But she was a carnie, trained to read such tiny revelations. “If I’m hearing the newlings now, you must have detected them before.”
Another exhalation. “Canna say that I dinna.”
“Your roar must have brought them early.” Realization hit her. “There were no demons.” The newlings separated him from that portal to Louisiana.
“Canna say there were demons.”
The carnie had been had. “Typical, lying immortal!” He knew she planned to fight them, so what was his solution? Hide the fact that they would attack early!
“I did lie,” he admitted baldly. Because the wolf still believed he held all the cards. “To get you to safety, I will be ruthless. As soon as the pack passes, we’re heading out.”
The circus wasn’t ready for an incursion tonight, not without the grenades coming tomorrow. The hunters would need her leadership more than ever.
But what if she could get Munro to help them?
Despite her outrage that he’d tricked her and planned to leave her loved ones to the mercy of those newlings, she humbled herself to a monster and said, “Please don’t abandon my people to die. You’re their only hope, Munro. Fight for them. Please?” She was asking him now, giving him one last chance.
The ruse was up, their play over. Munro had been teetering on the edge of release, but Kereny’s fear blunted his lust.
For her to beseech him for help, she must know that her people would die tonight. But once he had her back home and explained that history couldn’t be changed, she would forgive him for his dishonesty.
Still, he made a vow of his own: after he got her to safety, he would never lie to her again. “I canna fight those newlings. If I’m embroiled with them, then you’ll be left unprotected. I will never risk you.”
“Then leave me here and go battle them.”
He shook his head. “I will no’ let you out of my sight.” Even if he had the time to fight, none of this would ever be. The past was indelible.
“You’re leaving my family to die.” Her stricken expression sliced at him. “You tricked me.”
“I regret that.” She was so young and mortal, hardly a worthy adversary. No’ even sporting—
Searing pain erupted in his side. He gaped down at the new wound she’d just delivered.
Knife in hand, she ducked away from him.
“Damn you, Kereny.” He’d been so lost in her that he hadn’t noticed she’d stolen her weapon back. He lunged for her. As the magic sapped his strength, he stumbled. “Damn you!”
She raised the crimson blade in front of her face. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? And always thirsty for the blood of a lying immortal.” She flipped the knife in the air, then let it roll in her hand with a fluid, hypnotic move before she gripped it once more. “You shouldn’t have taken this from me. You never will again.”
The hex was spreading through his system. “Stay by my side.” He lurched forward to grab her arm; she easily evaded him. “Let me protect you. You canna defeat this foe.”
“And yet I’m still going to answer the call. Nonetheless, onward. That’s our motto. Countless hunters have given their lives to this cause, and our most glorious battle arrives soon. I will be there to lead my people.”
Strong-willed woman! He would have applauded his mate’s strength—if she hadn’t been using it against him.
His legs were about to buckle. Dizziness surged. “You’ll die! Tonight.”
“So certain?” She shrugged. “Wolf, understand something: girls like me don’t make it to the end of the story.”
“Noo!” He fell to his knees for the second time—because of that cursed blade. “They took you tonight for a reason! It happens against them!” His words wouldn’t make any sense to her. Canna think!
Gazing at the falls, she said in a distracted tone, “This is my duty. Since you will be sure to try to stop me, I must stop you. Permanently.”
She was going to fucking behead him. Canna protect her if I’m dead! Panic fueled his dizziness. His beast was in the throes of confusion and aggression.
She told him, “Vow to the Lore that you’ll never come near me again. Or die.”
“You canna kill me. I’m yours.” His vision was failing. “As protective as I am of you . . . you feel the same for me.” He only hoped that. In truth, he suspected his mate was about to godsdamn end him. “Lass, let’s protect . . . each other.”
As darkness took him, she murmured, “Time to kill a wolf.”
THIRTEEN
Ren stepped away from the Lykae’s body, wiping blood off her blade with the tatters of her gown. She removed her thigh holster, tightened it around her arm, then stowed her knife within easy reach.
Disbelieving what she’d done, she hastened to the cascade without a look back. She dove into the pool and swam away from the cave. Back on land, she freed her blade once more. She heard no howls and spied no newlings; they must have already passed by.
Heart in her throat, she tore into the stormy woods toward the scout outpost. With luck, she could evade the invisible spring-trap portals that moved around the forest. Those trapped in one never returned—not even teleporting immortals.
A gust of wind rocked her on her feet. Lightning flared nearby, charging the atmosphere.
Though Munro had sounded so sure of her death, she sped on to meet her destiny. What was the alternative? Leaving everyone she loved to their doom?
Never. She would get back to the circus and protect them.
Especially Jacob.
All of her hunters had chosen to journey to the front line of the Night War, pledging their lives to the cause, but Jake had been brought here as a boy. Over the years, she had sensed that this wasn’t his calling, and feared he’d stayed because of her.
She would do anything to keep him safe.
As she ran, she spied more ghoul tracks. All of a sudden, she was thirteen, right back in that harrowing search party for her overdue parents. . . .
Shaking herself from the memory, she inhaled the smell of the stone pines. Even that scent didn’t settle her. She would forever associate it with the Lykae now.
Her thoughts spun from past tragedies to her actions this night. She’d lost herself with the enemy, had never felt so much addictive passion. What if we were fated—
Two viper shifters leapt from the bushes in front of her, fangs bared. Their venom paralyzed victims while the creatures fed—and this pair looked hungry.