Sea Wolf Magick (Highlander Magick Series Book 2) Read Free Page B

wolf landed with a thud as it hit the ground and grunted. The beast rose quickly, shaking its head, saliva spewing from its mouth.
    With ears pointed forward, the black wolf stood tall and steady, towering over its opponent. The stunning creature snarled, exposing its jagged canines.
    The gray wolf growled, its immense paws inching closer. Its chest crouched close to the ground before it sprung and attacked. Their bodies wrestling in a tight lock, thick strands of fur flung through the air and sprinkled the ground.
    Crack.
    The weak bark splintered between Beth’s grasp. The tree bent like a piece of rubber, sending her body plummeting several feet in midair over the steep cliff. Her stomach lurched. She opened her mouth and screamed. A lump wedged in her throat. Taking short breaths, she glanced down to find the thrashing waves lunging beneath her. Frantic, she searched for anything sturdy to grasp to keep her from falling into the cold ocean.
    An eerie squeal raced over her head. A massive gray bundle plummeted off the cliff, just missing her. She gripped the branch, her body hugging the sharp rocks. A cry howled overhead. She peered up in time to see the black wolf staring down at her. Strands of wet hair clung to her face and covered her mouth. She blinked, her gaze momentary locked with his. The wind lashed at her face and bare limbs. She shuddered, leaning her head on her arm.
    The tree swayed and lifted several inches in the air. Her body trembling, her arm wrapped tighter around the bark. The black wolf walked backward with the broken limb clenched in its mouth, pulling her up.
    Beth’s arms grew weak and quivered. Her palms were wet, and her fingers began to slip. Losing her grip, she squealed. With her arms flailing, her body bounced against the jagged rocks as images of Darby and Keara flashed before her eyes. The breath knocked out of her, she grasped for air.
    The wolf howled. His anguished cries were the last thing she heard as her body plunged into the freezing water.
    The icy grip of the ocean dragged Beth into its eerie darkness. Her ribcage contracted in sharp pain like heavy boulders crushing her chest. The fear of drowning flooded her mind, knowing she was never a good swimmer. Stricken with panic, she held her breath until her head bobbed above the water and she gasped for air.
    Her limbs grew numb becoming harder to move, and her neck stiffened like a wooden board. Glancing into the vast emptiness of water surrounding her with no hope of finding any land close by, she resisted the powerful urge to close her eyes and fall into a deep sleep.
    With a jolting gasp, she struggled for every breath of fresh air as each one became more difficult than the one before.
    Like a snake coiling around a branch, something wrapped around her ankles and seized her feet. Her body plummeting, she sank into blackness. Beth’s eyelids bolted open. She opened her lips to scream, but salt water rushed inside her mouth, making her choke.
    Her head throbbed as she tried to focus on the hideous glowing creature floating in front of her face. Its red gleaming eyes stared, studying her. Beth’s heart raced in her chest. Her eyes widened in fear as the creature grabbed her arm.
    Like a teabag dunked into a cup of hot steamy water, Beth’s body began to heat rapidly. A clear bubble inflated around her head. She gasped for air, hot tears streaming down her cheeks.
    The creature’s webbed fingers tightened its grip around her wrists.
    Beth squirmed and grimaced at its hideous face. The beast opened and closed its puckered fishy lips, its red eyes locked with hers. She noticed it didn’t have a nose. Long scarlet tendrils of silky hair floated around its webbed green body. Beth opened her mouth to scream again, but nothing came out. With a feeling of heavy weights tied to her limbs, she found herself unable to move.
    Her pulse raced, and her ears popped. Beth cringed and watched the creature lower its ugly head to her wrist.