Nightworld Academy: Term One(Nightworld Academy #1)(68)

The men speak in low tones, all crouched around Ash’s body. Ash moves, yelling as he regains consciousness and a guy pistol whips him. Another leans in and his harsh voice reaches me, but I can’t make out the words. Ash kicks out and knocks the third to the ground.

He scrambles to his feet as Ash kneels in an attempt to do the same. The guy with the gun reaches behind and his hand closes over the handle.

As he lifts the gun to aim at Ash, I’m left with one option.

I leap from the tree and land on the guys back wrapping an arm around his thick neck. He yells out and the gun in his hand fires, the bullet hitting the tree trunk I jumped from. I dig my nails into the hand holding the gun as the noise rings in my ears.

"Let the gun go or I’ll break your fucking fingers and rip your throat out," I hiss into his ear and tighten my legs around his broad chest.

He flails from side to side as I squeeze his neck. My urge to sink my teeth in grows as his panic pumps blood faster through the vein pulsing beneath my forearm. The gun falls to the ground.

The other guys hesitate before one launches himself at us. I deftly jump from the guy I’m attacking and onto him, sending the new assailant sprawling backwards. Wow. I’ve fought with other vamps and shifters before, but few humans, and this is like throwing soft toys around.

Awesome.

He scrambles to his feet, and I bare my teeth at him, loving the terrified expression on his face as he backs away.

"Vamp!" he yells at his friends.

I leap forward and grab his shoulders, and my fingers dig into the bone until he yelps in pain. He’s paralysed by the threat I’ll bite him as he stares at my grinning face. I won't use the sharp teeth he sees.

Or I don't think I will.

"Andrei," shouts out Ash.

A shape flies through the air and a body crashes against a tree close by. The guy with the gun slumps to the ground, groaning. Ash stands behind me, fists clenched, and the broken cable ties hang from his arms and ankles.

He charges into the third man who’s backing away from the scene. "Do you think you’re decent hunters?" he growls as he seizes him around the throat. "You can’t subdue a shifter with bloody cable ties. Do your research."

He tosses this guy against a tree too.

There’s a flash of metal as the first guy he threw lifts the gun with a trembling hand. He holds his second over the top to steady his aim and points the gun straight at Ash who sneers.

"That’ll hurt me but won't kill me quick enough to save your life."

"What’s happening?" comes a girl’s voice from behind, and footsteps run towards us. I spin around and barely register this is Maeve with Jamie and Tobias before the guy turns the gun in their direction instead.

He shoots at the group.

The sound of gunfire ricochets between the building and the tree, and my grip on self-control slips.





Chapter Forty





MAEVE



I don't see a gun in the man’s hand until he fires. I’ve never heard a gun before, and the volume shocks me as I stare back, rigid with shock.

"Down!" yells Tobias and pushes me to the ground.

Tessa screams and freezes. We have seconds to move. Somebody shoves her to one side, and she lands on the ground with another scream. Amelia crouches beside her and a guttural yell comes from the man who shot at us. I can’t make out what’s happening in the darkness, but I recognised Ash and Andrei before I fell down.

I don’t want to witness anymore and cower with my arms over my head. Chaos surrounds me. Yelling. Terror. Screams for help. Footsteps as someone from our group runs over.

"Omigod, omigod, omigod," pants out Tessa beside me. "What’s happening?"

The sounds stop and I’m trembling all over. My wig half covers my face where it’s shifted, and the grass is muddy beneath my hands and knees. I don’t have a clear view of what’s happening close to the trees, but Tobias’s, Andrei’s and Ash’s figures surround two men on the ground.

Did I see a third before I hit the ground? Where did he go?

Tessa staggers to her feet and points with a shaking finger. "How do they do that? Ash threw him. Like threw him."

She stumbles towards them, and I watch in disbelief that she walks towards something dangerous. "Maeve," urges Amelia, distracting me. "Look at Jamie."

My heart leaps into my mouth at her agonised words as she staggers to her feet. Jamie lies face down on the ground between us.

"Jamie?" I kneel touching his back in panic. Am I right? Is tonight the future I predicted for him?

Have I stopped his death?

As if to answer my question, Jamie rolls over onto his back with a groan. I look on with my heart stuck in my mouth as he hauls himself upright. His jacket has fallen open and I have a clear view of any damage.

No blood.

My legs buckle with relief as he stands, and Jamie catches me in alarm. "Maeve?"

Embarrassed, I step away. "Are you hurt?"

He pats his body. "No. I don’t think the bullet hit me or anybody. Amelia?"

She mutely shakes her head.

I seize Jamie around the chest and squeeze him to me, pushing my face into his hard chest. His heart hammers against my cheek, and he winds his arms around my back, holding me as tightly.