Chapter 18

STRYKER

She's going to get me killed.

That doesn't stop me from following her lead. I might not have known Anita for long, but I discovered she doesn't run from danger. She could easily walk away, but she has integrity.

For a mage, it's quite remarkable.

I've never known one to risk their life for a dirty beastling, especially one who betrayed her not long ago, and my chest puffs with pride that fate would select such a magnificent mate for me.

Instead of carting her off over my shoulder and making a run for it like my instincts demand, I slowly give a countdown. When I reach one, I pounce. Conscious of Anita following just a step behind, I barrel into the room and tackle as many of the men as possible.

Though they are lean, hyenas are vicious creatures who would eat their own young if they thought it would get them ahead. They are pack animals and can take down much larger prey when they work together. I curse when one man turns in time to see me. Before he can yell out a warning, I plow into four of the five hyenas.

Not waiting for us to land, I swipe out with my claws, removing the throat of the nearest one. We crash to the ground with a nasty thump, a tangle of arms and legs. I keep my ears swiveled toward my mate, so when the remaining guy charges toward her, I throw out my leg, causing him to trip and slam to the ground with a grunt.

But the action cost me.

Two of the hyenas took advantage of my distraction. Fangs sink into my arm and more land in my opposite shoulder, while a third man digs his claws into my side. Roaring in pain, I snarl, then bury my own fangs into the nearest hyena.

The foul taste of rancid meat fills my mouth, adrenaline turning his flesh sour. I clench my jaw against the need to gag, not ready to let my prey go, not when it will only put my mate in more danger. Another set of claws rakes down my back and sides, and I grunt in pain. In retaliation, I jerk my head back and forth, mauling the flesh and ripping the bite clean from his neck and shoulder.

Hot blood gushes into my mouth and spills over my muzzle, my beast relishing the kill, and the body stills beneath my fangs. When I lift my head, the claws gouging my flesh suddenly vanish, and I realize why.

My mate jumped onto his back, wrapping herself around him like a koala. Jealousy immediately flares that she's touching another man, and my beast wants to rip his flesh from his bones.

As I lunge to my feet, staggering toward them, the hyena screams. I pause, only then just noticing that his flesh is sizzling wherever she's touching him. I can't help it, I grin. When his screams turn into wails, I put the poor bastard out of his misery with a swipe of my claws, eviscerating him with one slice.

Anita grimaces at the gush of blood and nimbly leaps off.

The man stares down stupidly, blinking as his guts slowly slink out of his torso. Even as he sinks to his knees, he grabs a loop of his intestine and tries to shove it back through the gaping wound.

Then he just tips over, face-planting to the ground with a thud, and lies unmoving.

Grunting sounds behind me, and I whirl to see the insect girl now holding the fire extinguisher, beating one of the hyenas to a bloody pulp. The man is long dead, his brain matter and blood a gooey mess pooling below him. With each blow, blood flies and speckles both her and the cavern.

That's four.

One is missing!

Hackles rising, I spin and search the darkness, cursing that my sense of smell is still dulled from the insects and months of being trapped underground. I whirl, taking in the room, slowly inching toward Anita.

I filter out the sounds from the girls, ignoring the way my blood mats my fur in an ever increasing stain, and focus on everything else. A current of stale air brings the sour scent of fear and the bitter smell of anger.

The source is coming from directly behind Anita.

Even as I lunge toward her, I know I won't make it in time.

I'm too slow, too weak from blood loss and lack of food. My beast roars in denial, and I push myself harder. Instead of targeting the hyena, I snatch Anita around the waist and tuck her close to my chest, crouching protectively over her and covering her with my body.

I wait for the killing blow to land…only it doesn't happen. I grab Anita, dragging her away from the threat. A quick glance shows another man has tackled the hyena to the floor, then he proceeds to beat the shit out of the beastling.

Electricity crackles around the larger man, descending down his arms to engulf the hyena. The hyena's painful squeal is at a decibel to shatter eardrums. His body convulses, his eyes bulge from his sockets, and smoke begins to rise from his skin. A steady stream of drool dribbles from his distorted mouth, and his body slowly blackens before falling still.

Only then does the bigger man release his hold and slowly push to his feet, his chest heaving as he pants. His gaze flashes over me, dismisses me, then locks on Anita, who is peeking out from behind me.

"Darby?"

Something about the way he looks at my mate has my protective instincts roaring to life, and I don't even register her breathy question over the roaring in my ears.

No one touches what is mine.

My muscles bunch, ready to pounce. Just as I launch myself through the air, Anita darts forward and throws herself between us. I'm so focused on eliminating the threat, I don't even see her move until it's too late to stop my forward momentum.

I wrap myself around Anita to take the brunt of the fall, and the three of us crash to the floor. The other man grunts under our combined weight, shifting to cushion both of us as we smack into the stone floor hard.

Terrified I might have hurt my mate, I rear back, frantically searching every inch of her. I keep my hands to myself, refusing to touch her, afraid that I'll damage her further. Though bruised and battered, she gazes up at me without fear. Her brown eyes glow amber, tiny specks of red shimmering in their depths, and I swallow past the lump in my throat.

I have to remind myself that I'm a beastling and she is a mage.

Most of her kind would kill me for laying a single finger on them, considering even a simple touch defiling them.

Not her.

If anything, she leans into me in a silent demand for more attention.

I curl my fingers into fists to keep from complying, struggling not to paint every inch of her skin with my bloody fingerprints to show everyone that she's mine.

I throw myself away from her to refrain from giving into the impulse, ducking my head for fear of her reaction to the blood decorating my body. It would break the last of my sanity if she flinched away from me, and I feel lightheaded and ashamed of how close I came to hurting her.

I've been underground for too long, my beast nearly feral, and I worry that I'll accidently harm her instead of protecting her like my instincts demand.

I'm not worthy of having a mate.

Not yet.

But the thought of leaving is unthinkable, my beast refusing to let her out of our sight.

I must prove myself first.

I'll just have to protect her from afar and pray that she'll eventually be able to tame my beast.

ANITA

My heart tries to pound out of my chest, my ribs the only thing preventing it. When Stryker retreats, I reach out for him, not wanting to let him go. Loneliness clings to him like a shadow, drowning him in darkness, and I worry he might vanish completely.

I didn't rescue him only to lose him now.

I know what it's like to have loneliness eat you up inside. It can drive you insane and make you reckless.

It can make you do things that will get you killed.

The thought of anything happening to him has my gut churning with dread.

No, I won't allow that to happen, not to him.

I'll just have to show him that he's not alone any longer.

He'll eventually learn I won't let any harm come to him again. I don't try to rationalize my actions. Protecting him feels right—an instinct I can't ignore.

With that resolve firmly in place, I twist and look down at Darby beneath me. His normally pristine appearance is gone. His shirt is torn and stained, his hair is tangled in a wild mess, and dirt smudges his cheek. His eyes are a vivid blue as electricity crackles around him, the current tickling my skin, but I don't feel threatened.

It feels like it's searching me for injuries.

When it finds me relatively unharmed, the static in the room gradually dies down, and I'm surprised to find that I miss it. I reach out, placing my hand over his chest, and wonder fills me. "You came for me?"

He blinks in surprise, a deep furrow appearing between his brows, and he settles his hands on my hips, his grip almost too tight. "Of course I came for you." His fingers splay wide, slipping under my shirt to brush against the skin, and his expression softens. "I'll always come for you."

Though I know better, my heart softens at his claim.

I almost believe him.

I'm actually shocked that I want to believe him.

Pulling away at the uncomfortable sensation, I hastily get to my feet. My gaze is drawn to Stryker's hunched over form, and I frown, worried he might be seriously hurt. He watches me from the corner of his eye, frantically scrubbing the blood staining his fur, and doesn't turn toward me until it's gone.

Totally missing that his face is speckled with blood as well.

I should be repulsed, but I only feel vindicated and proud.

He killed those people to help me. He didn't even hesitate to come to my rescue.

That means he's mine now, right?

I smile at the thought, liking the idea more than I should. Stryker's head snaps up when he notices I'm looking at him, and his blue eyes lock on my lips like a predator, yet I don't feel afraid. In fact, my body warms under his attention, leaving me hungry for more.

He licks his muzzle, distractedly swiping away a few more specks of blood, his expression almost innocent. Though his gaze is intense, he keeps his mouth closed so he doesn't flash his fangs.

I find myself totally charmed.

Before I can take a step toward him, Darby presses against my back, resting a possessive hand on my hip and keeping me in place. Even though it's not aimed at me, I can practically feel the computer nerd's glare.

"We need to get going before more guards come." The insect girl steps forward with a limp, breaking the standoff and distracting me from my swirling emotions.

A snarl leaves Stryker, and he takes a protective step forward, ready to intervene.

The girl pauses and looks a little uncertain for the first time, her wings fluttering behind her in agitation. "Why did you save me? I left you behind. You could have been free, yet you stopped. You came back for me."

A lost, confused look enters her black eyes. When she blinks, her lids click shut and snap open like a shutter. Never once does she look away as she mutters, "I wouldn't have stopped for you."

I know what it feels like when you're backed in a corner and left with no choices.

Charlotte gave me no choice last time, forcing me to leave her behind, and I've regretted it ever since. I made a vow never to do it again.

I nod at the girl and shrug. "I know."

"Then why?" Her forehead furrows, her hair sticking up every which way, as if seeking the truth. The girl is so baffled why anyone would risk their lives to save her that it makes me sad.

I allow the horrors I endure to show in my eyes, and I answer lightly. "We all do horrible things when we're desperate. You did what you thought was best for your survival. I understand."

"You do?" the girl asks, her voice skeptical. If anything, she seems more confused than ever.

No matter what I say, the girl won't understand my motives. It's too foreign a concept. So I ignore her question and glance around the cavern, the feeling of time ticking down growing louder and louder. "We need to leave. The longer we remain, the more likely they'll come check on us. I want to be gone before they discover we escaped."

At my words, Darby circles his arms around my waist. He tucks me against his side, steering me away, and I lean into him, suddenly tired. Even though we've only been apart for a couple of hours, I missed him.

I didn't think I'd ever see him again, and I have no regrets when I turned into one of those clingy, needy girls and hug him tight.

My past has hardened me, turned me into a bitch, but these men are making me feel again. They are softening my hard edges, throwing me off my game, and I'm not sure I like it.

Emotions lead to mistakes, and mistakes can get me killed.

Darby doesn't falter as we traverse the tunnels, his steps confident, despite the tunnel being nearly pitch-black, and I allow myself to be pulled along.

The sooner we leave, the better.

A hazy circle of light appears a few yards away, growing brighter and brighter as we near, and my pace automatically picks up speed. Darby stops under the light. When he would have boosted me to the surface, Stryker holds out his hand in a silent motion to stop.

Then, without hesitation, he crouches and leaps straight up in the air in an impressive display of strength.

Seconds pass, which feels like an eternity, before he appears again. "Clear."

He crouches low, leaning over the hole, then reaches for me. Sunlight plays over his face, and my breath catches at his beauty. He should look beastly, but his fur is so white that it's dazzling, and I have a hard time looking away.

Darby's grip tightens on my hips, as if he's reluctant to let me go. As I peer up at him, I watch a muscle jump along his jaw, and I can't resist the urge to soothe him. Pushing up on my toes, I lean up as far as I can, then kiss the dip between his collarbones.

He stills, his whole frame going rigid, and I suddenly feel foolish.

Before I can retreat, he blows out a harsh breath and lifts me clear off my feet as if I weigh nothing. I don't have time to overthink my actions when Stryker easily catches me and hauls me out, dragging me against every inch of him along the way.

My breath catches in my throat.

So soft!

I knew it!

It's all I can do not to sink my fingers into his fur and snuggle close. After a charged moment, Stryker reluctantly sets me down and releases me.

Before I have a chance to speak, thin, pale arms reach through the hole. Flustered by my body's reaction to Stryker, I quickly turn and reach down to offer assistance. The girl looks up at me, her expression startled, and she hesitates a moment before grabbing my hand. As I pull her out, she comes easily, and I'm startled to find that she's as light as a feather.

She blinks up at me owlishly, and her appearance gradually morphs as she shifts into her human form. Her eyes shrink slightly, and a small ring of bright jade glimmers around her pupils. Her wings shrink, disappearing under her shirt, and I suspect they are now light tattoos etched into her skin.

The dark green tinge to her skin fades, leaving an almost attractive green blush. Her pixie white hair is streaked a teal green that no dye can duplicate. Even with the change, her head remains slightly too big, and her eyes dominate her face. The upturned tip of her nose gives her a cute appearance.

She's slim, almost delicate, giving her an overall anime look.

She's absolutely adorable.

An iridescent butterfly flutters into view, then lands on her shoulder, completing the deceptively guileless appearance.

If I didn't know better, I would mistake her for an innocent.

It's the perfect camouflage.

She clears her throat, peering up at me from under long, dark green tinted lashes, then she licks her lips. "My name is Gwen."

It's an olive branch, an offer of peace and friendship, and I dip my head in acknowledgment. "Anita."

When she smiles, her teeth are a little too sharp—a reminder of the predator lurking beneath. Knowing she's not as weak or helpless as she appears, part of me relaxes, and I nod. "What do you say we get out of here?"

Her smile widens, the tense set of her shoulders relaxes infinitesimally, and she winks. "Hell yeah! I'm more than ready to leave this horror show. Please tell me we're going to go fuck some shit up!"

My smile is slow to form, and I nod. "We need to go rescue the others and dole out a little payback."

I'm done running.

It's gotten me nothing but pain.

It's time to fight back, starting with my family, and I smile in anticipation. If they thought I was going to meekly allow them to hand me over to their demon master, then they are crazier than I thought. "Let's go hunting."