Page 99 of Griffin Undone
I followed the long line of females until they reached the final building before the fence. Only then did I step away. My ears popped when I passed through Vanessa’s shield, but I didn’t stop, even when Demetri hissed behind me.
“Go, Demetri,”I sent him mind to mind, praying he heard me clearly.“I’ve got something I need to do.”
“You’re a foolish female,”he barked back, his hands full with a small child we’d found unconscious on the farthest bed.
“And you’re an old fogey of a male. I have work to do. Don’t worry about me; keep them safe.”
I cut off communication then, needing to focus. Needing to get to Arik—and Maddox.
ChapterForty-Three
Kat
Apparently Vanessa had been keeping sound out as well as in, because the moment I left the bubble, I was assaulted by the sounds of fighting, cursing, screaming. I forced myself to ignore the noise as I backtracked to the loading docks. They loomed, dark and forbidding, in the dim night, plastic sheets flapping over several otherwise empty doorways, corrugated metal doors over others. If I remembered the map of the compound correctly, Maddox had taken over the main factory building, with his headquarters dead center, which should mean that headquarters lay on the opposite side of this building. I had no idea if Maddox was there or in the immediate vicinity, but it was a place to start. And given shifter sight and the amount of fighting going on, I didn’t dare stay outside. I made a beeline for the nearest open access, sliding quietly behind the plastic and into an unlit warehouse.
Please let everyone be outside. Please.
My footsteps echoed in the vast space as I navigated through stacks of boxes and pallets. This must be an active warehouse for Anigma equipment because stores were crammed everywhere, creating an obstacle course through the room. The occasional sound of encroaching battle reached through the walls, and a couple of times I hid when running footsteps headed my way. I didn’t dare look out to see if the passing soldiers were Anigma or Archai, but pass they did, and I continued my way through the building.
In what felt like forever but was probably only ten minutes, I reached the front of the warehouse space, then made my way through a series of small rooms and halls to the front of the building. What I saw as I peeked through the windows lining the wall brought me to a halt.
I found myself several feet up, looking down a set of entry stairs into a courtyard that stretched maybe fifty yards between this building and the factory rising above it. Small groups fought around the edges, but it was what lay directly across from me that held me frozen—a bright flare of light cut through the darkness, two floodlights shining straight up into the night. Beyond that, a solid wall of Anigma soldiers stood in front of the factory, maybe three or four deep. Officers, at least at the front, based on the insignia on their uniforms. With the light in front of them, glaring into my eyes, I shouldn’t have been able to see the Anigma males clearly, but this close, Arik’s blood allowed me to make out faces, expressions, eyes. Even fists tightening on weapons.
God, how many soldiers did Maddox have, anyway.
In the center, outlined by the light, was Maddox. The Anigma general looked larger than life standing there, silhouetted by the blazing spotlights. Dominant. Invincible. If I were Archai, I’d think twice about attacking him.
Of course, nobody’d said my plan was smart. That was part of the reason I’d kept it to myself.
Where was Arik?
I had only to follow Maddox’s gaze to find my mate, standing tall and defiant below me. The Archai were ranged out on either side of the spotlights, Arik near the center, outnumbered at least three to one. At the edge of the group closest to my left, Azrael drew my attention. When his glowing green gaze met mine where I stood in the shadows, I cursed silently.
Well, no time like the present, right?
Retreating to where I remembered seeing a side door, I made my way out and into the courtyard. The Archai warriors were focused on Maddox, not the noise of fighting around them, though for the life of me I couldn’t hear what Maddox was saying above the roar of fear in my ears. Only when I stepped around the nearest warrior—far enough out of reach that he couldn’t grab me—did attention turn in my direction.
“Kat!”
Arik’s growl shot toward me. The golden light of his eyes had no hope of reaching me from so far away, but his anger caused my heart to stutter. Wishing desperately that none of this was happening, that I was home in the lair with him, lying in his arms, did nothing to calm me, but it did remind me. All of this was for him. He’d understand later…if there was a later. I hadn’t practiced this level of power more than twice, after all. Once at my triggering, and once at the apartment. Already my hands were tingling, hurting, the energy aching in my core, down my arms. But not enough. I’d need a lot of it. More than I’d ever used before if I hoped to cripple the Anigma forces and take Maddox out.
I swallowed hard and continued forward. Arik had warned me not to use my power unless absolutely necessary, but he wouldn’t be surprised when I didn’t listen to him. And just maybe, I’d live to argue with him about it later.
Maybe.
No one tried to stop me, though there were plenty of murmurs and catcalls and jostling among the Anigma as I picked my way across the broken concrete. Slowly, slowly, giving my terror—and therefore my power—time to build. A couple of Archai stepped forward, intent on me, but backed off quickly when Anigma soldiers also advanced. Only Maddox seemed unworried. He walked down the steps of the factory, only stopping when we were mere yards apart.
Thumbs hooked in his belt like he was heading for a stroll down Main Street, he threw back his head and laughed. “What have we here? A little cat?”
I couldn’t stop my lips from twisting at the sarcastic play on my name. “After last time, I didn’t think you’d be stupid enough to believe my power was inconsequential, Maddox.”
String him on, Kat.Small talk wasn’t my forte, but… God, the pain as my power built inside me, fed from my emotions, was worse than anything I’d ever known. My hands, my chest, my head. Could the shifters around me smell how frightened I was? See it rising? I was shaking like a leaf; of course they could see it. And the way many of them licked their lips said they found it delicious.
Maddox especially. He held my gaze as his face shifted, his muzzle elongating, teeth snapping. He snarled, threat in every muscle of his body— The sight was just…wrong. A wolf’s face as well as a man’s. Squeezing my hands into tight fists, I eased closer.
“Nice doggy.”
The red strobe of Maddox’s eyes flashed across my body. “I’m going to enjoy eating you, little psych.”
