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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

M y breath caught, and my heart squeezed uncomfortably. I wanted to tell this girl that she’d be safer with me, but that wasn’t true. She’d be more at risk.

She pulled away from me, and I let her drop to the ground. Her head came to just above my waist, and once again, the fierce urge to protect her came over me.

Her focus was on the other witches. Several had started walking down the road, but others stood steady and looked toward the girl, their chins raised despite the signs of their captivity—matted hair, dirty skin, and the stench of what they’d had to live in.

“I hope you understand,” she added, softer now, and looked back at me.

I crouched lower, heart pounding so loud it drowned out the rustle of branches and the shuffle of feet. “You don’t have to go.” I placed a hand on her shoulder. “You can come with us. I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”

She smiled faintly, the kind of smile that cut deep. “You already did.”

Something inside me cracked wide open. She reminded me of innocence and hope. Everything I used to be until the vampires changed me.

The witch with the swollen eye stepped forward, extending a hand to the young girl. Her expression was tired but fierce. “I’ll protect her. No matter what. I swear on the goddess.”

The girl didn’t hesitate and took the woman’s hand.

“Thank you for not leaving me there,” she whispered. “Thank you for seeing me. It’ll never be forgotten, and one day, I’ll return the debt owed.”

My eyes burned as unshed tears filled them. “You owe me nothing.” I hated the idea that, if someone helped another, there was this burden placed on the one receiving the help. Our pack never expected anything in return for our help, and it saddened me that most supernaturals felt a sense of obligation.

The little girl blew me a kiss as she joined the other witches. My knees threatened to give out, watching her walk away. I wasn’t sure how I’d connected with her so quickly and completely.

Ryker wrapped an arm around my waist, and I leaned into him. I could hear the shuffles of the others putting the witch, Bruce, and Cassi in the vehicles.

Ryker didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. He just held me as I tried to keep from breaking.

Leaves crunched in the direction of the prison.

Sun stiffened. “We’ve got incoming.”

Xander’s ears perked, his nose lifting to the breeze. A low growl rumbled in his throat.

Our time was up.

“Everyone, get in the vehicles. Now,” Ryker barked.

I spun around to see that Bruce had made it into the front passenger seat of the Accord, and Cassi was waiting in the back seat of the Mazda. The new witch had been placed in the far back of the Mazda since it was a hatchback. Reid slammed the trunk shut and hurried into the car.

The final rescued witches took off at a slow gait, staying next to the road, which would have vehicles periodically driving by. The vampires couldn’t attack without outing their kind.

Sun slid in the back of the Mazda with Reid, and Ryker and I hurried to the front. I slid behind the wheel as Briar opened the back seat of the Accord and Gage, Xander, and Kendric jumped in, still in wolf form.

Our engines roared to life just as a few vampires tore out of the tree line.

Tires squealed, and dirt shot up everywhere. I floored the gas pedal, but it wasn’t fast enough.

A body slammed into the back of the Mazda with a force that rocked the entire car. The rearview mirror showed a blur of movement as claws scraped metal.

The vampire latched onto the trunk, claws screeching as he crawled toward the rear window.

“Hold on!” I shouted, gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles went white.

Behind us, the Accord swerved as another vampire lunged, claws raking a side mirror. Briar hit the brakes just enough to throw the woman vampire off balance, and Gage—still in wolf form—lunged out the back window just far enough to snap his jaws on the creature’s arm.

The vampire shrieked and tumbled across the road.

But we weren’t clear yet.

Another slammed into the driver’s side of my car, his face twisted with hate and disgust. He dug his claws into the window frame and yanked hard enough that the metal crunched under the pressure and the window itself cracked and buckled.

Ryker raised his gun and fired twice, putting two holes in the window.

Blood sprayed.

The vampire crumpled to the pavement with a wet thud, but more figures barreled from the trees.

A random red car appeared around a curve in the road, heading toward us. The sedan swerved, honking loudly, and was followed by a second vehicle.

The vampires froze before retreating. They vanished into the shadows of the woods like they’d never been there at all.

Now that we were free, I twisted the wheel and turned the car around, stepped hard on the gas, and followed the two vehicles. We needed to be around humans. The vampires wouldn’t risk getting more humans involved. Follow me , I linked to Briar.

I didn’t let off the gas until we were behind the other two vehicles.

I glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure Briar was right behind us, then asked, “Is everyone okay?”

A groan came from behind Sun, who turned in the middle seat to check on the witch in the back. “Yeah, I think we’re all okay, but that was close.”

Reid wheezed beside her. “Next time, maybe let’s not take the scenic route through hell.”

“I’m not okay.” Cassi shook her head. “All those witches...they had them down there in those horrible conditions.”

Was anyone else injured? Ryker linked with our pack.

Bruce started bleeding more, but other than that, we’re all okay, Kendric replied.

Ryker’s fingers flexed over his knee while tension and concern swirled within him.

The red car we’d followed turned off the main road and headed into town, but that no longer mattered. There were no vampires behind us.

“We can’t go back to the Sinclair land.” Ryker leaned his head back on the headrest. “That grenade blast would have alerted the vampires to where we came from. They’ll be prepared for our arrival.”

“They’ll be crawling over the whole damn area, including my lands,” Reid muttered. “Probably already are.”

Sun kept a hand touching the witch in the back to steady her. “Then where do we go? Because we can’t keep running forever, and our pack needs us after all our losses.”

Silence settled around us, the only sounds the rush of wind through my destroyed window, the whir of tires on the asphalt, and the rumble of the engine.

My mouth dried. Yet another impossible decision had to be made. There were no right answers, just a bunch of risks to calculate. “What if we go straight down the main road into Reid’s territory?”

Cassi snorted. “They probably wouldn’t expect that, but they’ll still have vampires lurking nearby just in case.”

“Exactly,” Ryker said, eyes narrowing. “They’ll assume we’ll circle back and try to sneak in like before.” Some of his tension ebbed, though worry still saturated the bond.

“Not a straight shot through the main, open road.” I swallowed hard.

Reid blew out a breath. “If we go that way, we’re going to need cover. If they realize what we’re doing, they’ll attack, but we should be able to make it through the perimeter before all the other vampires can catch up.”

“Your pack could be ready with weapons inside the perimeter line to help hold the vampires off if they attack the cars.” Ryker leaned toward me and continued, “They need to wait until we turn down the road so they don’t alert the vampires to our plan.”

“I’ll tell them now,” Reid confirmed.

Silence filled the car once again as Reid and Ryker linked with the packs, informing them of the plan. Everyone agreed that it was the best possible option, outside of just not returning, but we couldn’t leave Reid’s pack surrounded by vampires without their alpha.

Soon, we passed the turnoff for the Sinclair lands, and I noticed shadows in the corner of my eye. “We’ve got company,” I said out loud and also linked to Briar. “Shadows are watching us and following us.”

I punched the gas harder, trying to gain more distance. They’d be alerting the others to where we were heading.

Of course they are, Briar replied. This couldn’t be easy.

The turnoff for Blackwood territory was up ahead. My heart thundered, knowing what we would eventually find.

When we reached the turnoff from the two-lane highway, the tree line exploded with visible vampires.

I slammed down on the gas pedal. “They’re here!”

Gunfire erupted from the Accord behind us. Briar and Bruce both fired through the cracked-open front windows, trying to keep them back.

I weaved the Mazda around a pothole just as one vampire lunged across the hood. Ryker opened fire without waiting for a clear shot. The windshield cracked, but the vampire fell off, screeching.

“Hang on!” I shouted, just as another set of claws scraped across the roof. My ruined window left me the most vulnerable to an attack.

The pack-land perimeter was maybe three hundred yards ahead now. The final stretch, but at this rate, I wasn’t sure we were going to make it.

A female vampire ran right in front of us like she expected us to stop, but I pressed harder on the gas.

The impact was sickening. A heavy, wet thud and a splintering crack that shuddered up through the steering wheel and into my arms. I felt it in my teeth. The crunch of bone against metal echoed through my open window and into the car, unreal and too loud, like stepping on a branch magnified a hundredfold.

I gripped the wheel harder as the body slumped onto the hood, slid sideways, and then was gone—tossed aside like a rag doll by momentum we couldn’t afford to lose. There was no room to stop. No shoulder to pull over to. Just a sharp drop off the edge of the road and the brutal knowledge that swerving would kill us too. I kept going, the entire car shaken, silent, the scent of hot metal and blood filtering into the cabin, our hearts pounding to the rhythm of what we’d just done and couldn’t undo as vampires continued to attack.

Then Reid’s pack came into view.

Bullets hailed from their weapons. Vampires dropped, limbs twisting, shrieks of fury and pain echoing like some kind of nightmare chorus.

But they didn’t stop coming.

One leapt onto our hood, cracking the windshield even more. Another clawed at the back driver’s side window, and I cringed away from the open space next to me. Cassi screamed, and I heard a gunshot right behind me.

The vampire’s body hit the road, and I glanced back in time to see it crushed beneath the tires of Briar’s car.

My sister rode my tail. Luckily, I’d been taking the brunt of the forward attacks, and it looked like hers had been more focused on the sides. She and Bruce continued to fire through their cracked windows, keeping most of them away.

Vampires attacked all four corners of our car, blowing the tires. I didn’t stop, just kept going as the rims screeched onto the asphalt for a bumpier, skidding ride.

My heart hammered as we crossed the perimeter. A second line of bullets shredded the remaining vampires who’d dared to get close to us. The vampires turned and ran off, now that we were behind the protective magic.

I slammed on the brakes, the Mazda skidding to a stop just inside the boundary. The Accord followed seconds later, tires shrieking.

Reid’s pack poured from the houses.

Two men who’d been standing at the perimeter line rushed forward, guns slung over their shoulders. One came to the Mazda, and the other split off and opened the front passenger door of the Accord to help Bruce out. The taller one, who’d come to us, opened the trunk and carefully lifted the unconscious witch into his arms.

I turned to look at him through the open hatchback. “We want the witch to stay with us at the house since she’s linked with Ryker. We need her close.”

The tall man hesitated, glancing at Reid.

He nodded weakly from the backseat. “Do it. We’re short on people. If their pack wants to watch her, then I trust them to handle it.”

The tall man didn’t wait for another word. He tore down the dirt path toward the small house we’d claimed, the witch lying limp in his arms.

“I’m going too.” Cassi crossed her arms like she was ready to argue. “She’s a sister witch. And I want to be there for her to help her feel safe.”

Briar climbed from the Accord and opened the back door for the wolves to jump out. They ran after the taller man, no doubt wanting to shift back into human form.

Ryker met Cassi’s eyes and linked, How do you feel about that? I know we don’t trust her.

I think having Cassi there to vouch for us when the witch comes to might help. I didn’t want to think about all the horrible stuff that had been done to her.

“That’s fine, but if you try to manipulate any bonds, you’ll regret it,” Ryker growled, allowing his anger to show.

“I swear to the goddess, no more manipulating bonds… ever .” Cassi placed a hand on her heart.

That was a big promise for any witch to make. I didn’t need to be around them much to know how important the goddess was to them.

Cassi followed the others down the path, limping slightly but determined.

“Do you need anything else from us?” Briar asked the group as she came and took the other spot next to me.

For the first time, I turned and looked at the cars. There were claw marks and dents everywhere, broken and cracked glass, and a chunk of hair stuck in the grill of the car I’d driven.

Vomit inched up my throat as I remembered how it had felt to run over the vampire.

“We’re as good as we can get,” Sun answered. She looped her arm through Reid’s. “We just all need rest and answers when the witch wakes up. Will you inform us?” For some reason, Sun’s focus landed on me.

“Of course.” I smiled, though it was strained. Something had changed between Sun and me, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on what. “And you’re right. We all need to rest and eat because I suspect the vampires won’t stay gone much longer.”

Reid hung his head. “I agree, unfortunately.”

“We need some time before we begin planning again.” Ryker placed his gun back in its holster. “Maybe we meet up for dinner?”

“That sounds good to me,” Reid answered and patted Ryker’s shoulder.

Taking my hand, Ryker led me toward the house, Briar falling in on my other side. The small house came into view—quiet, secluded, just far enough from the main pack’s chaos. It felt like the first real breath of peace we’d had all day.

Then something shifted in the air.

Warmth pulsed through my chest, a soft thrum of magic, not my own but one all too familiar.

The strange man again.

I glanced toward the trees where I sensed the magic, but as usual, no one was there. Not even a shadow, but the warmth clung to me like sunlight on skin, buzzing against my ribs like a warning—or maybe a promise. I reached out with my senses, but the presence vanished before I could pin it down.

Ryker noticed. “You okay?”

I nodded, forcing a breath. “Yeah. Just searching the area.”

“For now, we should be safe, or Cassi would be running out to alert us,” Briar replied, bumping her shoulder into mine.

We reached the porch and pushed open the door. The house smelled like old cedar and dust, but it was dry and safe.

The witch had been placed gently on Kendric’s couch. A blanket was draped over her, and her pale face was turned toward the window. She was very still.

Cassi settled into the chair beside her, eyes locked on the woman as if she was willing her to awaken.

“Let us know if you need anything,” the tall man said as he walked out the front door, not even taking a moment to glance back.

For a moment, we all stood in silence.

“I’ll get a meal started.” Briar went into the kitchen.

There was no way I wasn’t going to help her. That was one thing we’d always done growing up—when one of us cooked, the other came to assist.

I kissed Ryker’s cheek and followed her.

Breakfast? she asked.

When would I ever say no to that? I teased as I opened the refrigerator and grabbed eggs, bacon, milk, and butter.

She pulled out two frying pans, and we began working as the men sat at the kitchen table, discussing everything that had happened earlier.

I didn’t want to hear it. I needed a break.

The vampire. The impact. The sound.

That bone-splintering crack still echoed in my chest, in my teeth. I could still feel the way her body had slammed against the hood, still see the blur of limbs as she rolled out of view.

My stomach twisted violently.

I dropped the spoon I’d been holding and backed away from the counter. “I need some air.”

Briar’s eyes snapped to mine, filled with concern. But she didn’t stop me.

Babe, are you okay? Ryker linked as I opened the front door.

Yeah, I just need a minute by myself, please. I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but I didn’t want anyone to see me fall apart. At least, not right now.

I let the front door swing shut behind me and walked into the woods beyond the porch.

The cool morning air wrapped around me, biting through my sweat-dampened shirt. I bent over slightly, pressing my hands to my knees, trying to breathe through the nausea churning deep in my gut.

“You shouldn’t linger too long out here by yourself,” a soothing voice said from behind me. The voice held an accent I’d never heard before.

I spun around, and he was there.

The strange man.

Golden skin caught the light like polished stone and surrounded eyes that screamed of wisdom. His hair shimmered like the first stars at dusk.

The now-familiar lilac-and-rose mixed with damp earth scent washed over me.

And then I realized I was alone, outside, with a man who didn’t seem to be from this earth. A man who’d stalked me while I slept.

I opened my mouth to scream, but no noise came out.