in. Papers were strewn over the floor, covered in blood and other grim stuff.
I had no idea what the thieves were looking for, and I didn’t want to know. Som’s dealings were not legal—in any world. His glamour worked on humans to hide his drugs and magic, but not on shifters, SBI agents, or on other fae. Maybe that beautiful fae that had found us had actually found Som first.
“Blue…” I whispered, my heart racing. The floor was slick with congealed blood, and my boot sole slipped as I pivoted. There was no time to even blink as the shadows came to life. Red eyes burned through the darkness. My wolf snarled, and so did I. Recognition hit me. This thing had darted and drugged Rawson. Rawson had been a powerful alpha bear, yet it took him down in a heartbeat.
Run… urged my wolf. I roared through my surging memories, pushing down my fear.
Red eyes moved. His body was huge, almost too big to be human or even alpha shifter, but still he was quick.
Shit!
I couldn’t see him clearly, so there was no way I could fight him and win. I knew that for sure because this bastard had caught me before, right after he’d caught Rawson. Reflexively, my forefingers squeezed on the triggers of the guns I swung in his direction. Bullets fired in quick succession. The force vibrated up my arm, but I held them steady; it wasn’t the first time I’d fired my weapons.
I didn’t wait to see what happened. I ran. I could shift into another form, but Blue couldn’t—she was totally human. Even if she was one of the best and most cunning fighters I knew, she’d need my help.
I sprinted back down the corridor using my wolf’s speed. It wasn’t fast enough! Footsteps pounded behind me, getting closer. I burst out of the door and rammed straight through the banister rails into mid air. I twisted as I fell and fired up at red eyes. His body jerked as the silver bullets slammed into his flesh, and he toppled after me.
Dammit! There was no time to turn or shift to save myself. All I could do was force my body to relax and hope I bounced on the pile of rubbish that was always under the steps. I blinked once, then hit the mound of boxes. Pain slammed through me, but my bones didn’t break.
Red eyes fell towards me, bellowing.
“Shit!” I rolled sideways, an arm outstretched. And fired.
There was a heavy thud, and the bellow cut off.
I pulled my wolf back, arched my spine, flipped to my feet then launched into a sprint towards Blue. My friend had her arms outstretched and her guns held steady, pointing towards the portal.
“Blue!” I yelled. “We gotta go!”
She didn’t even turn her head.
My wolf growled, the sound echoing inside my skull.
“Blue! What the hell? Run! Now!”
Nothing. Not even a twitch. My blood ran cold. I reached her and skidded to a halt. Her face was like one of those freaky china dolls, utterly blank—almost translucent in the moonlight.
I froze and stared. “Blue?” My voice was barely more than a whisper. I had no idea what was going on, but it was bad—very, very bad.
Nothing.
She was totally and utterly frozen. My heart hammered against my ribs and my wolf howled. Run! Run! But I couldn't leave my friend. Her deep brown eyes suddenly flicked my way. She blinked rapidly and her pupils dilated. Desperate noises came from her throat.
“I can’t!” I glanced back at red eyes who unfolded his body like a predator. Not shifter then; if he was, my bullets would have killed him. He straightened with powerful grace and precision and stalked towards me. Keeping my eyes on him, I curled my fingers into Blue’s jacket and shook. But even shaking her hard had no effect. She blinked and blinked until a tear fell from her right eye, blazing a path over the soft pale skin of her cheek.
“Blue! Snap out of it! Whatever magic this is, fight it! I know you can!” I shook her again. Blue blinked even more rapidly. She was right, I had to go.
Gods damn it! It was happening again! I was going to have to run—alone. Only this time there was no Som for me to run to.
“Move!” I yelled at Blue, shaking her viciously.
“It’s really no good,” said a smooth voice; one I’d had nightmares about for years.