I spun anyway, ready for him, just as he stepped out of the shadows. Too close. Close enough that I caught the familiar stink of smoke and oil and the memories I’d buried with my teeth clenched.
I moved.
I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t freeze. I ran.
I barely got a step before arms locked around my waist and hauled me back hard. Air ripped from my lungs as Zach’s grip tightened, iron and inescapable.
I fought anyway. Elbows. Heels. Teeth.
“It’s alright, Lark,” he murmured against my ear, calm as a prayer. “You’re not going to be hurt.”
I went still. Not surrender. Calculation.
“You’re just being returned,” he continued softly. “Where you belong.”
Rage burned hot and clean in my chest. “How could you do this?” I hissed. “You know what he does. You know he doesn’t hesitate to hurt me.”
Jasper circled us, smiling like this was theater put on just for him. “Because Zach is a Shepherd,” he said. “And Shepherds are loyal to the Flame.”
Movement exploded behind us.
A hand yanked open the back door of the car and dragged Briar out by her arm, hard enough that she stumbled. Another Shepherd. I recognized him instantly.
Bran. As sadistic as Jasper.
“Get your hands off her!” I screamed, thrashing again.
Briar fought like a wildcat. Cussing. Kicking. Twisting in his grip. “You hurt us and I’ll fuckin’ find a way to kill you!”
Bran slapped her hard across the face, trying to tame her.
It didn’t work.
She laughed.
It was wild. Unhinged. Brave and at the same time stupid. But she didn’t know what they were capable of—I did.
“You didn’t trust me,” Zach said quietly, tightening his hold when I surged again. “That hurts, Lark. I only wanted to make you pure.”
I jerked my head back, catching him under the chin. Not enough. But enough to feel. Before I could scream, he clamped a hand over my mouth and dragged me tight against his chest.
Jasper lifted a hand. “Disable the vehicle,” he said calmly. “Now.”
One of the men moved fast, ducking under the hood. A sharp yank. A cable torn free and tossed into the bushes.
Jasper turned his gaze on me. “Phones.”
Zach slipped his hand into my pocket before I could react. He pulled my phone free and dropped it at Jasper’s feet.
I watched as Jasper crushed it beneath his boot. The screen shattered. The sound loud. Final.
Briar screamed and reached for her own phone, but the Shepherd holding her ripped it from her hand and slammed it against the gravel, grinding it under his heel until it was nothing but shards.
“You will regret ever laying a hand on us!” Briar snarled, still fighting. “Every last one of you.”
Then the Shepherd holding her screamed.
A raw, high sound as he staggered back, clutching his side. Blood poured through his fingers. “That bitch stabbed me!” he yelled.
