Page 8 of Shadow City: Silver Wolf

"Let me help you." He glanced around the area. "You're not going to make it far in this condition."

I hated that he was right. "Fine." I kept a strong hold on my knife, ready to use it at any given moment.

We slowly made it out of the water and to the tree line. But I wouldn't feel better until I was hidden. After a few steps on land, I stumbled into the woods.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Killian asked. "You can't leave like that."

And there it was. He hadn't been helping me after all.

CHAPTER THREE

I spunon my heel and tried not to fall over. Almost drowning had taken a hell of a lot out of me, but I had to push through and get to safety before I could fall apart.

My arm shook as I lifted the knife in his direction again. "So, you are working with them?"

"With who?" His forehead creased, and he lifted a hand. "You can barely walk."

"Don't worry." I took a slow step in his direction and almost pumped my fist in celebration when my knees didn't buckle. Who cared if it took every ounce of concentration to pull it off? Confidence spoke wonders. "I can still kick your ass."

"In fairness, I didn't fight against you," he said and rubbed his nose, emphasizing the crooked section that I'd broken. "You can barely stand, and even though you caught me off guard, I didn't hurt you."

"Stop rambling, and let's get this over with." I didn't want to hear about how pathetic I was. If he was going to force me to leave with him, we could bypass the chitchat.

"Look—" He walked slowly toward me like I was some sort of cornered animal.

Adrenaline coursed through me, making my body a little more sturdy. I swung my arm, trying to slice his chest.

He growled as he jumped back, the sharp edge narrowly missing him. "You need to calm down."

The momentum of missing him threw my body off balance, and I caught myself before I could fall. "Not happening." I stood back on my feet, ready to attack again.

"I'm trying to tell you—" he started, but I jumped toward him.

He spun away from my attack, and I landed hard on my feet, jarring my neck.

Before I could face him again, a hand gripped the wrist that held the knife, and an arm snaked around my neck. He pushed his weight on me so I had to kneel.

Here it was. What I'd been waiting for. My breathing grew rapid as I strained to hear some sign of the others.

"Calm down," Killian commanded. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Really?" I spat. "Because this doesn't feel great." I'd never felt so weak before. I hated the feeling and never wanted to experience it again.

"You obviously have someone hunting you, and you almost drowned." He blew out a breath. "I was trying to be understanding, but you forced my hand."

"Where are the others?" I lifted my head, scanning the woods.

"There are no others," he said exasperatedly. "I keep trying to tell you this. You are safe. No one is here to get you."

I waited for the sulfuric scent of a lie to hit me, but nothing came. "So you came out here alone in human form to fish?"

"Yes." He sighed. "It was my sister's favorite spot."

Was.

She must be dead.

Dad's face flickered in my head.Mom. Zoe. Grief tried to wash over me, but I couldn't let it. At least, not yet. I wasn't safe. "I'm sorry about breaking your nose, but I need to leave."

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