“Sean!” Unibrow whispered as he watched his friend, and then his body coiled. He faced me, rage evident on his face.
This was the part I’d come to hate most. The inevitable deaths. But these people would never leave us alone. I prepared myself for the attack, which I welcomed, because I wasoverthis entire thing. A certain cold-hearted bitch deserved some of my attention.
But instead of striking me, he kicked Julius. When he moved to kick him a second time, I swiped at his leg with my claws and lifted upward, causing him to fall on his back. Then I slashed through his neck, not wanting to taste any more blood and needing to end this.
“You stupid bitch! You keep ruining everything.” Saga bent and removed a gun from around her ankle. “I don’t need you.” She stood and aimed at my heart.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
I’d gottenout of one precarious situation just to land in another. What was it with people pointing guns at me? At some point, I’d like to not have the constant threat of someone trying to kill me. Being bored was underrated and exactly what I wanted.
Saga was maybe fifty feet away, and there were no trees close by. The best I could do was use Sean or Unibrow as a shield. They were already dead, so they wouldn’t feel the pain, but something felt wrong about it.
I’m on my way,Bart linked with me as he fought off two men. He kept glancing at me, not paying attention to his own battle.
She fired, and I rolled out of the way, channeling the moon. I dodged the bullet by barely an inch.
Focus on your opponents, I told Bart.He wouldn’t be able to reach me any faster, and instead of talking with him, I needed to determine a solution. If I didn’t do something, I’d be lying dead right next to them.
As if Rosemary could hear my thoughts, she glanced in my direction. She paused, which allowed one of her opponents to stab her in the stomach with a knife. She clutched the knife,stumbling back as blood trickled down her stomach, coating her black shirt. She hissed, “You dumbass mutt.”
A deep, threatening snarl escaped me. No. This couldn’t happen. Rosemary was part of my family, and none of us were going down.
What’s wrong?Griffin linked, including Killian in the bond.Are you hurt?
No,I said.Rosemary’s been stabbed.
Killian’s anger rang thick through the bond.Son of a bitch. I’ll kill the bastard.
Not if I get him first,I vowed. I wanted to hurt every single person who had inflicted any sort of pain on my people.
“It ends now!” Saga yelled, and her finger tightened on the trigger.
Sterlyn!Julius shouted through the bond. The amount of pain he felt washed over me. I dove to the ground and shoved myself under Unibrow’s body as best as I could.
His dead weight almost stole my breath as I crawled underneath him, and his body jerked from the impact of a bullet, making a few thick drops of his now congealing blood fall on my face.
Holy shit. That worked. I couldn’t comprehend how I’d pulled that off. With me in animal form, I’d figured there was no way his body would shield me completely, just maybe prevent her from landing a kill shot.
“How do you keep doing that?” Saga screamed, and her footsteps grew louder. “You keep messing everything up!” Her anger propelled her toward me.
The closer she got, the better I’d be able to protect myself. When she was too far away, I was at the mercy of the firearm with limited ability to strike back.
I stayed still, wanting her to get as close to me as she dared. If I moved, she might stop and shoot again. I linked with mybrother, feeling his pain exploding through our bond.Julius, how badly are you hurt?I couldn’t lose him like this. There was too much we hadn’t said, and we hadn’t spent any time together. He was my twin, for God’s sake, and I had hoped that we had time to get some sort of relationship established. He and Bart were the only two people from my parents’ side left alive.
Please call me Cyrus,he rasped, even through our bond.I should’ve asked you to do that days ago.
Stop.Fear coiled inside me, and I refused to acknowledge why.You cannot die. I won’t allow it. We have so much time to make up for.
But it was like he hadn’t heard me as he continued.I blamed you, which is so fucked up, but you were the only one I could. Bart kept telling me that I had to stop, but I didn’t want to listen. I have so much anger inside, and even though shifting has helped, it’s still heavy in me. What I’m trying to say is—
Donotapologize to me now.He was saying goodbye, and I wouldn’t let him die on me. I didn’t care what it took—Cyrus was going to live.We’re making it out of this, and you’re going to take me somewhere nice and apologize to me there. Got it?
I— He started.
Got it?I pushed as Saga’s footsteps grew closer. She was beginning to slow but still moving forward. I held my breath to remain still, hoping she thought I was injured.This is not our end, I promise.
He snorted then groaned in pain.Ugh, don’t make me laugh.