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“Do you even know how powerful I am or what I’m capable of?” He hovers, his face in my line of sight as I flip onto my back. “I have most of the abilities vampires do, only I don’t have to drink blood. Technically, in a weird twist, Alaska is like my half-brother. His maker is Ceroes too. One of the original vampires created by a witch. Naturally, with the creation of vampires, they needed a predator, like everything else in this world.” He spreads his arms out as if he is a god. “And Ceroes created me.”

“What a waste of his time,” I grumble, earning a swift kick to my stomach.

I clutch my abdomen, protecting it from another boot to my gut. The hunter grips me by the roots of my hair and slams my back against the hard, unforgiving cave wall.

“You really don’t care about your life, do you? I would think you’d be fighting for it.”

“This is me fighting for it.” I use every last bit of energy to lift my leg and slam it against his crotch, the heel of my foot digging into his balls.

It’s cliché, but it works. The pain makes him double over. His face turns a deep shade of red, and he cups himself, having to lean against the wall. He gags and coughs, gasping for breath.

I push myself to stand, my vision blurring, my legs stumbling from under me. Dizziness wraps itself around me like a vortex. I reach for the arrow still lodged in my shoulder and yank it out, the urge to vomit hitting me hard.

The pain is unbearable. The blood loss is killing me. I should be dead by now, and I know it’s because of Alaska that I’m still able to breathe. His blood has kept me alive this long, but I don’t have enough of it anymore.

My hand is slick with blood and slides down the arrow. I tighten my grip and spin around, jamming the sharp tip through the hunter’s head, impaling him onto the ground.

He shouts the best he can, considering the arrow has pierced through his mouth.

I don’t know how much time I have before he is free. I know he can’t die from my attempt, but it gives me the time to get away. He’s much faster than me and can heal, while I’m hanging on by pure will.

Using the walls to steady myself, I use the other hand to keep the pressure on the wound. Every step becomes the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I squeeze my eyes shut, sweat dripping into them. It stings.

The closer I get to the cave’s mouth, the colder it becomes. Air hits my cheeks. Sharp edges from the rocks dig into my palm. My feet stumble over the uneven ground, and my surroundings tilt as I fall down.

My hands hit first to brace myself, the skin ripping. I crawl the rest of the way, dragging myself to the lip of the cave.

When I get close enough to freedom, snow dusting the rocks melts against my clothes, a new sweeping chill attempting to freeze my core.

Using the wall, I pull myself to my feet and glance over my shoulder to see him struggling with the arrow still.

I step out onto the cliff, the wind howling across my face. Every breath brings a brisk bite to my lungs. Clouds drift below me, and my stomach turns as realization hits.

I’m on top of a fucking mountain. There’s no way I’ll make it down alive. I don’t have that kind of strength left in me.

All I can do is try.

“Alaska,” I whisper his name, hoping the breeze carries it to him.

I’m running as fast as I can through the forest, my friends by my side.

Even Lorcan.

He doesn’t need to be here, but it means a lot to me that he is. I know he’s powerful, and it might come in handy whenever I get my fucking hands on the hunter who took my mate.

The bond between us is fading and losing strength, which means Leo is dying. I don’t think he has much time left. He needs my blood as soon as possible.

My mind is reeling with scenarios that have me moving my legs quicker. I keep imagining getting to him a second too late and picking up his limp body. The thought of holding him in my arms with no heartbeat makes me lose control of my gift.

Trees sprout from the ground, shooting up towards the sky. Thick roots crawl along the ground. Green vines hang from the branches and slither like snakes in the direction we are running.

“Holy shit!” Soren jumps to the left just in time to not get staked by a tree as it shoots from the ground.

Lorcan is grinning as he zigs and zags through the maze I’m accidentally creating.

The connection between Leo and me becomes stronger the closer I get.

Don’t give up, Honeybee. I’m close. I’m so fucking close. Don’t you dare give up on me.