Rising Darkness (Game of Shadows #1)(34)

The man continued to study her. “What’s your name?”

“That’s none of your business either.” She hugged her knees, her muscles in knots.

His lack of expression was chilling. “Listen to me carefully,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of time to debate this at length. You can’t afford to take weeks or months to decide whether or not you’re going to like or trust me. I can either help you or I can kill you. There is no middle choice. I will not let you go.”

His words echoed in her head.

I can kill you.

He actually said those words to her.

She sucked air. “So what am I now, some kind of hostage?” she hissed.

“I didn’t say that, did I?”

She shook her head hard. “You want me to tell you things but you don’t tell me anything, is that it?”

“I didn’t say that either. All I said was that what I want is irrelevant, and it is.” He paused then added in an abrupt clipped tone, “You are mixed up in something far greater and older than you can understand at present. Right now you’re a danger to yourself and to others. You’re a danger to me. And you are dying, unless we can get you help from someone that I know.”

Even her daemon had said she was dying, yet she had no visible wound. She panted as if she had been running hard, but she couldn’t get enough air in her lungs. Her composure broke. She flung both arms over her head, and rocked back and forth. “I don’t understand!”

The man named Michael rubbed his face, his mouth held in a tense line. He said, “You don’t understand. I have answers. You’re in danger. I’m a fighter, a good one. You’re dying. I know someone who can heal you. This is not rocket science. Are you going to cooperate or not?”

She stopped rocking, lowered her arms and looked at him with eyes hollow from trauma and weariness. “Or you’ll kill me.”

His light, colorless gaze seared her. “No. Or I tie you up and take you with me. I’ll only kill you if you’re not salvageable, and we’re a long way from determining that. And I’ll kill us both before allowing us to be taken by the other creatures who are hunting you. Death is preferable to being at their mercy. But we have a greater chance of surviving if you cooperate.”

“Well isn’t that a goddamn comfort.” Her voice sounded like the rest of her, stretched too thin.

He stood. “Are you going to come willingly or not?”

“You’re not giving me much of a choice, are you?”

“No.”

She looked at the Toyota. First she lost her sanity, then her home, and now her car. Soon she would end up with nothing. “What are we going to do, just abandon my car?”

“Yes. With any luck, ditching it will slow the hunters down. It could buy us some time.” He didn’t sound like he had much hope for that to happen. He walked over and held out his hand.

She ignored it and forced her aching body upright. His hand fell to his side. He had a good foot on her in height. She came just to his shoulder and had to tilt her head back to look him in the face. She said cautiously, “I was supposed to go north to a grandmother.”

“I know where you’re supposed to go,” he said. “That’s where we’re headed.”

He knew? The lure of that pulled her more than anything else.

She was going to cooperate with a man who stood ready to kill her because—he said—the alternative was worse. Shuddering as the wind swept through the tangle of strange forest, she felt more lost than ever before. She longed to see a safe and friendly face, someone who genuinely wished her well. Someone who was not an enigma.

She told him, “I want my purse.”

“I’ll get it.”

She glanced at his gun. “I also have a first aid kit in the trunk. I want that too.”

“I have a first aid kit.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Are you a doctor?”

His tough, expressionless stoicism shattered. He looked stricken, as if she had knifed him without warning. She watched, uncomprehending, as his throat muscles worked. He whispered, “No I’m not.”

“Then I’m guessing mine’s better.”

A muscle in his jaw bunched. He gave her a short nod. He walked away to retrieve her purse and the canvas bag that held her first aid supplies.

Then he strode toward her. Even though his large body was heavy with thick muscles, he was so light on his feet he was a symphony of graceful movement.

Something about the fluidity of his body reminded her of the abundant golden river from earlier. His hands had rested flat on her torso as the shining stream had poured into her.

“Wait,” she said, instinct driving her words. “When I woke up you were trying to help me in some way. Weren’t you?”

He held the purse out to her, his gaze steady on hers. “I did help you. I bought you some time. But I can’t heal you. That’s beyond my abilities.”

Their eyes met. She experienced a moment of light-headedness at the intensity of the connection.

She almost said, I do know you. Don’t I?

But her gaze dropped to the gun in his holster, and she didn’t. Instead, silently, she took her purse.

He turned to the alpha wolf. You have fulfilled your promise with honor. Go in peace, brother.