Had she been able, Hoskins would have died gurgling on his own blood the absolute second he wandered within range of her talons. But as it was, Blue could only recoil as much as possible for his proximity, feeling absolutely disgusting every time his voice hit her ears.

Her vision was still somewhat blurry, hardly the sharp crystal-clear gaze of the predator that she was, but her nose and ears told her everything necessary. He was close, and the blur in her unfocused eyes proved it. Hearing him mention Owen's name stirred her slightly, but she refused to open her mouth, even to hiss discomfort.

Then, the entire world shifted; Blue felt the cot upon which she lolled give on one side, and now she did hiss in furious agitation, the chains binding her clinking ominously. Blue lifted her head, gaze flat and evil beneath tangled black hair, and snapped her teeth as hard as she possibly could, feeling them clack together in her jaws. She tried to lunge, but the drugs and the chains kept her weak; she fell back with a breathless grunt.

But she kept trying, trying until she was absolutely exhausted. Her fingers curved into wicked talons, more than willing to rend and tear.