‘Queen Harpy and her minions,” Knox growls as we slow down and skirt through the trees a different way, so if we continue, we should show up on the opposite side of the BloodMatch ring. Which I’m okay with because I don’t feel like fighting the new group.
“So, what? I don’t understand why we’re running from Emer. Aren’t most of her minions gone? We can take her,” Moni asks, taking a sip of coffee.I swear, I love her. She has her priorities straight, and apparently, her stamina is just fine.
“I don’t mean herschoolminions,” Knox says.
“They were soldiers, Moni. From what I could see, at least twenty in the trees,” I tell her, remembering her eyesight isn’t as good as a shifter’s.
“Do you think they were for us?” she asks, turning white.
“I’d rather not take chances,” Knox admits as we pass the Blood Matches ring.
The crowd is still going wild, but instead of everyone attacking only Captain Brooks, some have turned on their own. Rebel tattoos flash in the moonlight as they attack those with matching ink.
What caused this?
Humor floods my link, and I glance at Knox with pinched brows as he quickly shakes his head.
‘Just a new Horseman trick, I’ll have to tell you about later,’he retorts.
Well, whatever he did, if this is his work, it’s for the best since it’s one less problem we have. Now, back to Brooks and his demise. I want to make sure he’s dead and not an issue for us ever again. He’s already propped up on a large crate as a few shifters have changed to their animals, physically tearing him apart as screams are ripped from him.
A body part comes flying towards us and lands about ten feet in front of us.
“Oh, honey bees! Is that an arm?” Moni shrieks, her eyes bulging out of her sockets.
“I do believe that’s one of Captain Brooks' human arms, yes,” Knots informs us in a bored tone, as if he’s seen this all before. Oh, wait, he used to work for the Horseman in another life. I bet compared to that, this is boring.
I slow down and focus on Brooks’ human form, just as a giant anteater slashes across his neck, almost severing it completely, and I get to watch the light leave his eyes.
Unfortunately, I feel nothing.Or is that fortunate?
“There they are. Get them!” someone yells, and it spurs us into running once again.
Shit.
“Knox? Is there another portal out of here?” I ask, straight up panicking.
“Cut them off,” Emer yells, and I look over my shoulder to realize we’re about to be surrounded by shifted animals on both sides.
“No. Just the long way to Nova,” he answers, and my hope sinks as my mind spirals for a moment.
No.
I refuse to be captured by that bitch. I won’t miss our deadline. I’m tired of being stuck here. I’m tired of this being myonlyoption. I just want normal.Whatevermy normal is now, as long as I don’t have to fight for my life every fucking second. I just want time with my family. A break. I want time where we can relax and not have to save the fucking world in the next breath. I want a simple path. We need a place to escape to, a way out of here, and not into a new fire. We need a?—
A portal pops open about ten feet in front of us.Did I just summon a portal? Shit, I just—sweet!
“Go! It’s safe,” I yell, feeling relief come over me as I watch Moni and Chester hop in first. Knots and Lynx jump through next. Zeke and JP, along with Ryker holding Reaper, follow.
“Whose portal is this?” Levi asks, stopping in front of it.
“Oh my god. Mine. Just get in,” I yell, pushing him through before doing the same with Knox. I turn to flip off everyone behind me before stepping in backward and feeling myself fall.
A soft patch of grass thankfully cushions my fall, and I take a quick second to catch my breath.I really do need to work on my cardio.As I stare at the sky, I notice a huge problem.
‘Rezzi-Bear?’Lynx hesitantly calls down our link.‘Are we alive or dead? Because I think we might have a problem,’he warns, as I take in the familiar noise of the crickets and katydids.
‘I’m pretty sure it’s a real problem,’I agree, sitting up on my elbows and staring at the small and big dipper constellation in the night sky.
