Damon dashed into the forest, and Maya turned to look at Dawn, George, Cornelia, and James. "Talia needs us." She just got a mind-link from Zina. "We need to prepare for the worst-case scenario where we will need to fight against Damon. Cornelia, you can help Talia with the spell, and George and Dawn can help suppress him." James didn't have any role in particular, but it was obvious that he won't let Cornelia go there without him.
"Where are they?", Cornelia asked.
Maya shrugged. "Zina doesn't know how to explain. They are on some high hill that has a view of this area."
James rolled his eyes. "How many hills with a view do you have in that direction?"
"More than you know.", Maya said sourly.
George got an idea. "Zina doesn't know, but what about Talia's guards? They should be with her."
Maya thought how that made sense. Everything happened so quickly that she didn't think about Keith, Liam, Caleb, Pierce, Sandy, and Lulu.
After a second, Maya confirmed, "It's a restricted area where previous Alpha and Luna are buried." She was never there, but Maya was familiar with areas that were off-limits, so she knew where that was.
Caden wanted to come also, but Maya stopped him with, "Someone should stay here for crowd control. They are guests, so no one will be suspicious about their absence, and you can say that I went ahead so you will hunt for me after the ceremony."
Caden didn't like this, but they didn't have time to argue. "Damon didn't shift, so you can catch up to him in wolf form." He gave the bottle with the potion to suppress the black runes to Cornelia. "We need our Alpha back. If the ritual doesn't work, make him drink this."
Maya gave Caden a quick kiss and led the group of four into the nearby trees.
Maya shifted into a dark chocolate wolf before dashing into the darkness and George and Dawn followed, leaving behind their ceremonial garments.
With a thought, James' form changed into a massive golden-brown wolf, and he tugged on Cornelia's skirt with his fangs.
It took Cornelia a moment to understand. "You want me to ride you?"
The wolf nodded and his low growl told her that they didn't have time to delay.
James got down on his belly and waited patiently.
Cornelia grabbed the garment that fell off James' body when he shifted into the wolf form, and then she reluctantly sat on his back.
James' whole body shook. No panties!
Damn! He would give anything to be in his human form and to turn around so she can ride him properly!
James stood on all four and Cornelia's thighs tightened around him as she laid on him completely to hug his neck.
James whimpered. Now he could feel her breasts on his shoulder blades!
"Are you OK?", Cornelia asked. "I am not squeezing too tight, am I?"
James snorted and started moving. Cornelia clung onto him tightly and he didn't know if that was the best or the worst thing ever, but he was sure that after this he will need to rub it off or have a serious case of blue balls. And damn it, they didn't even kiss yet!
Talia held her breath as the familiar form appeared in her line of sight.
Damon was wearing only a black skirt-like garment that reached half of his thighs, and his muscular body was decorated with numerous patterns made with black paint. The necklace of white teeth was a contrast that gave an edge to his already dangerous vibe.
"Are you the one who called me here?", Damon asked in a gruff voice. "How did you get here?"
Talia swallowed a mouthful of air while reminding herself not to be afraid. Damon told her that he can sense fear. She was not afraid that he will attack her, but the possibility of him rejecting her was hanging above her head and growing by the second. But he was there, in front of her, and that meant something.
"I am here because you allowed it to happen.", Talia responded. "When you brought me here the first time, you told your guards that I can come here anytime. It's a permission only the two of us have."
Damon glanced around to see the darkness, but he knew there were others nearby. "There are more people present."
"Those are my guards. Guards that you assigned to protect me.", Talia responded. "I know you don't remember, but you can feel that something is missing, right?"
Damon narrowed his eyes at her. "And you are going to tell me what that is?"
Talia spread her hands, palm up. "There is too much to tell and not enough time. We've been through a lot in the last two months, Damon. I know you are aware of the gaps. I am the one who can fill them in."
Talia could see Damon eyeing her suspiciously and she was not sure what to say to make him believe her without making his temper implode. And she was also aware of their audience, so she didn't dare to talk about anything too intimate.
Maya, Dawn, George, James, and Cornelia were behind Damon now, and Talia understood that the guards let them pass because they assumed the five of them came with Damon, especially when they saw Maya.
Talia focused on Damon. She needed him to lower his guard and to believe her.
"You brought me home, Damon, and you told me that it's mine. You took me to a doctor and gave me food. You took me to the amusement park and to the fair. You watched me dance for the Moon Goddess, and you accepted my garland of flowers, and you said it was your first one. You stood up for me when people bullied me, and you taught me to fight."
"Did I?", he asked. "Show me."
Talia was confused. "Show you, what?"
"You said I taught you to fight. Come at me.", he waved at her to get closer.
"Are you serious?"
"It seems you expect me to believe that we were in some kind of a relationship. My woman would not be a burden. If I really taught you how to fight, prove it."
Talia hesitated. This was obviously not the Damon she knew. Her Damon would never call her a burden, even if she couldn't move a muscle, yet this Damon was full of himself and condescending.
Maya said that Damon before Talia was not pleasant, but Talia had difficulty believing that she really change him that much.
Damon didn't remember marking Talia which gave her a boost in speed and strength, but she didn't know if that would be enough to prove herself worthy in his eyes. On the other side, no matter how fast and strong she was, could she actually act against Damon?
"I don't want to hurt you." She really meant it.
"Those are some big words. Didn't you say that we are short on time? Are you going to come at me, or…"
Damon didn't finish his question because Talia dashed toward him. In a matter of seconds, they exchanged a dozen of blows.
Damon only defended and blocked, but the surprise on his face was obvious as Talia's speed was increasing with every next punch and kick.
