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I swallowed and aimed my blaster at them.

I fired. They dodged the laser fire. One of them leaped and hit the tree. Its powerful body thudded against the trunk. The branch I was on shook.

Oh, God. With my free hand, I gripped the branch. I fired again, and the dog rammed the tree a second time.

The entire tree shook, and I slipped. The blaster fell from my fingers, and I cried out. My body tilted sideways and I reached out, trying to grab onto anything. I gripped the branch, but my legs slid over the edge, dangling below.

The canines leaped up, jaws snapping at my shoes. I yanked my legs up, but one dog clawed at my ankle. I cried out at the burning pain.

I felt my fingers start to slip.

No!I clutched at the rough bark. I didn’t want to be torn apart by monster dogs.

Then, the sweet sound of carbine fire.

I looked down and saw laser fire hit the dogs. They yelped.

Jameson strode out of the trees, chest bare, his weapon aimed at the dogs. He looked like an avenging warrior angel.

Hunter Squad followed him.

Relief punched through me.Thank God.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Jameson

Ikept firing until the last canine threatening Greer was down.

I sprinted across the clearing, kicking the carcass of one monster dog out of my way. My body was filled with aches and pains, especially my chest, but the shot North had given me was holding back the worst of it. I knew I’d feel it later.

Greer was all that mattered. I needed to get to her.

“Greer.”

“God, Jameson.”

I held my arms up. “Let go and I’ll catch you.”

“I’ll hurt your chest.”

“You won’t. I’ll always catch you. Let go.”

She did, and I caught her in my arms. Then I kissed her, pulling in the taste of her.

She was alive.

I’d been so afraid, knowing that she was in the bush alone and that the dogs were hunting her. When I’d heard the blaster fire, my blood had run cold.

“Are they all dead?” she asked shakily.

“No.” Even as I answered, distant barking echoed in the darkness. “Not all of them.”

Her face blanched. “There are more?”

“The howls are bringing more out of hiding.” Kai held out a blaster. “I think you dropped this.”

Greer took it with a shaky smile.