Gunfire.
Chase howls and scrambles away and I collapse to the floor, gasping, sprawled on my back.
Figures emerge in a flash of headlights and shouts. Dredyn stands at the mouth of the stairwell with a pistol aimed at Chase. Jasper has my arm and is half-lifting me to my feet while Talon and Knox storm in behind them, weapons drawn.
Chase’s fingers curl around the handle of a hidden blade, but his laughter stills as he realizes what he’s up against.
Before he can move, Dredyn fires again. The shot echoes off concrete.
Chase’s body goes rigid, then he gurgles, clutching his shoulder. A cherry-red spray blossoms across the asphalt as he crashes against the wall with a splatter of blood and curses.
He slumps.
My chest heaves.
Jasper guides me to my feet, arms firm around me. I’m shaking all over.
Chase scrambles for air on the floor. His voice is a ragged scream as he manages a broken shout, but it’s more of a hiccup of surprise and pain.
Dredyn levels his pistol at Chase. “Don’t move. I mean it.”
Chase’s lips twitch in a grin as he lies there, blood seeping through his fingers. “I couldn’t save Evangeline from her destiny. What makes you think Mara is any safer?” he spits up at us.
My heart stops.
Evangeline. Jasper’s sister
Chase tries to sit up, leaning against the wall. He’s alive, breathing hard, and clutching his bleeding shoulder.
Suddenly, Chase clambers to his feet, blood spilling down his arm. He reaches behind him with the blade.
“Look out!” I scream, but it’s too late.
Chase swings the knife and slashes into Dredyn’s side.
Dredyn howls, blood gushing from a new wound, as he crumples to one knee, clutching the fabric of his shirt. A dark red stain spreads instantly.
“No!” Jasper roars.
Anger and terror surge through me. Without thinking, I lunge. Nails out, I rake them across Chase’s face, a desperate swipe of white-hot rage. He snarls, stunned, blood spurting where my nails catch.
I sink my teeth into his forearm, breaking skin, and he tries to twist away, stumbling.
I elbow him in the gut. He doubles over, gasping.
Jasper’s arms clamp around me, pulling me back as Chase regains himself, and I feel Jasper’s heart thudding against my back.
Chase lunges again, smashing into my chest. I fold in on myself.
“Jasper, watch out!” I yell.
Another shot, and the world shudders again.
Chase skids and falls back against the wall, like a puppet whose strings are cut. His eyes cross, and he turns his head slowly toward us. He reaches up, then... nothing.
His body goes limp.
Chase Harrington is down.
