Page 59 of Land of Monsters

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I heard a hawk shriek, the rumble of motorcycles, and bellows underfoot.Go. We needed to go.

“Fuck.” I ripped my hands from her face, breaking away from her. Though all I wanted to do was stay in the bubble with her, to reach that blissful high, not caring about the world around us.

She bent over the moment I let go, gasping for oxygen. “Wh-what the fuck was that?”

“We have to go.” Every second they drew close itched my legs, but the anxiety also came from what I had just done. There was a distinct line fae didn’t cross unless it was with their mate. And even then, some didn’t do it. And I wiped that line out of existence. Sharing magic was the most intimate thing you could do. “You good to run?”

“Y-yes.” She bobbed her head.

“Good, because I need you to run like your life depends on it.”

Because it did.

Wild animals roared in the distance, setting us off. Our legs tore across the snowy ground, Raven’s slight frame outrunning mine, her skin almost a glow of excess magic. It hummed off her with familiarity, like my smell, my mark, was imprinted on her skin.

Fuck. What the hell did I just do?

With another screech in the sky, I shoved all thoughts out of my head, the trees breaking away to farmland, giving us no place to hide.

“Down!” I pointed to the village below, hoping to get lost among the houses and buildings. Raven and I raced to the country road, turning a corner around an old B&B. Headlights blinded us as the military jeep came to a screeching halt in front of us.

Terror gripped my throat, hearing guards coming down the hill behind us. My pulse drowned out my senses. We had nowhere to go or hide.

We were caught.

“Get in!” A voice barked from the driver’s window, a hand motioning us to climb in.

My lids squinted at the man behind the wheel.

“Dzsinn?”

“Get the fuck in now!” he bellowed.

Jogging over, I ripped open the door, pushing Raven into the back seat while I climbed in the front.

“Go! Go!” I yelled as gunfire pinged off the outside of the car.

Wheels spinning, the jeep lurched forward, Dzsinn slamming his foot on the gas pedal. The car skidded over the slush, fishtailing around a corner, while bullets cracked against the back window, shattering it. Raven screamed, covering her head and ducking further into the seat. Dzsinn sped us forward, getting out of range of their shot. Whipping my head around, Iwatched their figures disappear in the dark, letting out a slip of breath.

“Squawk!”

My head jerked to a silhouette in the sky staying in line with us.That fucking bitch. Wings spread, Nyx kept us in her sight, gliding with the speed of the car, coasting over to the field on the driver’s side. Soon Sonya’s men in jeeps and motorcycles would be coming for us, and if we didn’t lose her, she would lead them right to us.

“Hold the car steady!” I demanded, the rough country road bouncing us around. Rolling down the window, I slipped my ass out onto the door frame, the icy wind snapping at my face and hair. The roads made it hard for me to hold on to the gun and aim while not falling out of the car.

Raven’s hands gripped my thighs, holding me in place. Her heat soaked through my pants, the extra magic she contained humming against my skin, stroking me.

“Fuck.” I gritted my teeth, trying to concentrate and not have every brain cell go to my dick. Using the top of the car as purchase, I aimed.

Bang!My shot cracked in the atmosphere, her form swooping, missing the bullet.

“Szar.”I snapped, aiming at her again. In the distance behind us, headlights turned onto the road, the guards coming after us.

“We need to lose her, Ash,” Dzsinn warned, his eyes flicking to the side mirror, seeing what was coming behind. “Now.”

Taking a deep breath, I didn’t try to block out Raven’s touch, allowing it to seep in, almost like I was using her strength this time. Focused and calm, I squeezed one eye shut, getting Nyx in my view.

Bang!

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