won’t work on me.”
Everything goes gray around the edges. Rose no longer appears the confident young woman offering keys to a stranger, but rather one immobile with fear. Then an orange flame erupts between the girls, distracting them, while Boone drags me backward through the snow. He stumbles on something, his boot uncovering a fist-sized rock that my ankle then brushes against. The contact sends a tiny burst of energy up my leg. Boone moves faster and faster until we’re yards away from my friends.
At the edge of the parking lot, he picks me up and I kick him, fighting with all my strength. A few times my feet connect with body parts, and each time I hear a muffled grunt, I fight harder. I’ve been taught it’s never a mistake for a girl who’s being taken somewhere against her will to fight, but when Boone tosses me on the ground and subdues me with his body—I begin to wish I hadn’t.
His arm is around my chest and his other hand is over my mouth, grinding my cheek against my teeth until I taste blood. His legs clamp around mine so I can’t move. I can’t even scream.
Then the energy around us changes and I hear feet crashing through snow and underbrush. Something solid whooshes over us, propelling Boone away from me in a blur of movement. I sit up, preparing to jump and run, but hot air blows on my neck and something wet tickles my ear. Shrieking, I spring about three feet in the air and land on my rear with a thud.
From the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of Kye and Boone, wrestling on the ground in a tangle of shrubs and tree limbs, but when I look straight, I find myself staring into the bright brown eyes of the white moose.
His antlers spread at least five feet across, and his square head is lowered, prepared for battle. Never in my life have I been so close to a creature of this size. I should be frightened, but I’m not. I know he won’t hurt me. Instinct tells me to run—run, you idiot!—but I can’t make my feet move. Finn holds me trapped in his gaze, and I get the feeling he’s trying to communicate something I don’t understand.
When the wrestling comes nearer, he backs into the trees. I leap into action, searching for a weapon I can use to help Kye, and settle on a large, broken tree branch. My intentions are good, but I hesitate too long and before I have a good grip, Boone tackles me. I’m under him again and he’s holding a knife to my throat.
“Let her go, Boone.” Kye wheezes.
A wolfish smile spreads across Boone’s face. “You see, honey, I didn’t even have to take you anywhere before lover-boy came running to save you.”
“I said let her go.” Kye growls.
Boone’s grip loosens, but he keeps his weapon in position. “You have something I want.” He pulls me off the ground and drags mebackward—again. “And now I have something you want. I thought we’d work out a trade.”
Kye’s eyes flash. “What? What could I have that you want badly enough to kidnap someone?”
“Where is it?” Boone hisses.
“Where is what?”
“The Key! Where’s the Key?”
Kye looks truly baffled. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about. A key? What kind of key?” Something rustles behind us.
Rose’s voice chimes in, “I have the keys! Right here. I already said you could have them. Just take the Jeep, already!” From the corner of my eye, I see a flash of color—Jen’s lavender coat, the sleeves now scorched.
While Boone’s distracted, Kye grabs the hand holding the knife, directing it at Boone’s torso while I roll away. More wrestling ensues, but as soon as I make it to the others, Kye lets go and hurries to put himself between Boone and me.
Boone howls with rage and his eyes flash violet again. A blackish aura loaded with red darts settles around him. His fury is about to spill over and he’s still clutching the knife.
“Kye,” I whisper. “We need to go. Please.” I grab a fistful of his coat and urge him to the parking lot.
Boone
Everything goes gray around the edges. Rose no longer appears the confident young woman offering keys to a stranger, but rather one immobile with fear. Then an orange flame erupts between the girls, distracting them, while Boone drags me backward through the snow. He stumbles on something, his boot uncovering a fist-sized rock that my ankle then brushes against. The contact sends a tiny burst of energy up my leg. Boone moves faster and faster until we’re yards away from my friends.
At the edge of the parking lot, he picks me up and I kick him, fighting with all my strength. A few times my feet connect with body parts, and each time I hear a muffled grunt, I fight harder. I’ve been taught it’s never a mistake for a girl who’s being taken somewhere against her will to fight, but when Boone tosses me on the ground and subdues me with his body—I begin to wish I hadn’t.
His arm is around my chest and his other hand is over my mouth, grinding my cheek against my teeth until I taste blood. His legs clamp around mine so I can’t move. I can’t even scream.
Then the energy around us changes and I hear feet crashing through snow and underbrush. Something solid whooshes over us, propelling Boone away from me in a blur of movement. I sit up, preparing to jump and run, but hot air blows on my neck and something wet tickles my ear. Shrieking, I spring about three feet in the air and land on my rear with a thud.
From the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of Kye and Boone, wrestling on the ground in a tangle of shrubs and tree limbs, but when I look straight, I find myself staring into the bright brown eyes of the white moose.
His antlers spread at least five feet across, and his square head is lowered, prepared for battle. Never in my life have I been so close to a creature of this size. I should be frightened, but I’m not. I know he won’t hurt me. Instinct tells me to run—run, you idiot!—but I can’t make my feet move. Finn holds me trapped in his gaze, and I get the feeling he’s trying to communicate something I don’t understand.
When the wrestling comes nearer, he backs into the trees. I leap into action, searching for a weapon I can use to help Kye, and settle on a large, broken tree branch. My intentions are good, but I hesitate too long and before I have a good grip, Boone tackles me. I’m under him again and he’s holding a knife to my throat.
“Let her go, Boone.” Kye wheezes.
A wolfish smile spreads across Boone’s face. “You see, honey, I didn’t even have to take you anywhere before lover-boy came running to save you.”
“I said let her go.” Kye growls.
Boone’s grip loosens, but he keeps his weapon in position. “You have something I want.” He pulls me off the ground and drags mebackward—again. “And now I have something you want. I thought we’d work out a trade.”
Kye’s eyes flash. “What? What could I have that you want badly enough to kidnap someone?”
“Where is it?” Boone hisses.
“Where is what?”
“The Key! Where’s the Key?”
Kye looks truly baffled. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about. A key? What kind of key?” Something rustles behind us.
Rose’s voice chimes in, “I have the keys! Right here. I already said you could have them. Just take the Jeep, already!” From the corner of my eye, I see a flash of color—Jen’s lavender coat, the sleeves now scorched.
While Boone’s distracted, Kye grabs the hand holding the knife, directing it at Boone’s torso while I roll away. More wrestling ensues, but as soon as I make it to the others, Kye lets go and hurries to put himself between Boone and me.
Boone howls with rage and his eyes flash violet again. A blackish aura loaded with red darts settles around him. His fury is about to spill over and he’s still clutching the knife.
“Kye,” I whisper. “We need to go. Please.” I grab a fistful of his coat and urge him to the parking lot.
Boone
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