Page 130

“What is that?” Fawn asks.

“Our horn. We are getting close.”

But before we reach the crossroads, a great thrum rises. A cacophony of terror is approaching us fast.

We come to a skidding stop.

I try the nearest door—locked. I try another. Also locked.

“Eiden, they are coming!”

I put my shoulder to the next door. It gives. I stumble into a hovel where a troll sits nursing a giant club.

“Fuck!” I back up, keeping Fawn behind me.

Her sudden scream has me spinning to find a thug has her arm.

My fist slams into his face. He releases her and crumples to the floor, but another man is on me… and the pissed-off troll is charging with a roar.

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

I cannot block both,

The second thug swings his crude sword, but the troll’s club whistles through the air, coming for me.

The point of a sword suddenly pierces the thug’s throat from behind, just as a dark, furred blur flies past and slams into the troll, bowling him back into his home.

Claws slash, and blood sprays.

As the dead thug slips graceless to the ground, Gideon yanks out his sword.

“Gideon! Wolf!” Fawn’s cry redirects both men’s attention from the fallen prey. Jude pivots faster, takes a single leap, and swings her into his arms.

“Finally,” Jude rumbles just as a blood-splattered Seven and Nox rush in beside Gideon, chests heaving.

Nox gives me an up-down look and smirks.

Only now do I realize he has never seen this form…

No one has.

Even I did not know it existed.

“Wow!” Gideon says.

“Sound the retreat, Gideon,” Seven commands. “Fall back, everyone.”

Gideon steps out into the street and lifts the horn at his belt to his lips.

The three short toots sound the retreat.

I have never heard a sweeter sound.

Chapter Forty-One

Fawn

We return home.