Tuesday Teaser 7/7/2025

7/8/2025

Holding his broken arm tightly to his body, Declan battled Jonas as best he could, driving him closer to the basement door. In the process one of their bookcases crashed to the floor and a credenza was turned to firewood. He heard Ben’s footsteps, then the sound of the lock being opened. He kicked out, then delivered a solid hit to Jonas’s head. Jonas returned with two fast punches, but nothing like the violence of a few seconds ago.

Lucas blew by Declan, more werewolf than human, tackled Jonas, and they tumbled down the basement stairs. Fortunately, all their computer equipment was off to the right and safe. The small table with a collection of dog statues against the wall at the base of the stairs didn’t survive. Declan followed. He heard Blair and Simon right behind him. The minute Lucas and Jonas hit the floor, Lucas was thrown off. Declan jumped out of the way and sprinted around him. Jonas was on his feet, his eyes solid white, not blue. Ignoring speculation on what could cause that, Declan jumped and kicked, hitting Jonas square in the chest and driving him toward Lucas’s room.

“Help me!” Declan growled.

Simon had gotten around behind Jonas, grabbed his arm and turned him, hitting him in the face repeatedly. Jonas stumbled back, then bellowed another ear-shattering blast of sound. Simon staggered back, forced away by the noise. Declan put his head down and ran at Jonas, ramming him in the solar plexus. That move pushed him to the threshold of Lucas’s room. It was the strongest, most secure place Declan could imagine they had. Only time would tell if it would hold Jonas in this state.

When Jonas sprinted at them, he was met by Simon, Blair, and Declan delivering simultaneous blows that sent him sprawling to the floor inside the room. Ben slammed the door and engaged the lock.

“It’s in him!” Blair said.

Jonas screamed on the other side of the door and began pounding against it, battering it with his body from the sounds he was making. The door shook on its reinforced steel frame, and Ben jumped away.

“Fuck! Is that going to hold?”

Declan slid down against the door and stared up at Blair. “What do you mean it’s in him?”