Free INVISIBLE PRISON (INVISIBLE RECRUITS) by Mary Buckham

shifted. Could be a cat-like creature but there was a huge difference between an enraged alley cat and an enraged tiger.
    In a triangular formation across from Skylock I tried to get Skylock’s attention to tone it down a bit, but she was either totally focused on Bitsi or ignoring me.
    “Or are you a bitch?” Skylock threw out, dancing way too close to the threat. “Here, Fido. Catch a bone.”
    Bitsi lunged forward, so fast she was just a blur, swiping one meaty still-human paw toward Skylock and sending her ass over teakettle through the air even though I’d seen Bitsi pull her punch. I could feel the thud of Skylock landing on the gym floor through my own body. She didn’t move either.
    “Now,” I shouted at my other teammate and jumped toward Bitsi’s back.
    Bri remained frozen in place.
    So there I was, arms wrapped around Bitsi’s neck, legs sandwiched around her waist, hanging on for dear life. Alone.
    My dad had raised a few saddle-broncs for the rodeo and had always warned me to stay clear of them. Now I knew why.
    Bitsi reared back, then forward, then sideways, her arms over her head, grabbing for my neck, doing everything possible to dislodge me. But I was Idaho-born and we didn’t dislodge easily.
    Vaughn shouted something and Kelly and Dyslexia attacked. Or at least Kelly did. She head butted Bitsi in the solar plexus.
    Smart move—low and hard.
    The shifter oomphed and grabbed her middle which toppled us both over backwards.
    Not so nice.
    Dyslexia kept tap dancing just outside arm’s-length of the two of us, being as useful as a Band-Aid on an arterial bleed.
    Kelly leaped on Bitsi’s legs, the three of us rolling across the hard floor like pigs in a blanket on speed.
    If…we...could…just...hold...her…down.
    But Bitsi wasn’t a lightweight shifter. With a roar that sounded part wart hog, part buffalo, she rocketed to her knees and threw me off.
    Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kelly still holding on for dear life.
    Then she disappeared.

 
    CHAPTER 11
     
    I blinked, wiping sweat out of my eye. What had just happened? Where was Kelly? Had someone evaporated her?
    I didn’t feel magic, but one second she was there, then she was gone.
    But I didn’t have time to think as Bri turned tail and ran, escaping by the closest door leading outside. Dyslexia remained stock still, not attacking, not helping, and sure as hell not watching out for her team.
    Bitsi lunged to her feet, releasing a bellow and leaving me sprawled on the floor.
    Vaughn threw herself forward in a rolling dive, aiming for the shifter’s legs, but Bitsi was too quick, side stepping our team leader and leaping toward Vaughn’s partner who skittered backwards. Toward me.
    I was scrambling to my feet, getting out of the way of the train wreck barreling down on me when Bitsi stumbled and tripped, face planting forward across the gym floor, fetching up right in front of me.
    Thank the Great Spirits for small favors. I dived for her back; the goal to immobilize her. That’s all. If I could hold on and press down she might be out of the fray.
    But even as I clawed for a good handhold I felt it. Magic flew across me, raining down, jamming my movements, as if I’d suddenly lost all muscle control.
    Bitsi twisted, flipping me on my back, smashing her elbow into my gut, snarling inches from my face.
    I could see the magic was impacting her, too. Like a rain dousing everyone in the vicinity, only Bitsi’s response was to shift. White rimmed her eyes as her nose started to morph, her hands lengthening, her bones crunching.
    And I was beneath her.
    Every instinct screamed flee, but she had me pinned down so well escape wasn’t an option. Neither was doing nothing. So what was a third option?
    Through a bone-dry mouth I started chanting a wolfbane spell. The only protection spell that came to mind.
     
    “Protection bring, guide, and hold. Moon called and cursed, evil and threat cease. Protect from harm and bane, cast off dark of