The same leech who’d been eyeing the woman like his next meal.
He’s standing directly in front of her now, red eyes glowing and fangs on full display.
Shit.
I won’t make it down there in time.
I grab my crossbow, already loaded with an iron bolt, and prop myself against the edge of the roof.
The woman is struggling with the front door, pressed flat against the glass as she tries to force it open.
Unfortunately for me, she’s also blocking most of my shot.
Come on.
Move.
I track the leech through my sights, waiting for an opening.
Another crash erupts inside the shop.
This time, it works in my favor.
The sound catches his attention.
His head turns.
His body shifts just enough to give me my angle.
I squeeze the trigger.
The bolt launches with magically enhanced speed, nearly invisible as it tears through the air.
Glass shatters and a heartbeat later, the iron bolt punches through the leech’s chest, burying itself to the fletching.
Dead center.
The bastard doesn’t even have time to scream.
His body collapses inward, flesh shriveling into ash before scattering across the floor.
The woman stumbles through the shattered doorway and lands hard on the sidewalk.
The human is right behind her.
For all his obvious feelings, I’ll give him this—the idiot doesn’t hesitate.
He grabs her arm and hauls her back to her feet.
“Run, Kallie!” the human shouts, half dragging her down the street.
When I look back at the restaurant, Stark is already looking my way.
My grip tightens around the crossbow.
For a second, I tell myself he’s tracking the shot.
Then I shift my weight.
