Page 98 of Debt of My Soul

The wind whips across my face as clouds roll in, and the scent of rain fills my lungs. I suck in deep breaths, sprinting toward the tree line.

Flooded with darkness, the trees mask any light from the compound, and I trip on roots, trying to locate Fleur.

Another scream shatters through the surrounding branches and I follow it.

“Get off!” Fleur’s screech dies on the wind. Small drops of rain hit my face as a storm gives way and I pick up my pace, worried I’ll lose my sense of direction in the coming downpour.

Two shadowed shapes appear in the distance, pushed back against the night backdrop and fairly hidden between two trees.

“Relax!” the man on top of Fleur bites out a snarl, with Fleur struggling under him. One of his hands palms her head over to the side while a knee holds one of her arms in place on the ground. She fights him, her unpinned hand grabbing for anything she can smack or pull.

I notice her grab a fistful of hair as he leans down, trying to unbutton his pants.

I yell from twenty feet away, and his head snaps to mine. Fleur strains to see me, her expression filled with relief when she does.

The man reaches back, going for the weapon he must’ve chucked to the side.

Faster, Liam,I chide myself. If he manages to get that weapon before I get to him, I’m?—

My body collides with his, and I tackle him to the forest floor. Dirt explodes into my face as we tumble, each of us trying to grapple for the upper hand. Bad luck has him land on me, and his fist connects with my temple. Black dots dance in my vision, almost indistinguishable from the blots of night sky blanketing us.

“Liam!” Fleur screams. My head lulls to the side and I watch Fleur roll over to get up.

“Run! Fleur, run!” I manage to yell.

But she doesn’t.

She charges the man, hops on his back, and wraps an arm around his neck. Like a bug on a bench, he flicks her back, and I hear her gasp as she hits the hard ground on her back.

Growling, I push back up on my elbows to stand and manage to land a kick in the man’s groin. He buckles over, coughing. Then before he can recover, I wind back my fist and punch him twice in the face.

Static noise beeps from his back pocket. “Back off. I repeat, back off and roll out.”

The man staggers as he tries to stand, and when his eyes meet mine, they widen. No doubt understanding he doesn’t have the option to back off or abort.

He turns to run.

Swiping a rock off the ground near my foot, I rear it back and throw. It smacks the back of his head, and he crumples to the ground, moaning in pain.

I wipe the back of my hand across my nose, blood coming away and pain radiating through my cheek. Stalking over to him, he wails while rocking back and forth as if to cradle himself. I barely glimpse the blood trickling out from the back of his head.

“Liam …” Fleur says from behind me. I ignore her.

He threatened her.

He was going to take.

“Liam …”

Did he think I’d show mercy?

I don’t have enough soul left to show compassion.

“Liam …” Fleur’s plea is drowned out by the crash of thunder around me, her words muddled as if underwater.

The man struggles to sit up. The deep dark of his eyes no longer submerged by lust but with fear. I snatch his shirt and haul him up next to me. Another crack of thunder pierces his cry, and in one fluid motion, I twist, snapping his neck to the side.

“Wait!” Fleur screams again. But it’s too late. She smacks her hand over her mouth, and I hold her gaze while letting the body fall with a thump.

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