Page 48

His fingers were still tight around my wrist, and I kept his stare as I pulled my arm slightly. Like I expected, he tried to tug me back. But this time, I allowed my strength to burn through me. I grinned as I yanked my arm, making him stumble forward a step. Shock covered his face for a moment before he scowled, exerting his own strength.

I managed to twist out of his grip, but he was ready and darted forward wrapping his arms around me, trapping mine at my sides. He squeezed me tightly, making it impossible to slip away.

“I don’t think you’re weak,” he breathed in my ear. “But you’re being reckless. Endangering my brothers’ lives. I won’t let it happen.”

“Let her go,” Rya snarled, coming into my line of sight.

I shook my head at her, silently telling her to stay back. These Shadows were going to follow me. They needed to know that I could handle myself. The others were shifting on their feet, the desire to fight gleaming in their eyes.

Viggo began dragging me back toward the exit, and I lashed my foot back, putting it behind his. He made a noise in surprise when he tripped. While he righted himself, I pushed off my feet, throwing all my weight into him. He stumbled back, unable to get his footing when I did it again.

“Shit,” he grunted out. “Stop?—”

I sucked in a deep breath, forcing my arms away from my sides. Viggo squeezed me tighter, trying to prevent me from getting free. He was so strong, and I realized that all the times he’d grabbed me in the past, he’d been holding back. Becausethis level of strength was something Zan and his brothers had never used against me before.

My muscles burned as I fought against him, and I let out a cry when I finally broke his hold. Spinning around, I shoved him back to keep him from grabbing me again. Disbelief shone in Viggo’s eyes as he gawked at me.

“You can’t control me,” I managed through heavy breaths. “Stop trying. I’m leaving.”

“Your strength is comparable to mine,” he bit out. “But look at you—just getting out of my hold has already exhausted you. You still can’t win against me. Just come back to the house.”

I raised my arms. “But it’s not just me, is it? It’s all of us. I don’t need to win against you on my own. Not when I have an army of Shadows who have my back.”

For the first time, a flicker of unease hit Viggo’s eyes, and he looked around as if just noticing how tightly the Shadows had circled around us. Most were shifting on their feet, impatience evident in their stances.

“No,” he snapped. “This isn’t happening.”

He darted forward, but before he got two steps, three Shadows attacked, wrestling him away from me.

“Don’t kill him,” I ordered, the tension escalating when Viggo swung his fist at one of them.

Viggo’s chest heaved as he was forced to his knees. While I was sure he could probably fight his way out of his predicament, he stayed on his knees, his gaze cutting to me. He was nearly trembling with fury, his fists stiff at his sides. I swallowed thickly, knowing he was close to losing it.

“Which army on this property is stronger, Viggo?” I asked quietly. “Mine or your father’s?”

“Don’t do this,” he said, his voice nearly pleading. “You’re going to start a war. One you have no idea how to win.”

“This was always the plan,” I admitted, a small slice of guilt stabbing me. I was about to wreck the life Viggo and his brothers had.

But there was no going back.

“We need to go,” I said loudly, glancing at Rya as I pulled the pen and paper from my pocket. “There are vehicles we can take, and the rest will travel by foot. We split into two groups. There’s a place we can meet about one hundred miles from here. I can show you where to go?—”

“Fucking hell,” Viggo ground out, and I looked at him when he shot to his feet. “You don’t have a safe enough spot where Amaros can’t find you.”

I frowned. “It’s an old Clover spot they don’t use anymore?—”

“It’s not good enough,” he cut me off sharply, holding his hand out. “I have somewhere we can go. I’ll draw the map.”

“We?” I repeated skeptically. “You’re not coming with us.”

He grinned even though it was forced. “Oh, yes I am. I promised my little brother I wouldn’t let you out of my sight.”

“We can’t trust him,” Rya sneered, stepping up beside me. “He’s a Kane. If he comes, it’ll put all of us in jeopardy.”

“Kali, think clearly,” Viggo murmured. “We both know Zan choseyou, which means I’ll be searching for you the second he gets back anyway.”

“You and Pax?” I questioned. “You have to choose me too, Viggo. And the Shadows. Your loyalty can’t be to Amaros anymore.”