“Oh god,” she breathed, catching the glint of blades in the dark. More Neith.
Noah! She had to get Noah out of there. But…
Wait. Noah knew. Noah knew! He’s got a dagger!
There was no more time to think as the men attacked.
Like before, Eden’s senses and reflexes took over, jumping back from the swishing arc of a sword targeting her stomach, her fist flying and hitting a face with a crunch. Strong arms encircled her, the bite of a dagger nicking her neck before she dug her fingers into the guy’s privates, twisting out of his hold as he howled in pain. Her leg snapped out like a bolt of lightning connecting with the guy’s face. And all the time she was aware of Noah, fighting as she did. With ease. With grace. With utter finesse. As if he had been born to it.
Noah is Neith.
Noah. Is. Neith.
Betrayal hit her with the impact of a truck going at 100mph. The hunger, the monster within, roared with vengeance at the hurt that ripped through her. She turned from him as he fought off the last two Neith standing. Her eyes found the first man she’d felled. He was barely conscious, his mouth hanging open in pain. The hunger raked its claws down her insides and Eden dropped to the ground, the sounds of blade hissing against blade, of groan followed by flesh being pounded, was drowned out as the hunger laughed in victory.
Just take him.
No.
Yes. He tried to kill you. Just take him.
I won’t.
But you’ll feel better. All the pain will go away.
Eden reached out, her fingers brushing the Neith’s lips like a lover reaching for a kiss.
Take him!
With one last groan, Eden tugged at the man’s hair, jerking his head back. She leaned in, the rush of need and excitement making her tremble. It was all going to go away…
“Eden, no!”
She was wrenched back on to the cold of the alley ground, Noah standing over her with horror inscribed in his features.
Her upper arms tingled from where he had grabbed hold of her and thrown her… thrown her like a rag doll with his preternatural strength. Eden shook her head, her chest crying inside. She’d been such a fool. All those time she’d wondered at how strong he was, how fast, how cool. He was a warrior. A warrior sent to kill her.
“You piece of shit,” Eden hissed, fighting back tears as she froze him with a look of pure hatred.
Noah flinched, panic flaring briefly in his eyes before he stood up straight. His expression smoothed out. “It’s not what you think.”
“You’re Neith. You’re one of them,” she spat out, jerking her head in the direction of the unconscious bodies.
Noah shook his head, reaching a hand out to her carefully. “I’m not Neith. I’m Ankh. Now get up.”
She skittered back from him, her heart thudding. “Ankh? What the hell is Ankh?”
A bitter smirk curved his lip. “I’m not surprised he hasn’t told you about us. Of course he wouldn’t. Then you’d know.”
Eden scowled, sure he was trying to mess with her somehow. Confuse her. Trap her. “Know what?”
“Look, I’ll explain, but right now we gotta go before more of these a**holes turn up.”
Eden watched his hand reach for her, letting her body relax as she calculated her next move. With an affected sigh, she clasped her hand in his and let him pull her up.
Her free hand flew at his face. A blur of movement. He jerked back, faster than she could ever have expected, but she’d took him off guard and she felt her knuckles graze his cheekbone. It was enough. Eden grasped a hold of his arm for balance and shot her leg out, her foot connecting with his solar plexus with enough power to send him colliding in among garbage cans.
She didn’t stick around.