Amanda Carlson - Hot Blooded

The knife pressed against my neck pissed me off. Youre kidding me, right? I couldnt see what was behind me, but it smelled faintly of eggs. Half a beat later its Otherness began to slip along my skin like an unwanted caress. My fingers curled around the door handle of my car.

I didnt have time for this.

It hissed a few inches from my ear. Shut up, bitch. Youre going to pay for what you did

I brought my elbow up hard, faster than any human could track, and cracked my attacker neatly in the face as I spun around. Without hesitation, I grabbed him by the neck and slammed him onto the hood of the car next to me. Crap, that was going to leave a dent. I glanced around. Luckily there were no bystanders nearby. Whats your problem? I snarled. Doesnt look like you want a piece of me now.

The rheumy eyes of a stunned imp stared back at me, blinking once. An imp, by definition, was half human, half demonand this one was heavy on the human, which was why he hadnt triggered any of my new senses. A supe this weak had to be in close proximity to give off any Otherness. He wasnt a danger to memore like a pesky mosquitoand to my credit he stank like a dirty bum more than any kind of demon. I examined him, not surprised to find he resembled the imp Id killed last week. But this one was a lot weaker than Drake, so maybe a distant relation gunning for revenge?

Demons got off on revenge.

So its he gasped through a very diminished airway, true

Whats true? I relaxed my grip on his neck so he could answer. When he failed to do so, I hauled him up by the shirt, turned him around, and pushed him against the side of my car. Im running a little short on time. Care to expound further? I shook him for emphasis, letting him know there was really no other choice.

A glint of surprise along with a creepy smile full of stained, slightly pointy teeth slowly spread over his features. I jammed him back against my car, locking my forearm across his neck again,

hoping to convince him to spit out an answer before things had to get any uglier. Look, I said when he remained silent. Ive had a rough few days and Im in no mood to be attacked by yet another supe.

This is not going to end well for you if you dont answer my question, so Ill ask it again. Whats true? His greasy brown hair swung limply over his shoulders as I jostled him into a better position.

What was it with imps? Not showering must be a union order.

I didnt know you were her, he finally spat, his metallic breath pinging my nose like a tarnished penny. I eased my arm off his jugular. I came to avenge my cousin. But I can smell you now. I know who you are. There have been rumors, but you wont be able to hide from us. We will find you.

Find me? My wolf shot to the surface, sensing the real threat behind his words. I wasnt hiding from anyone, especially not the imps. My secret had come out, and for all I knew the entire planet was well aware Id become the only female werewolf on earth. It wasnt ideal, but nobody had asked me.

My nails elongated to vicious points in the span of a heartbeat. What do you think you know about me? I edged in closer, inhaling his repugnant scent. The possibility this moron knew more about me than I did tested my compassion on every level. Imp, you have three seconds before my wolf comes out, and I can guarantee youre not going to like what she has to say. She growled her agreement in my mind and I echoed it out loud for effect.

Instead of answering, the imp lunged forward, trying to break out of my grasp. His movement surprised me, forcing me to take a small step backward to steady myself. But my hold didnt break,

because he was weak and the muscles in my arms had already coalesced together like two giant anvils waiting to bring the hammer down on his greasy, uncombed head. Ive had enough of this crap,

demon boy. I shook him. Youre going to talk whether you want to or not. I dug my nails into his neck to accentuate my point. You can either spill it here with me, or you can face my Alpha, who is a lot less patient than me.

You will not rule us bitch, he sputtered, blood slowly leaking out of the wounds in his neck.

We are stronger. We will never follow you! Your filth cannot touch us.

Rule? What in the hell are you talking about? He wasnt talking about ruling the humans. I rocked him back on the edge of his heels, my irises flashing an angry violet. Listen clearly to what

Im telling you now. I want nothing to do with your demon racenot now and certainly not in the future. Ruling you doesnt even make sense. Im a wolf, and demons live in the Underworld. A place nobody in their right mind would volunteer to go willingly. And believe me, imp, my plans arent about to change. Theres absolutely nothing about your kind that appeals to me. Stinky, unwashed cretins.

He opened his mouth, his stained teeth and coppery breath assaulting me on so many levels. We will strike you down before you place a foot on the throne of Astaroth! The Prophecy will not stand.

Your death is imminent, he sneered through the choke hold. You will not best the powers of the Underworld. We are coming

I slammed my fist into the side of his head and he crumpled to the ground like a worthless marionette. Yeah? Well, youre going to have to get in line, buddy, because everybody around here seems to want something from me and Im late for a meeting.

I opened my car door and tossed him in the backseat. He was still breathing, but it would take a while to recover. Unwanted attacks were getting old, but at least this one didnt have a foaming muzzle and three-inch canines. I slid into the drivers seat.

Now I just had to figure out why everyone in the entire supernatural race seemed to know more about me than I did.

What did you just say? I stood so quickly, my chair spun back and clattered against the wall. The

Second Coming of what? And who exactly was the first?

Devon tossed a panicked look at my father, Callum McClain, Pack Alpha of the U.S. Northern

Territories. The three of us had been sitting at the conference table in my office; my father had his hands folded neatly in front of him, looking calm and in charge. He nodded to Devon to continue as I

stalked around the table. Fear leaked out of the Packs computer whiz, making my wolf edgy.

Devon spoke again, clearing his voice once before he started. Um, well, according to what it says here I stopped behind his chair, leaning over his shoulder to read the words for myself. The text on the screen appeared to be taken from a copy of a photograph, and not a very clear one. The original parchment background looked broken and old, like the ink had rubbed off before theyd snapped a good shot of it. It read:

THE PROPHECY OF THE TRUE LYCAN:

One shall walk again; above all others she is born;

Within her the beast shall lie, well hidden in True Form;

And from this day forth, the Children of the Night shall pay;

By her supreme rule, her righteous hand will slay;

Justice to all, as none are her equal;

The True Lycan will Vanquish all Evil.

After a minute, I turned away and started to pace. What it states there doesnt make any sense.

Why wouldnt we have our own record of this if it were true? Anyone couldve made this stuff up

its on the Internet for chrissake. That could easily be the rantings of a sixteen-year-old sci-fi nerd who fabricated a story about a female werewolf who took over the world. He probably saw a graphic novel about a hot chick who turned into a wolf and his libido shot into overdrive.