Page 226 of Shadowblood Souls
We shove toward the opposite sidewalk where there are still enough confused bystanders around to offer us some cover and hurtle onward into a broad courtyard that opens up in front of us.
But our attackers have obviously been warned that we wouldn’t go down easily. Another half a dozen of them come charging into view from the far end of the courtyard.
I whirl around, but the figures behind us are marching into view, closing in.
The two groups are trapping us between them. How much longer will Jacob be able to hold off even one set of bullets?
Andreas touches his still-bleeding forehead. “If I could mess with their minds—I can’t concentrate.”
“It’s not your fault,” I say urgently.
Zian waves his arm, his voice low and urgent. “Guys! Over here!”
We dash forward to an alley he’s spotted at one of the unguarded corners of the square. The thunder of more gunshots blares behind us.
A body slams into me from behind. We spin, my claws springing out, and then I see it’s only Jacob, wrenching me to the side.
Wrenching me to the side… while blood bubbles from the bullet he just took to his ribs.
He took it for me. Shielded me with his body when his power couldn’t offer enough protection.
“Jake,” I mumble, still scrambling forward.
His pale blue eyes dart wildly from side to side. “Just go.Go.”
“Dom!” I call out instinctively as we throw ourselves into the dingy alley.
But our healer is already a few steps ahead, still helping Andreas along—and he’s got nothing in this gritty laneway to draw energy from except himself.
If Dominic falters, then we might all be dead.
Jacob hustles along behind me, but his breaths sound labored, his steps uneven. Steadier footsteps and another barrage of shouts carry from the road beyond.
The lane swerves, giving us a momentary reprieve. We push ourselves faster, swing around another bend?—
And find ourselves staring at a six-foot-tall wooden fence that blocks the entire passage ahead.
Zian lets out a snarl and hurtles toward it like a battering ram. He hits the fence shoulder-first.
The boards crack but hold in place.
As he backs up to try again, the rest of us hurry over around him. Jacob lists to the side, clamping his hand against the bullet wound on his torso.
And at the same moment, the first of our pursuers springs around the bend.
Bullets boom out. Jacob grunts and casts out his power, but not quite fast enough.
Even as I leap toward the wall, a metal bolt catches me in the back. It sears into my chest with a blazing pain.
My lips part. A croak tumbles out of them.
I can’t get my breath. My lung is collapsing.
“Riva!” Jacob cries out, and sputters a sound that’s as much groan as growl.
Then something else groans, with a grating earthen quality. The sound resonates all around us, behind us, stretching through the alley.
Zian rams his shoulder into the fence again, and three of the boards shatter completely. I stagger toward him and trip over a stone.
