And the click of metal against metal when I found the locking device. I was slower than usual, but it had been years since I’d had to get myself out of a situation involving cuffs.
I dropped them casually on Phoenix’s bed and tucked the metal into my boot in case I needed it later, then I sat back on my heels.
Nowwhat was I supposed to do?
I was pretty good at sneaking around when I had to, even better at getting out of trouble when it had me backed into a corner either by way of fighting or charm. But this? There was an entire camp of raiders outside the tent. I’d counted five of them, though there was every possibility there were more.
I moved slowly, peeking through the tent flap to see exactly where the group was. They were far enough off that I couldn’t completely make out what they were saying, though it was easy to spot Phoenix’s broad frame standing out above the rest of his crew.
Pack?
Had he called it a pack?
He seemed wolfish enough that it made sense.
The blaze of their fire and the questionable meal they had cooking over it was nearly blinding against the sky as itwent dark. There was a part of me that knew running now was just as dangerous as staying.
I had no idea what was out and about, roaming among the buildings. We hadn’t had a storm in weeks, and there was some small part of me that could feel the tension of one brewing building up in the back of my mind. The things in the night would be extra feral.
It didn’t matter. I couldn’t stay here.
Not when I could close my eyes and remember the way Phoenix’s body felt pressed against mine. Not when some part of me could acknowledge that the danger he presented was…
Tempting.
I didn’t need that kind of temptation.
I slipped back into the tent and unwound a few more of the metal pieces, hoping the firelight and darkening skies might help me slip out undetected. Peeling back the fabric made little crinkling sounds, but maybe…
Maybe…
“Where do you think you’re going, Killer?” The voice came from the opening of the tent, and I didn’t think. I just sprang into motion, hoping that I could find somewhere to duck away undetected, because I couldn’t imagine a world where his long-ass legs wouldn’t catch up to me.
I managed to wriggle out through the little hole I’d made before I felt his arms on me, and the vague sound of his voice shouting to the others aboutstaying putmade some of the tension in my chest ease.
At least they weren’t going to turn into some kind ofunified hunting party to come after me—Phoenix sounded so sure of himself, so confident that he’d catch me.
If I could hide somewhere, that would be good.
If I could find a weapon to break over his fucking handsome face if he found me, that would be even better.
I just needed to getaway.
“Come on, Aubrey. Isn’t it a little late to play these games? Do you really want to die that much?” The idiosyncrasy in the way his voice sounded so smooth even though the words were obviously a threat almost made me feel lightheaded.
Fuck, did I?
It had to be something like that, since my pulse was skyrocketing and it wasn’t from the sprint I’d broken into. Adrenaline burned through my veins, and some part of me wanted to laugh—the sound bubbled and caught in the back of my throat, tearing out in a hitch of breath that almost made me stumble.
With the sound of his heavy footfalls behind me, and the threat I could feel burning along my skin promising to brand me a prisoner forever if he caught me, I feltamazing.
Being chased—beinghunted—by a predator like Phoenix made me feel more alive than I had in years.
Since…
The name trying to tear through my mind made me stumble again, and just that break in my stride was nearly enough to let him catch up to me. I had to force myself to swerve, to duck into one of the abandoned buildings to my left and hope that I wasn’t making a mistake. I usually liked to clear an area before I entered. The training I’d gotten fromthe Order dictated that I secure the entryways and exits before I did something ridiculous, like running in blind.
“Do you really think I’ll let you get away?” The low rumbling growl of his voice was enough to make my body jerk again, to make me scramble when I should have been moving with the stealth I’d spent my entire life learning to perfect.
