Page 175 of Hunting Pretty

Dr. Vale had saidthey.

“…when I hand you over tothem.”

He was working with someone.

Withthem, whoevertheywere.

This wasn’t over.

AVA

My head spun.

This wasn’t over.

Dr. Vale was working with someone.Them. And he was our only lead as towhom.

But Scáth just kept hitting him, the sound of bones cracking echoing through the office.

He was going to kill him.

“Stop!” I screamed as I tugged at the rope on my other wrist with my free hand.

To my surprise, Scáth froze, his arm pulled back, blood dripping off his fists.

Panting, Scáth sat back on the heels of his heavy black boots. Then he turned his face toward me like a crazed carnival creature, blood splattering his handsome features, his gaze wild.

“Ava.” His voice came out like an exhale.

A light came on behind his eyes as if he’d just woken up from a deep sleep.

His shoulders relaxed and he lowered his arm. “Are you okay?”

I let out a small cry as I got my left hand free.

“Don’t kill him,” I said as I shook the ropes off me. “He knows something.”

Dr. Vale wasn’t moving, his bloodied swollen face had fallen to one side. But I could see the slight movement of his chest. He was still alive.

Barely.

Thank God.

I scrambled to my feet, my balance still unsteady from the blow to my head.

Scáth leaped to his feet and hurried to me, catching me before I could fall. “I gotcha.”

I couldn’t help but gasp as his arms circled me, pulling me so close I could barely breathe, but I didn’t care.

I buried my face in his chest, inhaling the familiar, comforting scent of him—of leather and spice—and I felt something inside me shatter.

Every ounce of fear, every moment of thinking I’d never see him again, melted away, leaving me trembling, breathless, clinging to him like if I let go, I’d disappear.

I couldn’t stop shaking, my heart crashing against my ribs, and I hated how fragile I felt, how close I was to breaking.

But I didn’t need to be afraid anymore.

My shadow was here.

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