“This is a life-or-death situation!”
Mustache looked back and forth between them, head swiveling. A flash of silver slashed through the air, and he let out a howl. Crimson spurted from a deep gash in his hand, revealing sinew and tissue. Another slice appeared on his thigh before the dagger was buried in his stomach.
The Wolf withdrew the dagger and danced out of reach, cape billowing gracefully behind her.
The distraction had worked.
Mustache tried to catch the Wolf, but his wounds spurted more blood and forced him to his knees. The prince slammed a shoulder into Eyepatch, sending him careening into Tattoo. The two fell in a flurry of limbs, and the Wolf pounced, blade flashing.
Then Javi was there, retrieving the dagger at the Wolf’s feet. He weighed the weapon with an aloofness that belied his ease with it. He might have seemed useless, but it was clear he knewsomething.
Risa, however, was no good with a dagger, and less so with an injured shoulder. She staggered toward the stables. Inside, two horses were standing in stalls. They seemed unaffected by the violence and didn’t shy away from her presence as she fumbled with the latch onone of the stall doors, the warped wood becoming stuck. Realizing it might be impossible to open the latch with one hand, she released a huff.
Before she could begin gnawing through the door out of frustration, she was nudged aside by the Wolf. The outlaw opened the door, bridled the horse, and handed the reins to Risa.
“Find a way to get on,” the Wolf ordered, moving to the other horse.
Risa tried. She scrabbled for purchase with her working arm, but she couldn’t figure out how to mount. The horse barely registered her attempt. A glance back to the alley told her the three men were already struggling back onto their feet.
Risa sagged, the weight of her fate crushing. She was going to die right there, under the moonlight like a tragic heroine.
“Don’t be such a drama queen,” Javi said, appearing by her horse and placing the reins over its neck. He grabbed her good hand and set it on the horse’s mane. “Hold.” She gripped on as Javi’s hands followed the line of her body until one found her knee and the other wrapped around her ankle.
Perfect stillness. The heat of his fingers lit a fire against her skin. Brunhilda’s spell tightened around her chest.
And then magic tingled down her neck again.
“The sheriff is coming!” the Wolf shouted in a frantic voice, staring at something down the alley.
Risa followed the Wolf’s eyes.
Haloed by the moon was a figure in a wide-brimmed hat standing unnaturally still. She couldn’t see their features, the full moon bright against their back, but she could tell something was wrong. Then it moved, moonlight skimming the side of its face.
Spearbelly’s scarecrow, marching on stiff legs, a tinkling soundaccompanying each step. A shiny silver badge withSHERIFFscratched on the surface glinted on its leather vest. Though its straw face was blank, Risa couldfeelit staring.
More magic. More curses.
Javi cupped his hand around her knee. “Listen to me. Bend your leg and jump. I’ll help you.”
She did so, not allowing herself to question him. His hands beneath her ankle and knee pushed her up until she could kick her leg over the horse.
“Brunie?”
Javi shrugged. “That cat will find us. Or if he knows what’s good for him, he’s gone.”
“We need. To go.” The Wolf punctuated her words in desperation.
Javi hauled himself onto the horse and settled in front of Risa. He took her good hand and forced it around his waist, encouraging her fingers to grab his tunic. “Hold on. And do not even think of trying to be contrary with a cute little quip.”
Looking back over her shoulder, Risa saw that the sheriff had lifted a stiff arm in the air, a pistol in its straw hand.
“Go, go, go!” the Wolf cried.
The bullet startled the horses into motion.
The Wolf led them down the other side of the inn, away from the sheriff, and back toward the main road. Risa clung on for dear life as the wind whipped through her hair and stole the screams from her throat.
Javi cursed under his breath and leaned over the side, nearly taking her down with him. She scrambled to get a better grip, pressingcloser against his back and gripping the horse with her thighs. Finally, Javi settled back in place, a yowling, furry black creature trying to claw out of his arms.
