Chapter 8

Run!

My father's voice echoed in my brain. It was the same word over and over again.

Run!His voice boomed harsher now, same as when these beasts chased us down the mountain in Sedona sixteen years ago. This time, I didn't think twice. I took off running into the dense forest.

Thick undergrowth crunched under my feet as I sprinted through the brush. Twigs cracked and dead leaves became dust. The faster I ran, the closer the howls sounded. Don't turn around… my mother's voice warned in my head. I didn't want to, but dammit, I didn't listen to her then, why would I listen now?

It took but a second to realize I should have heeded her grave warning. Over my shoulder, two sets of large, red glowing eyes drilled into me. With bodies made of smoke, the hounds moved through the forest like specters, swift and calculated.

True fear is unforgiving. It steals your breath and robs your limbs of oxygen.

I didn't stand a chance. Paralyzed, I fell backward on my ass, legs completely useless. The heat of their smoke-like bodies singed the hairs on my skin as they stalked closer, the rancid stench of their breath stinging my nose.

It's a dream, Avery. Wake up. Wake up.

But my mind was a prison. I couldn't break free of my fear.

They'd come after me, to finish their job.

Then a set of strong hands grabbed me from behind, forcing me to my feet, and dragging me through the forest at unfathomable speed. The world flashed around me in a blur of shadows. Coming to a sudden halt, my head spun as I gathered my senses. Took me two breaths to realize who'd saved me from the beasts.

The creature who'd followed me through the forest. The one who'd warned me to stay quiet, towered over me, its impressive height making me feel inferiorly human. But it was the blackness of its eyes, darker than coal, yet deeper than an ocean, that punched through me with recognition, as if we were more alike than I could've imagined.

In that instant, a million questions fired off in my mind, but I didn't have a chance to ask them.

The beasts caught up to us and the creature who'd saved me grabbed me by the hand once and muttered words I didn't understand. With one last word, he pushed me off the cliff I hadn't realized was behind me, and I plummeted down a sheer mountain cliff, screaming, limbs flailing, chest ready to explode.

My life flashed before me as I readied for impact, but instead of a rocky bottom, I fell into an icy sea. The sudden rush of salty water into my mouth and nose sent my body into spasms as I swam disoriented, needing air.

Why had I fought my parents when they'd tried to teach me to swim?

I kicked with every ounce of strength my muscles possessed, frantic that this watery abyss would be my tomb. And when I finally broke through the surface with a violent gasp, I found myself not floating in an ocean, but sitting upright on my bed—breathless and drenched in sweat.

Blinking repeatedly as I regained my bearings, I reached for my pendant, relief weaving through me at its lack of light. Thank heavens. The dream was over. But as I looked back up, I nearly fell off the edge of the mattress when the man standing at the foot of the bed cocked his head.

I jumped from my bed, stumbling as I demanded, "Who the hell are you?"

He put his hands up in defense, as if I was the one presenting the threat here. "I can explain," he said. "But please, highness. Put down that weapon."

Weapon?

Glancing down at my hand, I gasped at the sight of the dagger gripped in my fingers—the one I'd held in my vision.

What the…

How this was even possible would have to wait. Right now, I needed answers. I gripped the hilt harder, pointing the dagger at his heart, and said, "I don't think so, buddy. How the hell did you get into my apartment?"

"I…" His voice shook, gaze shifting toward my patched-up window where the moon shone like a beacon through the broken pane. His lips twitched in a sheepish smile. "… crashed through there."

I stared at him, unsure if I should have laughed or stabbed the sonofabitch. Ignoring his idiotic comment, I said, "You have two seconds to tell me who you are, or I swear I will jab this dagger so high up your nose your fucking brain will explode out of the top of your skull."

The terror frozen over his ebony-colored eyes sent me off kilter. Seemed he believed my threat, which was beyond me. I was the one scared shitless and would've run before stabbing him.

Not that I'd advertise that no matter how much I wanted to pee my pants.

I knew I didn't look remotely intimidating, even with a dagger, so his feigned fear had to be a ruse. The guy was well over six feet and muscled. And dressed in tight-fitted, combat-looking black clothes, he resembled a deadly ninja assassin—minus the face covering.

If he tried to attack me, he'd overpower me. Anticipating he would try to lunge at me and try to take the dagger, I dug my heels and readied to defend my ground.

Avery Jaxson would not go down easy.

Instead, he lowered to one knee and bowed his head. "I mean you no harm, highness."

His words stunned me in place. That was the second time he'd call me that. The first time I ignored it, thinking the asshole was poking fun at me, but now…

Now this whole thing was borderline absurd. Yet, as crazy as he sounded, a part of me suspected he meant what he said—he wouldn't harm me. Lowering the dagger, I relaxed my muscles and steadied my breath. "Listen, whoever you are, I have no desire to stab or kill anyone today, but if you try anything, anything at all, I swear…"

Lifting his gaze up to meet mine, he nodded. "You have my word. No harm shall befall upon you from my hand."

He remained lowered to one knee, his dark gaze rooting into mine. Time seemed to stand still as I took in every feature of his appearance. There was no arguing he was handsome, in a very unnatural way. Angular face, chiseled, yet soft. Sensual lips curved into a warm smile, and his complexion looked like silky, unmarred porcelain. And those eyes…so dark they seemed conjured out of onyx. But what struck me hardest was the familiarity of his gaze, as if I'd seen those eyes before. As if they had seen me.

His lashes, eyebrows, even his shaggy hair were all similarly dark and reminded me of the silky texture of Shadow's iridescent black feathers.

It was as if…

I crashed through there, he'd said.

Nah. It couldn't be. That was ridiculous.

But then again…

"Shadow?" I asked, cringing at the idea that this could even be possible.

"It is an honor to be bestowed a name. Only a select few are given one."

Was he for real? I sighed. "Okay, that's enough, buddy. I don't have time for stupid games. You need to get the hell out of my apartment or I'm calling the cops."

With the swift movement of a ballerina, he rose to his feet and spun, the physical plane distorting in front of me like some type of optical illusion. And before I could blink, the man had disappeared and all that remained was my crow standing in his place.

I jumped back as it flew up to perch on the metal footboard of my bed. Then the air distorted again, and the man sat in a crouched position, balancing on the bar where Shadow had been.