Wild Hunt - Kali Argent Page 0,66

the open driver’s door, Luca called, “We’re counting on you. Try not to get yourself killed.”

“Good pep talk,” Roux muttered as she climbed into the backseat. “Super inspiring.”

Mackenna smiled as she took off at a jog through the trees. She liked Roux, and despite being a little rough around the edges, she actually liked Luca as well. Maybe he didn’t play nice with everyone and sugarcoat unpleasant truths, but he did treat them fairly. They might never be friends, but she always knew exactly where she stood with him, and that was good enough for her.

As the sound of the SUV engine faded into the background, she pushed aside all other thoughts and picked up her pace. Their goodbyes had taken too long. Her face still throbbed like the ten shades of hell, but the gash on her side had already begun to heal. Hopefully, the incredible amount of blood staining her T-shirt would be enough to sell the injury.

The cold bit at her exposed skin, making her nose run and her fingers sting. Her bare feet protested every hurried step, burning with the pain of a thousand tiny pinpricks. It felt as if she had been running forever, and with each passing minute, her urgency intensified, pushing her on even when she felt like she couldn’t take another step.

Cresting the next hill, she nearly choked with relief when lights from the town finally came into view. Technically, it had been a ski resort before the Purge, but with restaurants, lodging, retail outlets, and even a medical center, it reminded her of nothing more than a quaint little village.

She stumbled out of the forest and onto the paved road that led to the entrance of the resort. It was exactly where she wanted to be, but without the cover of the trees, she felt exposed, vulnerable, and twice, she looked over her shoulder as she ran. It wasn’t an act, but to anyone watching, it would look exactly as if someone was chasing her.

No gate greeted her. No guards. Nothing to stop her from running straight into the village. Colorful neon gleamed from storefronts, and fairy lights had been strung between the lamp posts that lined the streets. Upbeat music played from hidden speakers, and the aroma of rich, warm chocolate filled the night.

A group of people gathered on the patio of a restaurant, laughing as they huddled together around a firepit. It was like something out of a magazine. Cute. Peaceful. Unlike anything Mackenna had ever seen before. She felt kind of bad about what she had to do, but not enough to stop her from doing it.

Slowing to a walk, she staggered toward the patio. “Help,” she called, her voice tight and croaky from the cold and exertion. “Please! Help me!”

Everyone in the group jerked around to stare at her, but their shock lasted only a heartbeat. Without hesitation, the four males rose from their seats and leapt over the railing to run to her. One even removed his jacket and wrapped it around her.

“I’m Tony. What’s your name?” He appeared to be the oldest of the group, maybe in his early forties, and his scent proclaimed him to be a shifter.

“Ma…” Shit. Not a good idea. “Mariah. They took me.” She gasped through each syllable, making sure her voice quavered in all the right places. “Please, you have to help me.”

“It’s okay.” The group flanked her protectively as they led her toward the patio. “You’re safe now.”

“Oh, my god,” a young shifter female gasped when she got a good look at Mackenna. “You poor thing. What happened?”

“They kidnapped me. I barely got away.”

The girl tilted her head and leaned forward so that her honey-colored hair framed her face. “Who took you, honey?”

Mackenna sniffled. “Hunters.”

A collective gasp went through the group, and one of the males growled as his eyes flashed a bright, luminous green.

“Please,” she continued to plead. “You have to help. There are others. They have a whole basement full of Gemini.”

“Felicity?” Tony called.

A vampire with dark hair and even darker eyes nodded, then disappeared through the back door of the restaurant without a word. More people had started to spill out into the street now, gathering in small groups and whispering amongst themselves. Mackenna kept her head down and did her best to look meek and afraid.

A minute later, the vampire returned with two guards dressed in black from head to toe. Neither one of them looked particularly alarmed to see a stranger covered in