Chapter 19

PORTER

Asharp whistle pierces the air. Our attackers immediately stop, then turn tail and flee. They don't pause, don't throw another fist, they just run, scattering in every direction and disappearing into the trees within seconds.

Soren releases a menacing howl, but instead of giving chase, he morphs back into his human form and stalks toward us, his naked body covered liberally in blood. Cassius drops the limp beastling in his grip, the corpse hitting the ground with a meaty thump.

Bodies litter the area.

Since beastlings have an amazing ability to heal, not all of them are dead, but their recovery will take a long time.

I should feel victorious, but I'm worried.

They only retreated because they got what they wanted—Anita.

I turn toward Soren as he pulls a pair of sweats he took from the overturned truck and yanks them over his ass. "Are you able to track Anita or Darby?"

Soren tips his head back, lifting his nose into the air, then he scowls and stomps back and forth over the area. His movements become more aggressive the longer he searches, then he snarls in frustration. "Their scent is too diluted. The beastlings sprayed the area and eradicated any trace of them."

My shadows writhe around me in agitation, and I hurry in the direction I last saw them go. "They headed this way."

"They've been gone for over an hour. They could be anywhere." Cassius hisses in annoyance, the ominous rasp of his basilisk hovering in his voice, and he stays right on my heels. His body is rigid, his beast coiled and ready to spring into action. As the trail diverges more, it becomes harder and harder to see any path at all.

I scatter my shadows along the ground, but they don't go far.

I'm too weak and have expended too much energy.

The fight took more out of me than what was wise, and it's a struggle to hold my human form. The only thing keeping me together, literally, is knowing that if I change forms, I'll be useless until nightfall.

While I normally enjoy being a boogeyman, all beastlings have some sort of limitations, and I'm not blind to my own. Darkness is my domain, which leaves me vulnerable during daylight, and I curse my weakness now.

"It was a coordinated attack," Soren rumbles, his footsteps burning into the ground with every step. "They kept us distracted until they could get away."

I grunt in agreement, watching the guys mop up blood and haphazardly doctor the worst of their injuries. "We weren't the target, just collateral damage."

"But how could they have known we would be here?" An aggressive rattle rumbles in Cassius' chest, and he distractedly stitches together a nasty wound in his shoulder with impatient movements. "Even if MID told her family, it would have taken time to coordinate an attack."

"They didn't know we were coming, not here specifically." I want to curse myself for being so stupid and not figuring it out sooner. "The first two attempts to retrieve her failed. Her family can't afford any more mistakes. They must have put a bounty on her head. If they can't hand her over to the demon, the contract will be null and void."

A growl rumbles from Soren, steam rising from his skin as his temperature rises. "It's worse than that. When a contract isn't fulfilled, penalties are incurred. If the demon doesn't get what he wants, my guess is her family members' lives are forfeit."

"Which makes them even more dangerous," I mutter, my speed picking up. The thought of them getting their hands on Anita chills my blood. "Her family is so power hungry, they are willing to make a deal with a demon. If they think they might be held accountable for their actions, then they are going to become even more ruthless."

"I have Darby's scent." Soren doesn't wait for a response before charging into the trees. Cassius and I don't even hesitate to follow.

It's only when I spot Darby and Anita heading in our direction that my tightly held control finally shatters. My shadows burst out of me, and I close the distance between us in seconds. I take shape before Anita, gently tipping her chin up, and my scowl deepens as I note every scrape and bruise.

Because I fucked up.

I was cocky, thinking that I could keep her safe on my own, and it could have cost Anita her life.

I'm done trying to keep my distance, it's futile anyway. I thought I was protecting her from myself, protecting her from the literal boogeyman, but I'm beginning to understand she might need a monster born from nightmares if she wants to get out of this alive.

I won't allow anything to happen to her, even if I have to claim her for myself.

ANITA

The light around me dims, like a shadow passing overhead, then the darkness thickens until a shape forms seemingly from nothing.

Porter.

I'm so glad he's alive, I nearly throw myself into his arms. It's only Stryker's growl and grip on the back of my shirt that stops me. I suspect if I move wrong, the cat will attack. He's already weak from starvation and being held prisoner, not to mention injured from a dozen wounds.

I'm not sure how much more he can take.

Careful to keep my body between the men, I study Porter. He looks a little worse for wear, barely maintaining his human form, his shadows a little ragged where they cling to his skin. He must be running low on energy as well, and that's never a good combination for a beastling.

Soren steps in front of me, basically body checking Porter aside in his rush. He doesn't hesitate to wrap me up in his arms, and I sink into his warmth, loving the scent of sulfur and flowers. His beast chuffs, and I swear I hear his hellhound fussing at me in my head.

"We need to get going," Cassius interrupts, stepping into view, and my breath catches when it looks like tiny scales are etched into his skin. His glasses are gone, revealing bright, reptilian green eyes flecked with so much yellow, they almost seem to glow.

I almost expect him to duck his head and look away, but he holds my gaze almost defiantly. I wait for words of recrimination or admonishment, but they never come.

My chest tightens, my heart pounds, and my first thought is his basilisk got ahold of me, but that would be wrong.

My reaction is all for the man and has nothing to do with fear.

His look can only mean one thing—he's done pushing me away. He's willing to take a chance on me, and I'm determined not to disappoint him.

Glancing at everyone, the chill from the tunnels finally fades, and a warm glow fills my chest at being surrounded by friends. "Anyone have any idea how we get back to civilization? The sooner we leave, the better."

I'm very conscious of the tunnels below us, that we might very well be standing over the people who would grab me again if they knew I escaped. Even the smallest noise could alert them to our presence, and they could raise the alarm at any second.

No one speaks right away, and Gwen clears her throat, lifting her hand awkwardly. "I might know somewhere. It's not civilization, but it's a place where we can stay and regroup."

When the guys glance at her dubiously, I smile. "Gwen and Stryker are with us. They helped me escape. I'm not leaving them behind to be captured again. No one deserves what fate had in store for them."

Though clearly unhappy, Porter doesn't protest, maybe learning to pick his battles. He bows to Gwen, who is practically half his size, then nods his head. "Your hospitality would be greatly appreciated."

Much to my surprise, we don't leave the borderlands, instead we head farther into the wilderness. They would never think to look for us there, because who in their right mind would head deeper into the borderlands?

I worry about the trail we're leaving, but the battle has trampled the area pretty well, and it goes a long way to cover our tracks. Before we left, Soren and Cassius tromped off in different directions, laying dozens of false trails before they returned sweaty and out of sorts.

The farther we travel, the wilder the woodlands become without human interference. Trees are bigger and stronger, soaring into the air. The bases of the trunks are twice the size of an SUV. Insects seem larger, and I swear the mosquitoes are the size of birds. The vegetation is overgrown, and the ferns could easily be mistaken for regular trees.

It's like falling back in time to a prehistoric era.

It is beautiful in a brutal sort of way that would kill you if you stepped wrong.

After what feels like hours, we come upon an abandoned area where vegetation has overtaken everything, like the forest decided to take back what belongs to it. The sun is setting, and there is no way in hell that I want to be caught out in the forest after dark, especially when a few of the smaller predators followed us, looking for an opportunity to attack.

Thankfully, the guys are a big enough deterrent that they kept their distance.

After nightfall, all bets will be off, and I don't doubt the larger predators will come out and play.

Gwen doesn't hesitate to wiggle through the tangle of vines and foliage, then she glances back at us when we don't follow. "Well, come on, the place is this way."

Then she is gone.

Porter hesitates, looks back at me for a long moment, then ducks into the vegetation as well. One by one, we follow…and end up in wonderland.

After slipping between a crack of a massive tree, I'm shocked to find the insides hollow. Gwen has somehow managed to convert the interior into a surprisingly modern and well-stocked home.

The whole place is made of wood, the tones a rich honey color. A staircase sweeps around the outside of the room and spirals up to the next level. Bright green vines and leaves decorate the walls, giving it a homey appearance.

The wooden counters are so smooth and slick that they appear shiny. Wooden shelves punch out of the walls and look so natural that I can't see any whittling marks. Inhaling deeply is like drinking down spring, and it's relaxing.

We're in the kitchen area, but there are three doors heading off in opposite directions, and I'm actually excited to explore more. It's nicer and larger than my small apartment. If something like this was in town, it would be worth millions. "How?"

Gwen smiles at my awe, her chin lifting proudly. "Magic, of course. The woods are full of magic if you know where to look and how to ask for its assistance."

I touch the wall, then gasp when I feel a hum of magic vibrating in the wood. "It's alive."

"Well, duh." Gwen rolls her eyes, then her shoulders twitch and her wings unfurl from her back. They flutter free until she's hovering a few inches off the ground, a smirk playing on her face. "I'll let you and your men get comfortable."

Without waiting for a response, she shoots straight into the air before disappearing. A blush heats my cheeks at her comment, but warmth fills my chest at the thought of claiming the guys for my own.

I've been so focused on survival the last few years that I've never been tempted to take a relationship beyond a quick fuck.

I've never dated.

Never slept over.

Never held hands or received flowers.

I never wanted any of that until the guys.

They make me want more.

They make me want the impossible.

If I were a better woman, I would give them up, but the very thought feels like someone carved my chest out with a poisoned hydra claw. I just couldn't do it, which means I need to be smart and figure out a way to keep them safe. I turn toward Darby and nibble on my bottom lip. "Do you have access to your servers, even all the way out here?"

"Yes, but the connection is weak," Darby answers, strolling closer with a curious expression, not stopping until he reaches my side. "What do you need?"

The rest of the guys gather around us until it feels like I'm in the center of a huddle. Soren hovers so close that his warmth is like a furnace at my back, and I barely resist leaning into him. "My guess is my family must have put a bounty on my head, one that these beastlings were determined to collect. You should be able to go online and confirm it."

Porter narrows his eyes, not blinking as he gazes down at me. "We already suspected that. Why do you need it confirmed?"

Darby's eyes take on a particular glow, which means he's already working in the information highway, searching for my bounty. I know the instant he locates it, because the corners of his eyes tighten and his mouth hardens. "I got it. Give me a second to bring the request down."

"No, wait." I hold up my hand before he can put his words into action, and everyone turns to look at me like I'm crazy. "If we take it down, then they'll know we're on to them."

A furrow appears between Porter's eyes, and he crosses his arms. "You have a plan."

"Yes." It isn't a question, but I answer him anyway. I don't look away from his burnt orange eyes, not wanting to see the others' reactions, knowing they won't like what I'm going to suggest.

Porter is different.

He's the leader of the group—what he says goes.

If I can convince him, then the rest will fall into line.

I blow out a harsh breath, then pull my shoulders back and straighten my spine. "Use me as bait."

"No," Darby replies immediately, a muscle jumping in his jaw, and his blue eyes darken with rage. "The bounty requests you be taken by any means necessary. As long as you remain alive, they don't care what condition you're delivered."

I purse my lips, then shrug. "I'm not surprised. My family isn't known for delivering flowers to the elderly or kissing babies. If we wait, they are only going to get more desperate and dangerous. If we don't make our move now, it might be too late."

I ignore the guys when they immediately begin arguing, and I plow forward with my plan. "We're one step behind my family, and time is growing short. If you take the ad down, Jackal will know we're on to them. They'll switch tactics. They are getting desperate, and they are going to take drastic measures to get what they want."

"You want to turn yourself over to them," Porter says, his expression unchanging, not giving anything away.

"The only way to get to my family is by getting behind their defenses. If we want to find Charlotte and the demon contract, then we need to set our own trap. No contract, no deal, right?" My skin prickles like pins and needles are being threaded through my flesh, and I'm not sure I'm even breathing as I wait for his reaction.

"You can't really be listening to this bullshit!" Soren snarls, pulling away from me as if he can't stand being near me.

His retreat hurts, and my skin cools like something vital has been severed.

It feels too much like rejection, and I swallow hard, crossing my arms to keep warm. Unfortunately, the chill slowly sinks into my bones, where not even my fires can keep the cold at bay.

Porter ignores everything else and asks a question of his own. "Can a demon contract be destroyed?" He's not looking at me, his attention focused on Soren over my shoulder.

Following his gaze, I see Soren pacing the confines of the kitchen. Smoke rises from his clothing, tatters of his shirt falling behind him, turning into poofs of ash when they hit the ground. He drags his hands through his dark red hair in frustration. "No, demon contracts can't be destroyed."

"Never?" I can't stop myself from asking, my spirits plummeting. Though he doesn't answer, I don't miss the slight hesitation in his step. My attention sharpens, and my hands drop to my hips. "What aren't you saying?"

He rolls his shoulders like his human body is too small…or like he's trying to contain his beast. His voice is a rumbly growl when he speaks, his reluctance obvious in the way he refuses to even glance at me. The rebuff stings, but I harden my heart against the pain. "While they can't be destroyed, they can be renegotiated if there is enough incentive, or null and voided if a loophole is found."

It's more than I could hope for, and a spark lights up in my chest.

For the first time since I escaped my family, I finally see a way out from under their thumb, a way to be free, and I'm not willing to give up this chance. I suspect I won't get another one if I don't act now, and resolve fills me.

I lift my chin and face down the rest of the guys, unwilling to back down. "I'm doing this with or without you."

"She's right—they are crossing lines and drawing attention to themselves, which means they are desperate." Before another argument can break out, Porter raises his hands. "They blew up a building to get to her and almost succeeded. The attack today was more personal. They don't care what they have to do to get to her. They are becoming more and more violent."

"We can protect her," Cassius hisses, his fangs flashing as if daring anyone to deny it. His green eyes are almost pure yellow, the pupils just slits as his basilisk pushes to the surface.

I should be terrified, but I don't flinch away, knowing his beast would never harm me.

"We couldn't today," Porter mutters, the reminder silencing the room. "She was taken today, and we were lucky she was able to escape, or we might not have ever gotten her back. What happens next time? If we do nothing, next time, she could vanish forever. Are you willing to take that risk?"

No one speaks for a full minute, each lost in their own thoughts, and I feel their eyes on me like a physical touch. Though Stryker hangs back from the rest, his attention is no less intense. My concerned gaze drops to the matted blood on his fur. I don't like seeing him hurt, and my fingers twitch with the need to make sure he's all right.

"You're injured." I take an involuntary step forward before I can stop myself, worry clutching my chest, then I hold out my hand to him. "While the others discuss our options, why don't you let me check your wounds?"