Kas would wait for the opportune moment. Strike once, or not at all.
Snarling, I whirled, searching for another exit.
The captain rounded the corner, palms up, blocking my retreat. “Nowhere to go, pet.”
Teeth bared, I whirled again, ducking under the general’s outstretched arm.
“Ho! You’ve got a wild one, Asher!”
Not yet, he didn’t. The window! I lengthened my steps, slamming into the wall, desperate fingers trying to pry and claw my way to freedom.
It didn’t budge.
The captain spoke from directly behind me, voice steady. “It’s been sealed shut.”
A wordless scream burst from my lips, and I slammed my fists into the window pane, trying to break it—but the ache in my bones told a tale of reinforced glass, and I spun one last time, facing my captors head on.
“Easy, now,” the captain said, advancing.
Easy? I laughed in spite of the tears threatening to spill over my lashes.Never. I crouched low, feet spread, lips pulled back in a snarl indistinguishable from that of Kas herself.
“Would you get a look at those teeth!” the general shouted as Marco joined us in the narrow hall. “This isn’t the same wild thing we saw in the woods the other day, is it? Jasper’s menace?”
The captain grunted, but did not take his eyes from mine.
Marco reached the top-floor landing, breathing hard. “Shit. Like chasing a damned wildcat, this one. Did you see that fuckin’ stunt on the banister? Fuck me running naked down the hallway! Never seen anything like—”
“Marco.”
Cornered. And if the captain got his way… No. There wasalwaysa way out. I just had to find it.
The captain took another step toward me. “Make this easy on yourself,” he cooed, palms up.
My frantic gaze landed on the general. Nude beneath his towel.
“I know you’re injured,” the captain continued. “Let me have a look at those wounds and then—” He lunged.
I dove to the side, aiming for the general’s spread legs, yanking the towel from his hips as I went between them, claws missing the soft inner thigh laced with arteries by no more than a hair.
“Got her!” Marco shouted, arms outstretched.
I threw the towel over his head, punching the fluffy white fabric and the face behind it as hard as my momentum would allow.
Marco’s yelp was but a brief instant of satisfaction before a wall of muscle barreled into me, a shoulder crushing my broken ribs.
A ragged yelp burst from my lips as we crashed into a steamy room with a shallow pool in the center.
No!This couldn’t be the end! Writhing and kicking, I fought until my whole body shook with exertion and dewy panic-sweat coated my skin.
The captain simply weathered it, murmuring, “Easy, pet. Easy,” under his breath, ignoring my teeth and claws as I tore his forearms to ribbons.
“Fuck you,” I spat, and planted both feet on the nearest wall, drew knees to chest, then pushed with all my remaining strength.
“Shit—”
We toppled over the edge of the pool, splashing into the warm, soapy water in a tangled pile of limbs.
I surfaced, gasping, eyes burning with whatever fragrance perfumed the water, choking on it.
