Her jaw dropped when she saw the conflagration devouring the forest. The Savages had planted the bomb to protect themselves, but they hadn’t anticipated two of them going off so close to each other and in such a short time frame.
The fire from the one the humans set off and the one Clifford set off had joined together. Unlike the fire Mal set in an attempt to get off the island, this inferno was spreading out of control.
“Jack!” she croaked and stepped back toward the fire.
Kirha grabbed her arm, holding her back. “You can’t go back in there.”
“He could be in trouble.”
“He’s your mate, right?” When Charlie frowned at her, Kirha waved a hand impatiently at Charlie’s neck. “You’re bearing his marks and vampires know when a vamp has claimed their mate. I realize you’ve been a vamp for three years, but you’re still new to it, and these are things you’ll learnwhenwe get off this island. However, you’re mated, which means you can feel if he’s okay or not.”
“I… I can’t feel anything. It’s like the bombs rattled my instincts as well as my ears.” As soon as she said it, she knew it was true.
“It doesn’t matter. We have to go.”
“I’m not leaving without him. He might need help!”
“That fire is spreading; if it’s not stopped soon, then it’s only a matter of time before it takes over the entire island. The smoke will spread into the tunnels. Wehaveto go.”
“Dylan,” she breathed as her eyes returned to the fire. “Jack.”
If someone had taken a sword and cut her in half, she wouldn’t feel anymore torn in two, but her son needed her.
“Oh,” she breathed as she started to turn away, but she stopped when, from the cloying smoke, a figure materialized.
Charlie adjusted her grip on her knives as she prepared to destroy whoever emerged from the fire, but then she felt something thrum through the bond she established with Jack and knew it was him. Without thinking, she plunged back into the smoke and ran toward him, but his shouts reached her before she got to him.
“Run, Charlie!” he shouted at her. “Run!”
Debris kicked up from under her feet when she skidded to a stop before turning and running back. She didn’t dare look back as she raced back out of the smoke. Kirha remained where Charlie left her, looking more than a little annoyed as she held the branch and surveyed the woods.
“The closest tunnel entrance is this way,” Charlie said as she dashed to the right and further away from the mansion.
She tried to keep an eye out for more cameras and possible deathtraps, but it was difficult to do as she ran at nearly full speed through the forest. Branches and trees slapped at her face and hands as she plunged forward, but she didn’t dare slow. Between the fire and the Savages, death nipped at her heels.
She needed to get to her son before the fire made it to the tunnel entrances. She didn’t know if the smoke would manage to penetrate through the tunnels, but she wasn’t willing to take the chance it would.
The thought spurred her faster until the trees were a blur as they whipped by her. They had to get to the beach before the fire overtook the forest, but the Savages would probably head for the beach too if they could. With the sun out, many of the Savages wouldn’t be able to expose themselves to it for long.
Good. She hoped they all fried and then continued to burn in Hell where they belonged.
There would be some Savages who could survive the sun’s rays. Hopefully, they all ran for the boat ramp, but if the fire cut off the Savage’s way to the ramp, they would be all over this island, and they would be more likely to run into the bastards.
She glanced over her shoulder to find Jack thirty feet behind them and closing the distance. Dirt and soot covered him. The charred spots and holes marring his jeans revealed the blistered skin beneath. Blood smeared his face and hands, but she didn’t see any cuts, and she didn’t think it was his blood.
“This way.” Charlie sprinted to the right, toward the pit Jack fell into; Kirha followed her.
A branch hit Charlie’s cheek with so much force it almost knocked her over. Blood trickled from the gash it left behind. Throwing her hands up, she tried to block the branches from slapping at her face, but it was useless.
They were almost to the copse of trees when she turned to look back at Jack again. Her steps slowed when she saw he’d closed the distance between them. “Go, Charlie!” he yelled at her. “Runand don’t stop running! Don’t wait for me!”
She took a faltering step before turning and crashing through the thicket of trees shielding the pit. She didn’t hesitate before running straight over the covered entrance. Branches snapped beneath her as she plunged through the hole and hit the ground. Kirha landed silently beside her.
Charlie tugged her flashlight free of her shoulder bag. “Follow directly behind me,” she commanded Kirha before sprinting down the tunnel.
She didn’t stop to let the others know she was coming; it would only waste time. The scent of the cooking fire reached her before she plunged into the main cavern. The others all looked up in startled surprise. Some of them leapt to their feet, but the others exchanged confused glances.
“We have to go!” she shouted as she ran for Dylan and pulled him into her arms.
