40. Kali

"Kali, wake up. It's time to go."

Warner's voice pulled me from my light sleep, and I rolled my sore neck before sitting up. I blinked, my eyes adjusting to the dim light. The sun was just about to rise, making my stomach clench. We were only supposed to sleep for an hour.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" I asked, grabbing the hoodie I'd used as a pillow and shoving it into the bag.

"You were dead on your feet," he answered simply. "You needed more than an hour of sleep."

"We can't afford to stay in one place for this long," I mumbled as I stood up. "Especially after we saw PARA."

"We're fine," Warner said gently. "They barely got a look at us and then we walked for hours after that. They have no idea where we went."

Once the truck ran out of gas last night, we ventured on foot and wandered right into a group of PARA members who were patrolling. I hadn't realized we were even near a human city until we caught sight of them. They definitely recognized us, but luckily, we lost them without too much trouble. Though the unease hadn't left me since then. How the hell were we supposed to survive without running into PARA or Clovers? Or the vampires? I never should have found Warner. He'd still be safe.

"Don't look at me like that," he said with a frown. "No regrets, Kali. I would have been pissed if I'd found out you hadn't come to me for help. I don't need the Clovers. We can survive on our own."

I gave him a weak smile before venturing away from our makeshift camp. I ducked behind a tree to relieve myself, glad that there had been tissues in the truck. And I was happy that my period had finished yesterday. But the tissues were almost gone. Just like the rest of our supplies, except our weapons. Warner had packed some food in his bag, but it wasn't enough to last more than a couple of days.

I walked back to find him kicking dirt over the small fire we'd made. He glanced at me before slinging his bag over his shoulder and then taking the duffel I'd brought and putting it on his other shoulder.

"I can carry something," I protested.

"Here." He handed me the loaded gun. "You take watch. If we run into trouble, you can't worry about a bag weighing you down."

I glanced at his pocket. "You still have the necklace?"

He nodded, pulling the small box out. "Still closed tight."

I licked my lips. I guessed the box did work. If it didn't, then Zan would have already found us. Once we made sure we had everything, we began walking again. My feet were killing me, but I didn't voice my complaint. I was sure Warner was just as tired as me. The wounds on my neck were aching but healing, and Warner had changed the bandages before I'd fallen asleep earlier.

"How far away is it?" I asked, pushing back a branch as we kept walking deeper into the woods.

"Only about five more miles, I think."

Since Warner had been running with the Clovers outside the cities, he'd been learning a lot more than we had when we were inside Project Hope. Like all the resources that the Clovers had been stockpiling. There were hidden spots all over, filled with weapons, food, and other supplies. He knew of a place not too far from here where there were a couple of vehicles. We'd be much better off if we didn't have to walk everywhere. I just hoped there were no Clovers there. Even if they saw me as an enemy, I didn't want to hurt any of them.

"Did he hurt you?" Warner asked quietly. "Zan? Is he the one who bit you?"

My next step faltered. "No. He didn't lay a hand on me."

"Then what's changed since the last time I saw you?"

Pain lashed in my chest. "I saw what they're planning, Warner. I couldn't stand by and watch. They are going to destroy human cities."

"I tried warning you." He sighed. "I don't know why that vampire has such a hold on you. But I knew he'd choose his own kind. A monster like that can't love. He was using you."

"Probably."

I didn't say anything else. Warner didn't understand, and I didn't think he ever would. Did I believe Zan had used me? No. Which was probably why it hurt so damn much to leave him at the beach. But he would never go against his father.

"You hear that?" Warner hissed in a whisper, pulling me from my thoughts.

I went still, scanning the trees. A low hum of an engine had fear rushing through me. It sounded like it was coming from multiple places at once, which meant there was probably more than one vehicle.

"The river is over there. Let's find a place to cross," Warner said under his breath. "Come on."

We bolted to the left, sprinting through the trees. A man's voice yelling at us to stop came from behind us, which only pushed me to move faster. It was PARA. The Clovers wouldn't shout demands like that. A louder, shriller engine cut through the air, and panic engulfed me. The vehicles were too large to move through the forest, but they always brought bikes for situations like this. During the times we'd followed PARA outside of Project Hope, we'd seen them do this a few times.

"There's no way we can outrun them," I panted. I was a couple of paces behind Warner, and he reached back and grabbed my hand, making sure I kept up.

"We'll cross the river. It's too deep for them to cross with bikes."

My heart sank when the river came into view. The raging water was moving so fast there was no way we could cross here without getting swept away by the current. Warner cursed under his breath, and we ran parallel to the river, trying to spot an area where it slowed down.

"We should split up." I tried pulling my hand from Warner's.

"No." He tightened his hold. "We can't chance that. We have no way to communicate."

"Warner—"

"Stop or I'll shoot."

I swallowed my cry, seeing two PARA members ahead of us with weapons aimed at us. They were wearing their usual uniform, complete with masks and goggles. Warner put himself in front of me, but one glance over my shoulder proved we were already surrounded. They were on three sides of us, with the river at our back. I raised the gun, but we were severely outnumbered. And most, if not all of them, were wearing bulletproof vests.

"We've been looking for you since last night," one of them said coldly as they closed in on us. "Norman wants to talk to you."

Terror lined my veins. I hadn't laid eyes on Norman since he'd murdered Helena and I'd fled Project Hope. If I was forced back there, then I'd be the one being killed in the city center. My gaze dropped to Warner's hand as he slid the lead box out of his pocket. What the hell was he doing? He unclasped it and took out Zan's necklace before tossing the box down and putting the charm back in his pocket.

"You remember the way to the vehicles?" Warner asked in a low voice. "It's only a couple miles from here."

"Yes, but?—"

"You'll be okay, Kali." He spared a quick look, giving me a reassuring smile. "Stay alive."

The men were only a few feet away, and I placed my finger on the trigger, getting ready to fire. I wasn't about to get taken without a fight. One of them reached out, grabbing Warner, but then Warner's other arm lashed out, and he shoved me right in the chest.

"Warner," I shrieked as I fell backward, right into the rushing water.

I was instantly moving with the current, and it took me a few seconds to kick up and break the surface. Just in that short amount of time, I was already far away from where Warner had pushed me in. I shouted his name again, seeing him on his knees while one man hit him across the face. Tears mixed with the water on my face as I tried to swim against the current.

My moves were useless, and I was swept farther downstream. My hip slammed into a rock, and I groaned in pain before slipping back underwater. I lost my grip on the gun, and it was lost in the foamy water. I sucked in a breath after I righted myself again, and it took all my strength to keep my head above water. I managed to dodge a couple more rocks, and then I spotted a thick tree branch hanging right over the water. I swam to the right and raised my arms, grabbing it. I cried out in relief, just hanging there while catching my breath.

After a couple of minutes, I hauled myself up until I was lying on the branch. I peered down the river, not seeing Warner or PARA anywhere. I must have gone farther than I thought. I sucked in deep breaths and slowly scooted across the branch until I was over the dirt instead of the water. Jumping down, I winced, my hip screaming in pain from hitting the rock.

I limped farther into the trees, trying to find a place to hide. I was positive that PARA would try to find me. They might think I drowned, but they were more careful than that. They'd comb the area before they left.

A lump grew in my throat as I tried to hold back my sob. Warner was in trouble because of me. PARA would either kill or torture him. Probably both. And I had no way to rescue him. I wiped my face, tears spilling out faster. I never should have found him.

Whirling around, I straightened up. No. I wouldn't let Warner do this alone. If Norman wanted to talk to us, then I could make a deal. I had enough secrets from Amaros that I could leverage. I didn't care what happened to me, but it could be enough to save Warner.

Something tickled my neck, and I reached up, feeling the bandage dangling from my wound. I ripped it off, rubbing my fingers on the bite mark. I pressed harder, not feeling any pain. The vampire must not have bitten as hard as I thought. Tossing the soaked bandage to the ground, I strode forward, heading in the direction PARA had found us. There was a huge chance that Norman would have us both killed. But I would never forgive myself if I didn't try.

My limp got better as I jogged along the river, but I was still moving slower than usual. My boots were clogged with water, and my clothes were soaked. I pulled my hair back, tying it up.

"Found her?—"

I spun around, my heart thudding like crazy as I spotted a PARA member about twenty feet away. But it was the reason he stopped talking that had me in shock. He was sprawled on the ground, his neck twisted at an odd angle. I slowly raised my gaze to the vampire standing behind the guy's lifeless body.

"Pax," I choked out hoarsely, taking a step back.

Pax strode forward, his eyes flashing dangerously. "Don't even try. You can't outrun me, and I don't have time to chase you."

I was already racing away from the river and into the trees before he stopped talking. Pax was right behind me, his steps echoing in my ears. I let out a shriek when he banded his arm around my waist, tugging me into him.

"Let me go," I snarled, kicking at him when he lifted me off my feet.

"You know that's not happening," he muttered, carrying me in the opposite direction I'd been running. "You're lucky I found you before PARA."

"Lucky?" I laughed. If I didn't, the tears would start flowing again. "I'd have a better chance with them than if I went back to your father."

He didn't respond, dragging me until a small truck came into sight.

"Where's Zan?" I forced out.

"Following that convoy," he said tightly. "We got here too late and weren't sure if they found you or not."

"They have Warner."

He sighed. "I'm sorry, Kali. But he's not our problem."

"He's my family." My voice rose in desperation. "I need to help him."

Pax opened the driver's door and pushed me inside before climbing in. He kept one hand wrapped around my arm to keep me from escaping out of the passenger door while he started the engine.

"Is Zan following them back into Project Hope?" I asked.

"He would have. But now we don't need to risk it since you're here."

"But he could help Warner."

"We can't chance it."

He was driving fast, narrowly missing the trees as he raced to catch up to his brothers. I sat there, my back rigid. Zan would save Warner. At least he would have before I'd shot him up with hawthorn at the beach. If he went into Project Hope and found Warner instead of me, Zan would rescue him. If he still cared about me at all, I knew he would. A plan formed in my head, and nerves twisted in my stomach.

"I'm sorry I stabbed you in the back," I mumbled, looking at Pax.

He glanced at me with a frown. "I'm fine. You're soaked."

"I was in the river."

He sucked in a large breath, his gaze turning questioning as his eyes fell to my throat. "That bite happened at Project Peace."

"Yeah, when your father unleashed his vampires on me," I said dryly.

He shook his head. "We need to find Zan."

"I'm sorry, Pax."

"You already said that."

"No, I'm sorry for this."

With my free hand, I grabbed the steering wheel and yanked it hard to the right. Pax let out a yell, trying to get control back, but it was too late. His hand left the wheel, and he grabbed me, keeping me from colliding with the windshield when we slammed headfirst into a tree. The truck stuttered before the engine died. Pax released me to turn the key, but the motor clicked a few times instead of turning back on.

"Son of a bitch," Pax growled, shooting me a glare. "Why the hell did you do that?"

"Because I want Zan to get Warner away from PARA."

"He only cares about you. He's not going to risk himself for Warner."

"Yes, he will," I murmured. "If he still cares about me, he will. He knows how I feel about Warner."

He opened his mouth, as if wanting to argue, but then paused. "Maybe. But I'm not risking both of my brothers for him." He pulled me out of the truck. "Let's go."

I followed him, my heart pounding against my ribs. We'd never catch up to them without the truck. Project Hope was hours from here. Even after everything, I believed that Zan would help me. He'd save Warner for me. At least I hoped so.