Page 23 of Marked Resistance

“Oi,” Grim called and flicked a cigarette to the ground. “What took you? What, were you back there fucking?”

Heat rushed up my neck, while Xavier rolled his eyes. He entered the open door and walked up the steps to board. I followed, but before my foot hit the first step, Grim stepped in front of me and blocked my path.

“Watch out for him, little lady,” he cautioned. “Xavier’s not all he seems.”

“Why, Grim,” I cooed and placed my hand on my chest. “Do I detect a bit of jealousy? I do declare,” I teased with a drawl, “what would I ever do without a strong man like you watching over me?”

“Honey, I’ll watch you doanything.”

Grim moved behind me, and I knew his eyes were locked on my ass as I boarded the bus. Xavier had taken his seat in the middle on the left side of the bus. I walked past Ilanis, who didn’t bother to acknowledge me, and to the last seat on the right.

“All aboard, Captain!” Grim declared as he took the first seat on the right, and Ilanis shut the door. “Where to?”

“North,” Xavier answered.

“Oh yeah,” Grim crowed and rubbed his hands. “Time to go huntin’.”

Chapter ten

Xavier moved to the front of the bus. “Park over there in that brush, Ilanis. We’ll take the rest of the trip on foot.”

The bus groaned to a stop after Ilanis maneuvered it off the main road. With a whoosh, the doors opened and our party of four descended and made the trek to the township of Inode.

“No walls,” Ilanis noted as we approached.

I scanned ahead and agreed. Inode’s protection didn’t include walls to surround and protect them. Under the moonlight, the area seemed even more desolate. The main street leading inside had a beggar harassing passers-by sitting beside a parked wagon. A weird smell permeated the air.

“Is that animal blood?” I asked, the goosebumps on my skin warning me against entry.

Ilanis had her hands on her sword’s hilt by her side. “If it is, it’s not any animal I’ve ever smelled.”

“Doesn’t make sense,” Xavier said with a shake of his head. “No walls? In Shaye territory? How are there humans here? They’re defenseless.”

“Nah, they ain’t defenseless,” Grim responded.

Xavier glanced sideways while he kept his head. “Something’s not right here.”

My head tilted to the side as Grim assumed the lead. He crouched low and we mirrored his positioning as we moved, silent as the night itself. As we approached the first building inside the village limits, Grim threw up a fist. We all paused at his motion. I reached into my pocket and clutched my lighter tight.

Grim stretched his hand out and extend a couple of fingers. He waved his hand in a back-and-forth motion along an invisible line. Then he chuckled. “Tripwire. Just as I thought.”

“How so?” Xavier asked and moved up beside him, staying low and in the crouched position.

Tripwire?

Grim rose to his feet and extended his hand. Xavier clasped it and Grim brought him up to his full height. “This place reminds me of this little farmhouse I found about a week or so ago.”

Ilanis stood and I followed suit. Grim rotated his head around his shoulders and relaxed his stance.

“What are you doing?” Ilanis hissed. “Our target is in there. You’re giving away our position.”

“Doubt it,” Grim threw back and stepped over the tripwire. “This is more the work of humans than vamps.”

Xavier stepped over the line as well and squared himself. “You don’t think this is a trap for us set by the deserter? The rogue?”

“Us? No. This is their defense against the Elite. They think a few measly wires are going to prevent a vampire horde from attacking. Fucking sad. Probably have arrows or spikes lined to the wire bathed in animal blood. Easily beat. No, the target’s probably long gone by now. You all probably missed your chance when you chose to rendezvous with me instead.”

I caught sight of Ilanis glaring at me as she stepped over the line. “So, we’re fucked.”

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