Page 80 of Griffin Undone
Anger lit like a fuse in Arik’s eyes. “What do you think your power is for, Kat? You are an offensive weapon. It doesn’t matter if you’re with me or the Archai or the Anigma—your power is unique, and it has only one purpose. To kill.”
I realized I was shaking my head, denying his words even as some small part of me wondered if maybe he was right. “No. You can’t make me fight.”
Arik shrugged. “You’re right; I can’t.” A jerk of his head directed my attention to the end of the lot, where two glowing silver orbs suddenly appeared in the darkness.Eyes.Shifter eyes. “But that Anigma soldier over there? He can.”
“Damn you, Arik.” My voice hitched in a way that would be embarrassing if I wasn’t so damn terrified.
He pulled me close—to reassure me or say good-bye, I didn’t know, but I didn’t resist either. Still, every molecule of my being was focused on those eyes lumbering closer and the hunger shining in them. If I’d had any sense, I would’ve slapped Arik hard when he bent for a quick, careless kiss across my forehead. “You’ll do fine,” he assured me, and then he disappeared.
Shit.Shit.My heart jumped into my throat as I glanced frantically around, searching for Arik’s trail, his hiding place. Surely he was hiding. He didn’t truly intend to leave me here, did he? Alone? With a…thing…looking at me like I was his first meal in years? But if he was close by, he’d hidden himself so well I knew I’d never find him unless he wanted me to. Pissed off wasn’t anywhere near adequate for what I was feeling right now.
“I hate you!”I shouted in my mind as I began to run.
Jesus, where to go? Running the length of the farthest wall of the loading dock brought me closer to the fence than I wanted, but it was either that or get myself trapped somewhere inside the building with no idea where the escape hatch was. I’d only covered half the distance when a glance up threatened to bring me to my knees.
The shifter was a good head taller than the fence he stood behind, maybe seven and a half feet, even his shadow looming in the darkness, stretching across the pavement toward my feet as if it could get its greedy hands on me just by straining hard enough. As I watched, the massive male shot straight into the air and over the fence to land in an easy crouch on this side. No prep. No running start. Justpopand he was over, the ground shaking at his landing.
The only thing now standing between us was yards of cracked asphalt, and somehow I didn’t think that was an obstacle to the shifter bearing down on me like a Sherman tank.
Good God, somebody save me.
He was so big he seemed to take over my entire field of vision—which was perfect if I wanted to die. I tore my gaze away as I reached the end of the dock and swung around the corner. An image from my childhood flickered in my mind, sitting in front of the TV watching cartoon characters spin their legs in never-ending circles with no forward progress whatsoever. That was me right now, spinning my wheels while hell breathed down my neck. My eyes pricked with terror-filled tears I refused to let fall. I had two choices: let the beast kill me, or get away. Personally I preferred the latter.
Looked like my timetable for leaving Arik had moved up, whether I was ready or not. Of course, having your lover try to kill you was the clearest red flag available.Sentimental fool. What were you thinking?
Hot breath hit my neck just before a beefy hand landed on my shoulder, jerking me off my feet. I found myself in the air, dangling from the shifter’s grip as he leaned over to shove his face against me and suck in a deep breath—a predator identifying its next meal.
“Female. Psych. Good God, where did you come from?” the male asked with a bizarrely Southern drawl. He drew in another deep breath. “Fresh. Mmm, much better than the male I was chasing.” He shook me. “Too bad he abandoned you, huh? Better for me, though.” He set me on my feet, the move almost gentle. “Let’s play.”
Sucking in air like I was working a bellows, I turned to face the male. It took every ounce of strength I had to hold in the scream that rose in my throat.
This close, every detail was thrown into stark relief by the scant moonlight and scattering of streetlamps down the road. Craggy features. Skin with a bizarre green tint. Hands the size of small platters. Sharp, pointed teeth gleamed as his mouth stretched into a smile and he began a slow stalk around me, a cat playing with a mouse.
This mouse didnotwant to play.
Damn Arik. Damn him to hell and back for doing this to me. If—and that was a big freakingif—I made it out of this alive and minimally broken, I was going to throw caution to the winds and kill him, the freaking prick.
“What the hell are you?” I finally managed to choke out.
The shifter drew back as if I’d hit him, those gray eyes flashing atomic white with rage. “A gargoyle.” As I watched, his body grew a good foot in height. As if he needed that. I tried unsuccessfully to swallow my panic. Like a mask being pulled over his head, his forehead, cheekbones, chin, and on down morphed into sharp planes and angles that resembled steel plate. The green tone of his skin turned gunmetal gray, veins of green and black and white transforming his body into the finest, most macabre marble I’d ever seen. A growl rumbled in his bull-like chest, deep and animalistic. His angular jaw dropped open to reveal wickedly curved, dripping teeth that, in my mind, looked the size of steak knives. Claws sprouted from his fingertips.
I couldn’t hold back the shaky, “Oh shit,” that escaped.
“Suck it up. You’ve got a job to do; now do it, Kat,”Arik warned.
“Get me the hell out of here!”
I heard his shaking head in the unfair calm of his reply.“Only one of you is getting out of here. It’s your job to make sure that’s you.”
“You want me to kill him?”I screamed, matching the giant’s circling motions. I seriously considered, just for a moment, inviting the blackness crouching at the edge of my vision to take over.
“What did you think he was, a play toy? This is what you’ve been training for. Time to face up to it.”
“What’s the matter, female?” the shifter asked, a thick black tongue running over equally thick lips. “Cat got your tongue?” He lunged, once, twice, pulling back at the last second. Toying with me.
“Arik—”
“Focus, Kitty Kat. Heads up!”
