Skye Cree 02: The Bones Will Tell by Vickie McKeehan Read Free Book Online Page B

elegant, Kiya flicked back her ears in greeting.
    She had a moment to enjoy the meeting of mind and spirit as the wolf nipped at Skye’s booted feet. But then Kiya let out a low guttural growl in warning. Out of the corner of her eye, Skye caught movement. Suddenly she was surrounded by a group of five street thugs. Each hard-edged teen looked as if he were looking for something to do and had just hit pay dirt.
    “What the hell you doin’ out here this time of night, bitch—alone? You in the wrong neighborhood. Mine.”
    Skye drew in a ragged breath, sized up each male of various size and age. In her estimation, none was older than twenty. They did, however, look tough and determined. It was hard to distinguish their eyes clearly in the darkness. But she knew jittery pupils when she saw them and recognized an addict chasing a meth high. Three clutched knives in their fists they waved in the air to make sure she saw they were armed.
    Why was it always a knife? Skye wondered.
    “Nice night for a walk,” she finally answered, pulling her nightstick from under the black jacket she wore.
    “Whaddya plan on doin’ with that thing? That ain’t gonna do you no good here, bitch. Are you too stupid to see we got switchblades? Besides, you can’t take all of us.”
    “Wanna bet,” Skye countered, about the same time Kiya bared her teeth in a menacing snarl. While the wolf’s corporeal form got their attention and seemed to mesmerize the bunch, Skye took the time to assess each one holding a weapon. She was pretty sure she could disarm at least two. The third one might be a problem. But what she intended to do with five she didn’t know.
    “That’s some dog you got there,” the tallest one pointed out. “Won’t do you no good though. In case you haven’t noticed, you’re outnumbered.”
    “And surrounded. You on our turf now,” one added.
    “Not the first time,” Skye admitted, thinking hard about how she could stall until she’d formed a mental plan. “You guys must be new hereabouts ’cause I’ve never seen you before tonight. You’re not sporting any tattoos I recognize.”
    “What do you know ’bout it anyway?”
    “I know you’re from out of town.” She tilted her head to study the bigger, more imposing one, the one she’d already judged would give her the most trouble in hand-to-hand. “By the looks of the blue fashion statement and the SUR tattoos, I’d say you’re branching out from eastern Washington, looking over the sights here in Seattle, seeing what you can score before heading back to Spokane.”
    She must’ve hit a nerve because the big one tossed out, “You’re a mouthy bitch, know that?”
    “I’m a lot of things. Mouthy just happens to be one of them. Don’t tell me you like your women meek and mild.”
    “Give us your money and we might let you live,” the bold guy sneered.
    “Go away now and I might let you live,” Skye boasted, beginning to feel that edginess creep in just before a fight.
    That valiant statement brought a round of laughter from the youngest follower and the one who looked to be about fifteen. As if contagious, the hilarity spread to the rest of the bunch as they all quickly followed suit.
    Skye didn’t wait another minute longer. She took advantage of their merriment and struck out, whacking her nightstick into the largest man. Pivoting, she rifled out a leg, knocking the second-in-command into one of his buddies. Righting herself, Skye shoved her metal baton into the leader’s belly, watched him double over. She brought her leg up and into his chin. The force sent him reeling backward. He went down for the count, but to her dismay he didn’t drop the knife.
    Skye didn’t have time to worry about it as Kiya leaped, became airborne. The wolf attacked the one closest to Skye, sinking her teeth into his forearm and wouldn’t let go.
    As another man advanced, she caught Josh’s form as he appeared out of the mist. But she didn’t have time to do