louder, closer. But I couldn’t turn to see what was making the terrifying sound. My latest captor finally released me, turning to face the new threat.
The sound of snapping twigs and branches mingled with yet another growl as two towering, dark shapes moved through the shadowed trees.
At the same time the grizzly bears came into the light, Dot and Charlie stepped forward between them, their hands clasped. One of the bears reared up on its hind legs, making us all crane our necks, as the other let out another deafening growl, showing its lethal teeth and jaws.
More fearful shuffling and a few terrified shouts came from behind me, but for the first time, I wasn’t scared. These were Dot’s animals; there was no way they would hurt me. I looked into my short friend’s fierce eyes and gave her a tiny, shaky nod of thanks. She smiled, dropping her death glare, but it was Charlie who spoke.
“Anyone who does not wish to get mauled by a bear tonight should kindly back the fuck away.” His voice was calm and even, his free hand in the pocket of his black pants.
Tyler’s voice, on the other hand, was full of barely restrained anger. “Why is there a gun pointed at my Vital?”
I turned to see him standing only feet away, his full focus on the agent whose weapon was still trained on me. His jaw was clenched, his hands in tight fists.
I had an intense urge to run to him, feel his comforting arms around me, bury my face in his neck and ignore this whole fucked-up situation. But I stayed back, knowing he needed to take charge and not wanting to distract him.
“I . . . I’m just . . . she was . . .” The agent’s wide eyes flicked from me to him uncertainly.
“Agent, lower your weapon. That is a direct order,” Tyler barked.
Immediately, she dropped the gun and stood at attention, her lips in a tight line. As Tyler turned his murderous gaze away from her, her eyes narrowed.
There was division in the ranks; Melior Group was falling apart. That sent a shiver down my spine more than anything else—more than the grizzly bears, the people crying for my blood, the guns pointed at my face. When institutions and organizations of that scale and influence began to show cracks, we were all fucked. We were about three weeks away from the Hunger Games. I just wasn’t sure if it would be the humans or the Variants killing the other for entertainment.
“I want these four detained.” He pointed to my attackers. “Bradford Hills Institute will not tolerate this kind of behavior. We take the safety of all our students extremely seriously.”
Operatives pushed through the crowd to obey him. He wasn’t armed or in a badass black uniform, but Tyler was the most formidable, commanding presence there. I ached to touch him yet again—that authoritative power made me feel safe.
My treacherous bodyguard had remained quiet after failing to immediately convince his colleagues to detain me. He’d shifted farther back into the crowd, but there was no hiding from Tyler. His men brought the man forward as he struggled to get out of their grip.
Tyler looked at him as if he were a sticky piece of shit on the bottom of his shoe. “I’m going to ruin you.” His voice was low, menacing, and full of intent. “The rest of you, head back to your residence halls and expect a visit from a Melior Group agent in the next twenty-four hours. Those of you not living on campus, head to the cafeteria for temporary accommodation. The campus is officially on lockdown. No one is to go in or out.”
Some people started to move away, warily eyeing Dot’s bears, but others grumbled about not being allowed to leave.
“Move!” Tyler bellowed, his patience wearing thin, and the rest of them flinched and scattered.
Once the only people in sight were us and another four agents, Tyler turned to Dot and Charlie. “You can send them home, Dot.” He gestured to the bears. “Thank you. Both of you.”
“Anything for Eve.” Charlie wrapped me up in a hug as Dot shooed the bears away. One of them nuzzled her tiny frame with its giant muzzle as a goodbye.
She shoved her brother out of the way to squeeze her arms around me. “Would you stop trying to get yourself kidnapped?”
We both chuckled, but a cold, heavy weight settled at the bottom of my ribs. It could have