Page 17

CHAPTER 17

S asha

“Now we’ll head back down those stairs and you’ll go right in front of me. Got me a whole team waiting for us down there.” Kendall jerks the blaster gun for Eirik to move. “And I warn you, Huugwor: one wrong move and your little mate here is history.”

My blood runs cold as my mind races. Then my eyes stray to the blanket hanging on the wall, right at the head of my bed. It’s a good thing I’m a planner and a smart little mouse. I always have an escape route.

Only this one isn’t just an escape route. It’s a death trap, designed to erase all traces of me should someone hunt me down all the way here.

I’d hoped I’d never have to use it, but there’s no more choice. Still, trepidation makes my heart skip a beat.

This is stupid, but I’m desperate. And stupid is as stupid does. Or something like that.

“I’m surprised at you, Sasha.” Kendall keeps yapping, his confidence soaring. “I always pegged you for a smart girl. Guess smart only goes so far when women are concerned.”

Such a prick.

Eirik moves in front of him, his broad back like a piece of art on full display. His hands are folded on top of his head and his muscular arms are rippling with tension. I know he’s readying himself for an attack. I just hope he’ll follow my lead when the time comes.

“That’s it, nice and slow,” Kendall drawls, still holding me tight against his chest.

My heart pounds as Eirik walks toward the door, Kendall and me on his tail. We’re close now. So close. All I need is for Eirik to get out of the way in time.

Three more steps. Two. Just one more. Now is my chance.

I’ve never been a good liar, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

“Just let us go,” I wheeze between his fingers as Eirik reaches the threshold. “Please. I’m begging you.”

It hurts me inside to beg like that, but I beg some more, and start crying just for good measure. Eirik turns his head to look at me, his eyes squinting.

He sees right through me, but luckily, he doesn’t say a word.

“Oh, sweetie,” Kendall says. “You sound just like your sister. Maitlin is always begging and crying, too. Guess what? She learned the hard way to just do what I say, I can tell you that.”

He chuckles, and the sound brings rage to my mind. I remember the way Maitlin looked at him, as we hid in the hallway. I remember the bruises on her arms and the way she clutched at the collar of her shirt, hiding more bruises.

I stop crying then and start laughing. Kendall stiffens at my back, and I think I deserve a prize for how good I’m acting. But a glimpse at Eirik tells me I’m still not that good of a liar, it’s just that Kendall is particularly stupid.

“Is that what you think? That Maitlin is scared of you because you slap her around from time to time? We grew up in the streets. Whatever you do to her, it’s nothing compared to Naeve’s whupping when we were kids.”

I force myself to laugh some more, even as Kendall tightens his cruel hold on my neck. I can feel the confusion and anger coming off of him in waves.

And I see Eirik eyeing me cautiously. He knows I’m provoking him on purpose, but he doesn’t know why. Still, he does exactly what I hoped he would and inches back toward Kendall and me, slowly and subtly enough that it doesn’t attract Kendall’s attention.

“Maitlin is always telling us girls how dumb you are and how you can barely keep it up.” I’m still laughing like a freaking maniac. “She’s fucking them all, you know? All your so-called friends.”

He doesn’t like that. He doesn’t like that at all.

“Shut the fuck up, you little bitch!”

Kendall’s grip loosens slightly as rage blinds him, just like I hoped.

His mistake. Too bad he won’t live to regret it.

I turn my head just enough, as if cowering, then snap it back fast and clamp my teeth down hard on his ear. The taste of blood fills my mouth as cartilage gives way. Still, I clamp down my little teeth on his flesh and tear like a dog.

My head snaps back. Flesh still in my mouth, no longer attached to him.

I spit the piece of lobe on the floor with a disgusted groan.

Kendall’s howl of pain echoes through the small space. His arms release me as he staggers back, clutching at his mangled ear.

I lose no time. When you’re as small as I am, you learn fast that your only advantage in battle is your speed.

And I do have speed.

I drop and roll in one fluid motion toward Eirik. Toward safety.

“You filthy slut!” Kendall shouts, his voice full of rage and pain.

But even as he reels from the pain, his hand steadies on his blaster. The barrel swings toward me, his eyes wild with rage behind the sheet of blood running down his face.

“I’m gonna fucking kill you, you worthless piece of ass.”

At my side, Eirik tenses, ready to jump between me and the blaster gun. I have just a second to act.

A second is all I need.

“Duck!” I scream at Eirik, my hand already reaching for the small detonator hidden underneath the bed.

Eirik’s massive arms wrap around me, yanking me down as I slam my palm on the button. The faint click of the mechanism engaging sends a surge of adrenaline through my veins.

We have five seconds to get out. My safehouse is now a death trap.

A blaster shot rings just above my head and pieces of the ceiling rain down on us.

“Behind the wall hanging!” I shout, scrambling toward the woven tapestry that conceals my escape route. “Follow me!”

Another blaster shot follows, accompanied by a string of curses as Kendall gives chase.

It doesn’t matter. He won’t have time to follow.

Without hesitation, Eirik moves with me. We head down the stairs without a second to spare. The first explosion rocks the building and I lose my footing as the blast hits my back, but Eirik grips my arm, preventing me from falling to my death.

I point to a boarded window at the edge of the landing.

“This way!” I shout over another blast, this time at the bottom of the stairs.

Eirik’s grip keeps me steady as he runs, almost carrying me. To his credit, he doesn’t even question me, he just goes for it.

I don’t know when he decided to trust me, but he does.

As we reach the boarded window, I rip it easily off the wall like the decoy it is. Across from the window is the next building, but we’ll have to jump. Fear grips me as I look down. We’re on a third floor. If we fall, we’re sure to at least break a few bones.

Well, Huugwors are probably made of tougher stuff, but my human ass is fragile.

A third blast rips through the air and the entire building shakes on its faulty foundation. Still, I’m too afraid to jump.

Turns out, I don’t need to. Eirik grabs me and I scream as he flips me over his shoulder, then leaps out the window.

I’m still screaming as I face his muscular back while we fly through the air.

The impact of our landing knocks the air from my lungs, even cushioned against Eirik’s solid shoulder. I lift my gaze just in time to see my safehouse groan and buckle as the chain of explosions reaches its crescendo.

Then it happens all at once. The entire structure collapses in on itself in a thunderous roar of destruction.

Eirik doesn’t pause to watch. His powerful legs propel us forward across the rooftop as screams and smoke fill the street behind us.

“Hold tight,” he growls, and I grip the waist of his pants as he leaps to the ground like some sort of vengeful angel.

His landing is so smooth I barely feel the impact, but he doesn’t miss a beat and takes off running. The familiar stench of the lower districts fills my nose in all its glory of rotting garbage, stale piss, and desperation. But for once, I’m grateful for these putrid alleyways. They’re perfect for disappearing.

My stomach lurches as he runs through the maze of alleys that make up the lower city and although I know this town like the back of my hand, I’m lost in a matter of minutes.

Maybe it’s the strange position; maybe it’s just my brain finally giving up.

I don’t know anything anymore, but I trust his sure-footed grace as he sprints. The muscles in his back flex beneath my hands as Eirik navigates the maze of streets with inhuman speed. His breathing remains steady despite carrying me at a dead run.

When he finally slows down it takes more than a moment for me to gather my wits.

What remains of them, anyway.

“Where are we?” I ask as I turn around to look at unfamiliar surroundings.

“We need to get out of the city,” he answers and there’s something in his voice that makes me turn around to face him.

Then all the blood drains from my face and I feel a dead, cold hand wrap around my gut and squeeze.

On his lower right side is a shocking red patch, steadily leaking blood down his well-muscled abs. A shocking red blaster wound.

“Oh, my Gods!” I shout. “You’re injured!”

I leap to him just as he wavers. I don’t even know what I’m thinking, wrapping my arms around him to help him up. It’s not like I can carry his weight. I don’t even think I could drag him if I needed to.

“It’s just a scratch,” he counters, but his features are taut and there’s a line in the middle of his brows, betraying his pain.

“You shouldn’t have carried me all the way,” I protest.

“I will be fine.” His voice is harsh and his face is stern as he reaches for my chin. Even with a blaster shot to his gut, he’s bossy. “We need to get going.”

“You need a doctor.” I ignore his words and look around. I have no idea where we are, but I know I’m right. A gunshot wound can’t be ignored, not even by a Huugwor.

“I’ll get the help I need where we’re going.” He twists me in his hold and forces me to look at him. “Look at me, Sasha. We don’t have time to argue. Now come with me and do exactly as I say. Both our lives depend on it.”

Then he walks away in front of me, like his body doesn’t respond to the laws of biology.

Or logic.

After just a moment of hesitation, I follow.