Released (The Eternal Balance #3)(38)
Searing pain erupted as the monster’s teeth clamped onto my arm. It tore a scream of rage from my throat that only made Azi more determined to take it down. It balled my fist and delivered a series of thunderous blows to the creature’s rock-hard head. An enraged roar filled the air, and one of the others flew at me, knocking my body away from the semi-injured beast, almost protectively.
No. This wasn’t right. Carnivi weren’t herd animals. They didn’t hunt in packs. They were lone creatures, set to a task by their master. They’d been used in the great wars, but had to be used in small numbers because of their habit of ripping each other apart.
It let out a roar and charged. The impact took me down just as Azi righted us. Another flash of pain struck as teeth once again pierced my flesh. This time it was my left shoulder, and the wound was much deeper than the first. Azi dropped to my knees, and my breath seized for a moment as the carnivus let go. It growled and came in for another bite. But Azi was furious. Enraged. It grabbed hold of the thing’s neck and twisted, this time aided not only by its desire to see its quest through to the end, but by anger. This lesser beast had attacked it. Azirak, a royal of hell.
A muffled grunt, followed by a wholly satisfying snap, and the carnivus went limp in my arms.
“Jax,” Sam screamed. The third carnivus had her backed against a thick tree as she pushed Van behind her.
Azi rose, irritated by how Sam had addressed it, but infuriated by the carnivus. It crossed to it in three long steps and latched on to the beast, digging my fingers into handfuls of scaly flesh. With a jerk, it tore the monster from in front of Sam and spun it the opposite way—conveniently just as the last remaining one came bounding toward is. They crashed together, and an otherworldly yelp sounded from the beast.
The demon rushed into action and grabbed Sam’s wrist. “We must move!”
Azi took off, deeper into the woods, dragging Sam behind. She stumbled after, with Van following close at her heels. Another howl, much too close for comfort, bellowed through the darkness, and Azi picked up the pace. But Sam was unable to keep up. She cursed and tripped, hitting the ground with a jarring thud.
I stopped short and, under the demon’s command, hefted her onto her feet as Van collided with us. The demon was heading back to the entrance.
Back to the car.
If you leave without getting what Van wants, she won’t get you the stone. You’ll be screwing yourself—and Sam. Don’t even think about it.
It didn’t like what I was saying, but I felt its begrudging agreement. The demon knew I was right. Azi gave a snarl of frustration and changed direction. “We need that locket. Where is it?”
“Yes,” another voice said. It was followed by a haggard wheeze and a cackle. “Do tell us, witch. Where’s this…locket?”
A moment later, four figures came into view. They were all unnaturally tall with an almost skeletal silhouette and a slight limp. They moved in perfect sync with each other, shuffling in time until they stepped into a thin beam of moonlight coming through the trees.
Azi straightened and moved my body to stand between the newcomers and Sam. “Tracker,” it said.
“Aziraaak.” The word came in a low rumble. The decaying things snickered, speaking and moving as one. “I heaaard aaabout your recent…misfortune. Tell me, whaaat it is like to let such power slip through your fingers?”
The demon was confused. “Misfortune? What do you—”
“Me,” Sam said. She stepped up beside me, arms folded and expression fierce. She was scared. I couldn’t see the gray smoke I knew must be bleeding into the air around her, but I could taste it. But fear had never stopped Samantha Merrick. “Which kinda makes me wonder if you’re suicidal.”
The Trackers laughed again, a cracked, grating sound, and pinned Sam with an amused tilt of its blue lips. “Insinuaaating thaaat I should feaar you? Aaan insolent child who knows nothing aaabout the energy coursing through her fraaail humaaan body?”
Anger replaced the taste of fear on my tongue. Sam squared her shoulders and took a single step forward. The Tracker had nailed her sore spot. She hadn’t said anything, but I knew she’d been trying to find a way to tap into the energy inside her. “Well, if you’re sure, then by all means—give it a try.”
“There is no need for more violence,” the Trackers said in unison. They smiled, a mouthful of decaying teeth peeking out from behind each pair of thin, chapped lips. “Haaand over the witch aaand I will let you leaaave in one piece. You caaan enjoy aaa few hours of freedom before Maaaster Zenaaak comes for you.”
Azi settled beside her, and my mouth tipped with a grin. “You think it will be that easy? To take what is mine?” It was talking about Sam.
She’s mine, *.
The Trackers laughed again. “You seem unaaable to use the humaaan.” They leaned in and winked. The way they moved, in perfect sync, was f*cking creepy. “I promise you thaaat Zenaaak will have no such problem. In faaact, I raaather think the Maaaster will enjoy the process of getting the humaaan’s cooperaaation.”
Without another word, the four Trackers charged as one. Azi pushed Sam sideways. I was vaguely aware that she crashed to the ground, taking Van along with her.
Look out!
A withered fist connected with the underside of my jaw. The blow rocked my body back, and Azi stumbled, unable to avoid the preceding attack.