“You alive?” Dryness from controlling so much energy sucked the moisture from her, making her throat raspy.
A light hum rumbled in his throat, his beast too much in control to allow him to speak. The muscles of her arms trembled when she pushed herself upright, and a shot sounded in the night.
When she would’ve flattened herself, Taggert launched himself forward, caught her under the arms and hauled her upright. When they vaulted toward the cave, another shot echoed through the trees. Taggert threw them backwards. They took cover crouched behind another tree.
“Soldier Boy,” she muttered under her breath, cursing their luck. No one could’ve been worse. He was a hunter who loved noting better than running his prey to ground. Then she bit her lip. An idea sparked her mind, daring enough to work if Taggert didn’t kill her first.
“You want a fair fight,” She yelled at the shadows. “How is tying me to a dying shifter fair?”
Taggert jerked on the chain, but she didn’t take her attention away from Solider Boy’s location. She reached out and brushed her hand down Taggert’s arm, trying to convey that everything would be all right.
He narrowed his eyes, then nodded slightly. She licked her lips, praying that playing with Soldier Boy’s pride wouldn’t get them killed.
“Stay hidden.” She hissed the words and struggled to her feet. An animal at her center trotted out. As it drew near, Raven recognized her wolf. Fur brushed against her mind. The trembling faded, the fever abated slightly, and some of the damage done to her body began to mend ever so slowly. She didn’t know whether to feel grateful or scared shitless.
“Why don’t we even the fight?” She stepped out of hiding, raised her arm and pulled the chain taut between them. She could’ve kicked Taggert when he left the shelter of the tree with her, presenting another target. “Free me. Hunt me in the open without your gun like a man.”
A bullet tore through the night. She braced herself for impact, only to feel the restraints jerk. The chains broke. Her arm fell to her side with a tinkle of metal. It took her precious seconds for her to realize she was free.
“Run!” She shoved Taggert and took off in the opposite direction. When his footsteps thundered after her, she cursed. “You’re running in the wrong direction. Why can’t you ever listen? Get to safety.”
“Not without you.”
“Damn it all to hell.” She jerked to a halt, resisting the urge to hit him over the head. “I can take care of Soldier Boy better without worrying I’ll injure you in the process.”
Didn’t he understand that nothing could happen to him or it would all be for nothing? Memories of another escape flowed through her mind. Of too many people who had died in her arms when she’d arrived too late.
Something didn’t feel right.
She turned toward Taggert. A shadow rose from the ground from behind him. A blade flashed in the meager light. Something in her expression must have warned him. He threw himself forward but not quick enough.
The knife sliced through the flesh of his back in a large sweep. What was intended to be a killing blow carved down to bone instead. When she reached to drag him away, Soldier Boy stepped forward.
If she tried to help Taggert, Soldier Boy would deal him the death blow. She retreated slowly, aching with the knowledge that Taggert could bleed to death mere feet from her while she was unable to do anything to help.
When Taggert struggled to rise, Raven shook her head. She switched her focus to see Soldier Boy drop down in a fighter stance.
When he lashed out with the knife, Raven dodged and struck back. The chain at her wrist snapped out, catching him across the face. Instead of stunning him, he struck back, hitting her forearm. The smell of her blood scented the air. That she didn’t feel anything warned her that the knife had cut deep.
Taggert growled as he got to his hands and knees.
A line between Soldier Boy’s eyes drew her attention. The hunt was too easy. She couldn’t wait for him to strike first. If she didn’t do something, he’d stop playing and kill them outright.
Still unable to raise even a spark, she did the opposite, drew his energy toward her. Any extra strength she received from her animals vanished with the use of her power. She stumbled, but quickly gained her footing. Without touching, there was no finesse but brute determination.
Soldier Boy’s gaze sharpened. He tightened his hold on the knife as if sensing a trap. The blade slashed through the air. She weaved, but he changed directions and hit her upper shoulder.
Her concentration faltered, and she lost her hold on the energy. Gritting her teeth, she swung around and faced him. His hand wove back and forth, the movement of the knife a distraction to draw her gaze. She studied the rest of his body, waiting for a slight tensing to tell when he would strike.