The Dark Calling (The Arcana Chronicles #5)(86)

His tableau wavered over him, right-side up. But I barely trusted my own sight. I remained frozen until the entire shelf of land seemed to move. Another Rift?

As I reeled to balance myself, Jack decided for me, pulling on my hand to escape the plank. Back on the deck, he asked, “You got a vehicle, Reaper?”

He shook his head.

“We need to get to Kentarch’s truck down in the lot, but more Jubileans will be waiting for us.”

“Tell me where it is, and I will lead the way.”

“Get to the ground, then head left.” Jack squeezed my hand, telling me, “I’ve got you, peek?n. If you doan trust him, trust me.”

I met his gaze and finally nodded. We hurried back through the yacht, passing body after body. To reach us, Aric had taken down a score of men.

Jack snatched a rifle from the clenched hand of one corpse. Bullets from another’s vest.

When Aric stormed outside, shots erupted, hitting his armor. PING PING PING.

Jack tucked me close against his body, shadowing Aric as the Reaper covered us.

Down on the ground once more, we ran, water splashing up around our ankles. The sand had always drained quickly; there’d never been standing water before. It seemed to be seeping up through the sand.

The shelf rumbled, sloshing the overflow. I asked, “What’s happening?”

Aric answered, “The Priestess is losing control.” Of her catastrophal powers?

More men attacked, stupidly testing out their bayonets against Aric’s swords. Death left behind a wake of bodies for Jack and me to blunder through.

Over his shoulder, Aric asked, “Where are the Centurion and the Tower?”

“They left today,” Jack said. “Could be for good. Long story . . .”

By the time we reached the Beast, water was up to our knees. Jack released my hand, then located the hide-a-key under a spotlight.

Aric headed toward the other side. “I’ll drive.”

Jack opened the passenger door, tossing his rifle in. “In you go, Evie!” He helped me up. “Take this key.”

I’d just snagged it when more gunshots rained down; like a blur, Aric had covered the distance to us. Stretching out one of his swords, he deflected a bullet about to plug Jack’s skull. “Get in, Deveaux!”

Jack dove inside the cab, slamming the door behind him. “Jesus, that was close.”

I warily unlocked the door for Death, then handed him the key.

He jammed it into the ignition. When the engine didn’t start, his gaze dropped to the row of tiny rocker switches. He yanked off his gauntlet and reached for the switches—just as Jack did.

I slapped away Jack’s arm with all my strength. “No!”

“Don’t ever come that close to my skin, mortal!”

Jack held his hands up. “Easier if I just enter the ignition sequence.”

“Do it.” As Aric pulled on his gauntlet, Jack pushed the buttons in the correct order.

“I already unlocked the axles. We’re good-to-go.”

Once the engine rumbled to life, Aric shoved the Beast into gear. “We’ve got to get to higher ground.” Waves rolled out from the wheels. If this truck hadn’t been so high, we’d already be stuck.

Jack said, “Go for the main gates. They’ll be reinforced against entry—not against exit. I doubt anyone’s manning them.”

Aric deftly steered the truck through the outskirts of the settlement, approaching the gates.

I held my breath as he gunned the engine. His straight arm shot out to protect me, just as Jack’s did from the other side.

Oh God, oh God . . .

We rammed the metal barrier head-on. BOOM! One gate flew off its hinges. We plowed over the other one.

Free of Jubilee! I exhaled a breath, though we weren’t safe by any means. Rising water already covered the sand road. We needed to put miles between us and that trench.

I turned to check Jack for injuries. He had bruises on his face and gashes on his arms. The worst one bisected the old scar on his right forearm.

“You need a bandage.” I ripped the hem of my sweater, then tied the strip of material over his wound.

“Ma belle infirmière. You okay?”

My gaze slid to Aric. “As well as can be expected.”

He removed his helmet, swiping his hair off his forehead. His expression remained intent, but I knew him well enough to see how rattled he was. If free of Paul’s influence, did he again believe in my pregnancy?

When I turned back to Jack, he said, “Your eye’s turning black.” He grazed the knot on my forehead. “They popped you good, non?”

I was freaked out and on my last stores of energy. My emotions were as up and down as a teetering plank. “I’m sick of assholes attacking me.” Through gritted teeth, I added, “Present company not excepted.” Blinding headlights beamed our sideview mirrors as trucks raced out after us and buggies launched off the dunes. “Are you kidding me? Are they running away from the trench or chasing us?”

When a bullet nailed the tailgate, Jack said, “I think it’s a little of both.”

Aric whipped the wheel as the Beast’s engine roared, sending up a spray of water. “What happened back there? Why are these men so bent on stopping you? And why sentence a female to the plank?”