Page 22 of Shadow Bound

“I can’t believe we’re actually trusting your vampire,” Sawyer tosses over his shoulder at Ransom who’s a few steps behind.

“My vampire?” Ransom bristles. “What exactly makes hermyvampire?”

“Well, she sure as hell wasn’t waiting formein the woods.”

They come to a slanted rocked-in area. With surprisingly graceful agility, they climb over the boulders with ease. Brushing the snow and dirt off of his jeans, Ransom answers. “She didn’t offer the information up freely; she’s getting something out of the deal just like we are.”

Good. He’s learning.

“How do we know she isn’t leading us into an ambush?”

Surprisingly, a smile grows on Ransom’s face. “We don’t,” he says with an indifferent shrug.

“You’re far too trusting.”

“I trust Isabeau just about as far as I can throw her,” Ransom scoffs. “She keeps secrets like someone in politics. The only thing Icantruly trust when it comes to her is that I’m only ever getting half of the story with her, but as long as we are able to kill this rogue, I don’t care.”

“Fine, but just know if she’s leading us into a trap, I’m going to hunt her little vampire ass down and yank her fangs from her head with pliers,” Sawyer threatens, making me roll my eyes.

“I’dloveto see you try, dude,” Ransom echoes my next thoughts. “She’d kick your ass so fast you wouldn’t even realize what was happening until you were flat on your back with a knife in your junk.Trust me, I’m speaking from experience.”

If I don’t get my hands on more blood, it won’t be very hard for Sawyer to follow through with his threat. My body without the right amount of blood will begin to shut down. My cheeks have already started to hollow and the circles under my eyes are getting darker by the day. My bones feel stiff and my muscles weak.

My self-control is also waning. I worry the next human I walk past will become my unsuspecting victim. My fangs ache, threatening to push through my gums just at the thought of feeding again.

Ransom freezes, his body stiffening. Lifting his chin in the air, he takes in a greedy breath. “He’s close.”

Sawyer does the same thing before nodding his head in agreement. “Sometimes I swear I know this scent. Something about it is so familiar, but I can’t figure out why.”

“I thought that too for a while, but I think after months of hunting, the scents are just starting to blend together in my head.” Ransom begins to pull off his jacket, Sawyer quickly following suit.

The cotton thermal Ransom wears is just over his head when I hear it. The faintest, metallic clicking sound. To someone with a normal upbringing, it wouldn’t cause alarm bells to go off in their head or dread to shiver down their spine. Both of those things happen to me because I know that noise—I’m more familiar with it than I wish I was.

It wasn’t very often I had to use explosives, preferring to complete my assignments with my hands or blades. There were plenty of times that Sterling was impatient and reckless, opting to just set off bombs. I was always the one to place them, my shadow walking ability offering me the advantage of walking the device right into the middle of the location without anyone being the wiser.

Iknowthat clicking sound.

I also know we have less than thirty seconds before things are going to get really bad.

Pulling my eyes away from the completely clueless shifters, I search the rocky slopes above us. It only takes my eyes a second to zero in on the figures standing on top of the jagged rocks.

My fists clench and anger soars through my body like wildfire.

She’s here.

Nessa stands with her arms crossed, her hip jutted to the side cockily. Her bluntly cut hair that hits her chin blows lightly in the cool wind. In the shadows right behind her is a dark looming figure, his head is turned, not allowing me to make out any of his features. All I know is he’s a big man, well over six foot and easily over two hundred pounds. Even his hair color is hidden from me by a knit cap.

Her eyes, which I know to be black as midnight, lock in my direction. With a malicious grin, she brings a hand up to her forehead, saluting me. She can’t see me, but she knows I’m here waiting.

I came here thinking that I had the upper hand, but yet again, Nessa is steps ahead of me. With a humorless cackle, she turns to leave, deftly walking along the icy rocks. Her companion following close behind.

My fingers dig into the branch to swing myself to the forest floor intent on going after her, but then I hear his voice float through the air. The deep rumble of it washes over me, making my muscles lock in place. I look between Nessa and Ransom, unease settling in my chest.

You don’t owe him anything, I attempt to reason with myself.

There’s a second click, indicating only ten seconds left.

I’m not one to second-guess or waver, there is always a plan in place for me to follow, and I stick to it religiously. If I step out of line, that’s how mistakes are made. Ihavea plan and I have an end goal. That goal is standing only a couple hundred yards away from me. This could be the last time I get this kind of opportunity.

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