I didn't feel like a kept woman. The Discovery never came home with me, it stayed at Michel's. I was adamant about that.
I sat there stunned, trying to catch my breath and make myself move, but unable to pull my gaze away from the muddy brown Taniwha eyes that watched me. I knew those eyes, even in Taniwha form, I still recognised them.
“Congratulations.” My voice was even, if just a little breathless. “On your promotion in the Hapū.”
He just growled, low and long.
We stared at each other for a moment. Him unable to get through the small gap, me catching my breath, then I stood shakily and opened the door to the Land Rover, slid in and turned the key.
I guess, at least, I knew where I stood.
Rick was Alpha of the Westside Hapū. And I was at the top of his shit list too.
Chapter 2
Laying Down The Law
I'd made it about a kilometre down the road. I knew the Taniwhas wouldn't leave their land in Taniwha form, too dangerous out in the country like this, they'd be shot on sight by some well meaning farmer who just happens to carry his shotgun in the back of his Ute. They couldn't risk discovery, even if I was the one that got away.
Despite that knowledge though, I was still pretty much a wreck. I had scrapes and bruises and cuts all over me, but that wasn't the worst of it. No, the worst was the image of Jerome falling to the ground. The worst was the knowledge that Rick had killed him. Rough, tough, gruff Jerome, who had a heart of gold and a bear hug to rival the best of them. He'd welcomed me on pack lands, he'd opened up his world to the lost Nosferatin and been there when I needed to call on old ties.
My depth of respect for Jerome was bottomless. And now he was dead, because of Rick. I stifled a sob and tried to brush the tears away so I could focus on the road. I really didn't want to pull over, I was still too close to Hapū land to feel entirely safe, so I was risking an accident just to get away, but it was getting harder and harder.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a figure appeared on the road ahead. I slammed on the brakes and made the four-by-four
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