Keeper(76)

We stopped behind a large pickup truck, all of us out of breath. “It no use. I can hear them behind us. They’re too fast,” Ty said. He peered out from behind the truck and swore. “We’re out of time.” He grasped Maggie by the shoulder. “Think you can get Lainey to the car?”

I could see from the hard lines on his face what he was planning. The protection of my hands, my blade, and my life . . . is yours.

“No,” I said, gripping his shoulder. “No knights on a white horse, remember? We do this together.”

“It will give you a better chance of getting away.”

“Yeah, and it will give you a better chance of getting hurt . . . or worse.”

“Well, we have to do something,” Maggie said. “No offense, Styles, but you’re kinda heavy.”

“I can help you.” I ignored her and turned to Ty. “I’m not gonna let you face them alone.”

“Um . . . Styles?” Maggie piped up. “I’m not saying to send Pretty Face to his doom or anything, but, um . . . you can barely stand up.”

I opened my mouth to protest, to declare that I was okay, but the argument died in my throat. “I’m fine, really,” I tried, but I was fooling no one.

“Remember, being my Calling means I stand beside you,” Ty said, his eyes shining with gold. “But in cases where you can barely stand—”

“I’m fine,” I broke in, stronger this time.

“But in this case,” Ty continued, unconvinced, “it means I give you a head start.”

He stared at me with such intensity I knew there was no other choice. “Okay.”

Ty looked to Maggie. “You got her?”

Maggie nodded and readjusted her arm, supporting my full weight now.

“You’ll only get one shot,” Ty said. “Get ready.”

My erratic pulse was booming in my ears, but the vertigo was dissipating. I tried to steady myself as much as possible. Beside me, Maggie tightened her grip.

We waited, pressed against the cool metal of the pickup. Peering over Ty’s shoulder, I nearly choked when I saw the man in the black hat from earlier. Two other men I didn’t recognize, one with long, stringy hair and the other with short, cropped hair, flanked him on either side. They were trying to act casual, but the leader was muttering under his breath, pointing directly at the truck we were crouched behind. They were getting closer.

Lainey! Josephine’s warning was louder than ever. Lainey!

With a mighty roar that mirrored Josephine’s cry, Ty launched into action. Darting around the shed, he flung himself at the closest Scavenger, slamming into him and knocking him to the ground. The man grunted, but Ty jammed his fist into the man’s throat, breaking off the sound. He slammed his other fist into the man’s jaw. A spray of blood splintered the air.

I bit back a scream as one of the other men dove forward, grabbing Ty by the arm and wrenching him free of his fallen comrade. They fell to ground, rolling together. The man was growling and snapping at Ty like a feral dog, his hand tearing at Ty with what looked like long, sharp claws. I lunged forward, but Maggie’s arm pulled me back.

“Lainey, we have to go!”

“No, we have to help him!”

“You’re not strong enough! You need to—”

Maggie’s voice cut off. Her eyes were wide, her skin ashen. I tore my eyes away from Ty and saw what Maggie was seeing: the Scavenger that hadn’t yet joined the fight—the one in the black hat—was slinking toward us, his face twisted in a savage grin.

I lifted my hands, but the effort left me panting. “Run!” I shouted, willing my legs to move. My body was still weak, though, and we fled through the rows of parked cars, tripping and stumbling the whole way.

Behind us, someone laughed, and I said, “He’s toying with us, Maggie. We’re not going to make it.”

Maggie didn’t answer, but she yanked on my wrist, trying to pull me along even faster. We didn’t even have time to scream when a solid mass came out of nowhere, colliding with us in a tangle of limbs and snarls.

I was wrenched from Maggie’s hold and slammed into the ground face-first. I sputtered and coughed as the heavy weight on top of me forced the air out of my lungs.

Maggie screamed my name, but I couldn’t move or speak. My right arm was pinned underneath my chest, but my left arm was down at my side.

The dagger! The dagger Gareth had given me was tucked into the waistband of my jeans; the hilt was stabbing me in the hip. If I can just reach the dagger! I squirmed and twisted, reaching for the metal that was just out of reach.

My fingers were inches from the hilt when the Scavenger yanked me to the side and onto my back, what felt like claws digging into my shoulders. I screamed as the man’s face came forward revealing a pair of round yellow eyes. He laughed, his breath hot on my cheek.

“Now, now, love. Don’t be like that,” he sneered, tracing the lines of my jaw with a grimy finger. “My God, you smell delicious.” Inhaling deeply, he shoved his nose into my hair. I squealed and tried to pull away, my fingers still clawing for the weapon at my waist.

Over the man’s shoulder, Maggie’s face popped into view. Before I could scream at her to stop, Maggie let out a yell and launched herself on top of the man’s back, pulling hair and kicking anything in reach.