Demons of Good and Evil by Kim Harrison

            “You aren’t touching David!” I shouted. “You want him, you go through me.”

            But they were the ones standing between David and me, and my gut tightened in fear.

            Parker growled, her lip lifting in a silent threat. Her haunches bunched, and I gathered a wad of raw energy in my hand. This was going to end now.

            And then Parker jerked to a halt, her eyes going behind me.

            Al? I wondered, then gasped as a red shadow streaked past me, headed right for them.

            “Cassie!” I shouted, recognizing the tiny werefox. Legs stretched and her lips pulled from her muzzle in promised violence, she practically flew. My God. She is beautiful, I thought, and then her twenty pounds of courage collided with that enormous wolf, gold and gray mingling in an unreal motion and savagery.

            “Cassie!” I lurched forward, unable to throw my magic lest I hit her, but the wily woman had dropped clear, and the pissed Were caught only air in her teeth.

            High-pitched barks sounded as Cassie stood between Parker and me. Her foxy tail was fluffed and her back was hunched. Head low, she yapped at them, warning them off. She was tiny before the wolves, and I wondered why she’d left David.

            That is, until a pop of magic flattened the grass and a yip of pain came clear over the sound of snarls and barks. David had sent her to find me. He needed my help. Alpha Were or not, he couldn’t stand against someone capable of magic. Yeah, this was a problem.

            “Rachel!” Bis shouted, and I looked up, relieved as his dark wings cut a sharp silhouette against the sky. “Some witch has David pinned down and is picking off pack members one by one. You have to get to him.”

            “You think?” I said, frustrated, and then I jumped when a rock thumped into the ground inches from the two wolves. Bis was lightweight but could carry a lot.

            Startled, the smaller Were shied into Parker. The larger wolf turned, snapping. In half a second they were tussling in a fur-flying fight, but before I could think to move, the smaller Were screamed in pain and streaked away, dodging the distant I.S. agents to flee into the night.

            Bis’s laughter rumbled like rocks in a blender as he landed on my shoulder. What was left of my braid fell completely apart, and my hair flew wildly as he beat the air and wrapped his tail securely behind my back. “Leave,” I said to Parker, but the huge wolf only shook herself, blood from an already tattered ear arching through the night like rubies.

            Behind her, another wash of magic rose, and Cassie barked at me to hurry up.

            Parker didn’t move. She didn’t have to engage, only prevent me from reaching David.

            More aggressive. I reached again for a ley line. Power from the earth and sky roared into me, tingling to my extremities. From the field came a third thump of power. The echoing yelp of pain struck through me. I had to get to David. Now.

            “Fire in the hole!” I shouted to warn Bis, and then, after giving Cassie a look to stay where she was, I swept my arm dramatically. “Dilatare!”

            My breath caught, and for an instant, I gloried in the satisfying burst of force pushing out from me in all directions, flattening the grass in a sudden storm that carried a hint of my aura.

            Yelping, Parker rolled, tumbling over the grass.

            “Go!” I shouted, but Cassie was already gone, heading right for the worst of the noise.

            I ran, dodging Parker as she found her feet. Bis took to the air, serving as an aerial guard. I followed Cassie’s red blur, ducking when dark wings brushed my head. “You want me to drop a rock on that witch?” Bis asked as he made barrel rolls beside me, his eyes practically glowing in excitement.

            “Stay clear,” I said, slowing as I began to look for the swirl of charmed silk amid the fur. “Maybe check on Al,” I added, and the kid winged up and away.

            I slid to a bewildered halt. Like wild dogs, the Weres fought, engaging in brief spats only to spring back to bark obscenities. The park was gray and white under the ambient city glow, and Cincy’s Weres were still coming in. I didn’t see that magic user. Hell, I couldn’t even tell friend from foe. But Cassie can, I decided as she landed right atop a Were and savaged an ear.

            Yelping, the Were pawed Cassie off. Behind them, David and Walter fought. I was smaller than a Werewolf, but I had my magic. More importantly, I’d had enough.