question, Ash grabbed her hand and yelled, “Seth, heads up.” She pulled Gwen down the street, then started to run. Gwen stumbled a few steps before falling into a run with Ash. Her heat hammered in her ears.
Dark magic coated her senses in thick waves. Gwen’s skin felt like a millions tiny insects were crawling all over. “What the hell is that?”
“You really don’t want to know.” Ash turned left, forcing Gwen to follow.
They ran down an empty side street with whatever the hell it was chasing them. Gwen didn’t dare look back. “Where are we going?”
Ash twisted around to glance behind them. “The beach. There’s no humans there this time of year. I hope.”
Yeah, so did Gwen.
Suddenly a sharp pain shot up her leg and she screamed as she fell to the ground. Ash was there instantly, bent over her checking the wound on her calf. Blood soaked her jeans. Meeting Ash’s gaze, Gwen shook her head. “Tell me you have a plan.”
A roar echoed off the building around them, making Gwen’s heart beat at an incredible rate. They turned at the same time toward the sound and Gwen gasped. “Holy shit. Is that a…?”
“A cyclops, yes.”
Blocking Gwen from view of the one-eyed giant, Ash fell into a protective stance. A moment later a bow and arrow appeared in her hand. Gwen wasn’t sure if she should be in awe of Ash’s powers or frightened. Relief sparked inside her and she was glad the other woman was on her side, for now.
Ash shouldered a quiver, pulled an arrow out, and positioned it. She drew back the bow and released it, sending the arrow hurling in the air and into the creature’s shoulder. But nothing happened. The beast didn’t even flinch.
Cursing , Ash fired another arrow, but the bow was knocked out of her hand by a man who materialized next to them. He grabbed Ash, twisted her around so her back pressed against his front, and held a knife to her throat.
Gwen met Ash’s gaze, then kicked out with her good leg, hitting the man in the shin. Cursing, he reached down and grabbed Gwen by the arm.
It was e xactly the outcome she hoped for. Although, she needed skin-to-skin contact for her gift to work. She got the opportunity when he released her briefly and wrapped his arm around her waist. Grabbing onto the exposed section of forearm, Gwen released her hold on the little power she had and whispered, “Let us go, then drive the knife into your own heart.”
Ash’s eyes gr ew huge as if she figured out what Gwen had done. Yeah, so her secret was out. The only thing to do now was pray to the gods that Ash didn’t betray them.
The man did exactly what Gwen told him. Shock and confusion whirled over his features as he plunged the dagger deep into his chest and fell to the ground.
A moment later a loud crash sounded behind her and the ground shook under her feet. Turning, Gwen saw the cyclops face down on the pavement. Ash glanced at Gwen and gave her a satisfied smirk.
“Good thinking on the persuasion thing.”
Gwen nodded, she shook so bad she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold it together. Dragons were one thing, but one-eyed, man-eating giants were another.
The air around her energized like an electronic charge went off. She twisted around, ready to take on whatever the hell it was. Relief washed through her as she looked into Markus’s midnight blue eyes.
When he reached out to her, she jumped at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and squeezing. “Where’s Seth?” Fear crept in at the idea of the cyclops killing Seth.
“He’s fine. He and Ty are leading another cyclops out of town.” Markus paused, making Gwen look up to see him glare at Ash. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
Ash nodded. “I know. Let’s get her back to the mansion. I’ll explain when everyone gets there.”
Markus gripped Ash by the upper arm and teleported them back to the house.
Chapter Fourteen
Markus materialized inside the foyer with Gwen and Ashlynn.
Dark magic coated her senses in thick waves. Gwen’s skin felt like a millions tiny insects were crawling all over. “What the hell is that?”
“You really don’t want to know.” Ash turned left, forcing Gwen to follow.
They ran down an empty side street with whatever the hell it was chasing them. Gwen didn’t dare look back. “Where are we going?”
Ash twisted around to glance behind them. “The beach. There’s no humans there this time of year. I hope.”
Yeah, so did Gwen.
Suddenly a sharp pain shot up her leg and she screamed as she fell to the ground. Ash was there instantly, bent over her checking the wound on her calf. Blood soaked her jeans. Meeting Ash’s gaze, Gwen shook her head. “Tell me you have a plan.”
A roar echoed off the building around them, making Gwen’s heart beat at an incredible rate. They turned at the same time toward the sound and Gwen gasped. “Holy shit. Is that a…?”
“A cyclops, yes.”
Blocking Gwen from view of the one-eyed giant, Ash fell into a protective stance. A moment later a bow and arrow appeared in her hand. Gwen wasn’t sure if she should be in awe of Ash’s powers or frightened. Relief sparked inside her and she was glad the other woman was on her side, for now.
Ash shouldered a quiver, pulled an arrow out, and positioned it. She drew back the bow and released it, sending the arrow hurling in the air and into the creature’s shoulder. But nothing happened. The beast didn’t even flinch.
Cursing , Ash fired another arrow, but the bow was knocked out of her hand by a man who materialized next to them. He grabbed Ash, twisted her around so her back pressed against his front, and held a knife to her throat.
Gwen met Ash’s gaze, then kicked out with her good leg, hitting the man in the shin. Cursing, he reached down and grabbed Gwen by the arm.
It was e xactly the outcome she hoped for. Although, she needed skin-to-skin contact for her gift to work. She got the opportunity when he released her briefly and wrapped his arm around her waist. Grabbing onto the exposed section of forearm, Gwen released her hold on the little power she had and whispered, “Let us go, then drive the knife into your own heart.”
Ash’s eyes gr ew huge as if she figured out what Gwen had done. Yeah, so her secret was out. The only thing to do now was pray to the gods that Ash didn’t betray them.
The man did exactly what Gwen told him. Shock and confusion whirled over his features as he plunged the dagger deep into his chest and fell to the ground.
A moment later a loud crash sounded behind her and the ground shook under her feet. Turning, Gwen saw the cyclops face down on the pavement. Ash glanced at Gwen and gave her a satisfied smirk.
“Good thinking on the persuasion thing.”
Gwen nodded, she shook so bad she wasn’t sure how much longer she could hold it together. Dragons were one thing, but one-eyed, man-eating giants were another.
The air around her energized like an electronic charge went off. She twisted around, ready to take on whatever the hell it was. Relief washed through her as she looked into Markus’s midnight blue eyes.
When he reached out to her, she jumped at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and squeezing. “Where’s Seth?” Fear crept in at the idea of the cyclops killing Seth.
“He’s fine. He and Ty are leading another cyclops out of town.” Markus paused, making Gwen look up to see him glare at Ash. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
Ash nodded. “I know. Let’s get her back to the mansion. I’ll explain when everyone gets there.”
Markus gripped Ash by the upper arm and teleported them back to the house.
Chapter Fourteen
Markus materialized inside the foyer with Gwen and Ashlynn.
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