Page 111 of Blood & Claw

But then, the memory of the dead man with the blade in his eye intruded.

Kayla was taking bigger risks now. They had to reach her before she pushed things too far. As soon as the sky to the east lightened, they’d be on their way again. They’d find her.

Meanwhile, Darach closed his eyes.

The moments drew out.

“What are you doing?” she called down eventually, growing impatient.

“Quiet,” he barked. “I’m calling it.”

Chastened, she obeyed, watching as he closed his eyes once more.

His chest began to rise and fall sharply, his face contorting. And then, he bowed his head, and his shoulders bunched.

The thorned circle around the tattoo burned faintly—dark ink gleaming in the firelight.

Ailsa held her breath.

Darach dropped to his knees and then all fours. His hands clenched in the pine needles.

“Hold it,” he rasped. “Hold—” His voice suddenly broke into a snarl.

He lurched forward, spine arching impossibly as his limbs changed.

Black fur erupted across his skin. Bones cracked and reshaped with a wet, grinding sound.

Claws burst from his fingers, curving in hooked blades as his body surged larger—jaws lengthening, ears pricking, a heavy tail lashing the pine needles.

Ailsa stared, aghast and entranced, at the huge black predator crouched by the fire.

She’d seen carvings and etchings of clag-doos, but nothing had prepared her for the reality. The feline was bigger, more muscular, more terrifying, than she’d imagined.

It lifted its whiskered chin, and their gazes locked.

She searched those golden eyes for some glimpse of Darach—the man.

But he was gone.

Misgiving rushed in, hollowing her belly. “Oh, shit,” she whispered.

Where was he?

Darach had been reluctant to try this out; she should have heeded him.

The beast growled low and began to circle the fire, moving with fluid, predatory grace, heading straight for the pine.

Straight for her.

Ailsa’s pulse started to thunder in her ears, her confidence dissolving like morning mist.

The distance between them vanished too quickly. He was stalking her.

Those pitiless golden eyes never left her.

“That’s enough,” she called out, her voice catching. “You can change back now.”

But he didn’t. Darach couldn’t hear her.