by J. L. Weil
“You could say that,” I mumbled, slipping my legs into the black pants that were very similar to leggings. God, what I wouldn’t give for a shopping spree at Macy’s. “I can’t believe I feel halfway human again,” I commented when I was fully dressed in my borrowed clothes.
Dash lifted a single brow. “Do you know what would make you feel completely human?”
I shoved my old clothes in my bag. “If you say having sex with you as friends, I’ll kick you in the balls.”
Dash chuckled. “That’s … kind of hot.”
“And you’re demented.”
He raised a single brow. “You ready to go?”
As much as I wanted to stay tucked away in this little slice of paradise, we couldn’t. There were more holding pods to ransack, and we both had a reason to leave utopia behind. “No, but what choice do we have?”
“That’s the spirit.”
On the road again. It could have been our theme song. The winding path out of the cave was longer than I remembered. As we got closer to the exit, the wind picked up, whistling through the tunnel. We turned the corner, and I was feeling pretty good about going back out there. I had Dash by my side and a confidence that if anyone could find my family, it was him.
But the glow of faith didn’t last more than a few minutes.
It never did in the Heights.
As we rounded the corner, we bumped into a pair of unexpected visitors, and all those good vibrations went to shit.
Two Night’s Guards stood lounging at the opening, their blue uniforms stretched across their arms. At our untimely approach, they both straightened up; twin grins of cockiness flashed over their lips. “Well, what do we have here?”
Chapter 18
“The tracker and his whore.” One of the Institute douchebags sneered.
Dash and I sort of stood staring at each other like two doofuses caught in headlights, and then we sprang into action. He took a step back, positioning himself in front of me. “The way I see this going, you have two options. You either apologize to the lady, or … I kick your ass. Actually, now that I’ve had a second to think about it, I’ll probably kick your ass regardless. So why don’t you apologize, and we can move straight into the ass kicking?”
“Glad to see your ego hasn’t deflated while you’ve been living like a savage,” the blond-haired guard said, clearly thinking he was clever.
I begged to differ. Lame-o.
“There are only two of them,” I whispered, standing on my toes so I was close to Dash’s ear.
His body was taut. “These are trained soldiers, Freckles,” he muttered, keeping his eyes focused on dingleberry one and two.
“That’s right, toots. We’re bona fide killing machines. Ain’t that right, Dash-y boy?”
“My fist is begging to be in your face,” he growled, eyes flashing with dark promise.
The blond grinned in anticipation. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“Our orders are to bring you both in alive,” the taller guard informed us, eyes darting between Dash and me. There were strands of red running through his auburn hair, but it was the strange color of his veins that caught my attention. They were black and stood out against his pale skin. “But I’m sure the boss won’t mind if we have a little fun first.”
Dash’s cheeks were highlighted in the silvery moonlight. “Just like old times.”
“Except you’re no longer the commander’s pet,” Blondie said, flexing his fingers. The motion caused bone-like nails to extend, coming to a sharp serrated point, similar to Wolverine.
Dash gave him a half-grin, revealing one deep dimple. “Maybe not, but I bet you still can’t hit a moving target.”
Blondie didn’t like that. His aqua eyes flashed with hatred and jealousy. There was no love there for Dash, not even a teensy bit, and regardless about their orders to bring us in alive, Blondie wanted to get in a few shots of his own to satisfy his urge to hurt Dash. I could see it in the malice behind his eyes, and Dash did too.
Shit hit the fan.
Spidey-vein made a grab at me. Instinct fired within, and I darted out of the way, avoiding his attempt to get handsy with me. Blondie took a swipe at Dash with his claws. Dash ducked and rolled his shoulder into the guard’s side, knocking him back a few feet, but Blondie was quick on his feet, avoiding a tumble over the cliff.
A damn shame, too.
Anger settled over Dash like a blanket, and I saw a different side of him—fierce and ominous. He cracked his neck. “Let’s hope I’m not getting rusty.”
If that was a joke, I didn’t find it funny.
The next thing I knew, Dash’s arm struck out, smashing into the other guard’s jaw. “There’s more where that came from.”
Spidey stumbled back, spitting a mouthful of blood as he lifted his head. “That was pathetic. The girl makes you weak.”
“I don’t need powers to wipe the ground with your blood, and realistically, I think Freckles here could take you both.”
What the hell was he doing?
Offering me to fight Beavis and Butthead singlehandedly—he was going to get me killed. I poked Dash in the side, drawing a sideways glower. “Just what are you doing?”
“Buying us time,” he replied, shoving me behind him and away from the edge.
“Oh. Good plan.” My voice was fringed with sarcasm.
Dash returned his attention to the guards watching us intently. “I’m surprised the commissioners kept you guys around, let alone send you two after me. Not the most effective choice. I didn’t think he underestimated me that much. Or … maybe he sent you both on a suicide mission, hoping I’d do him a favor and put an arrow in your hearts.”
Blondie was back up on his feet and came barreling at Dash like a cracked-out linebacker, roaring with rage, hands slashing through the air. Dash leapt back, dodging swipe after swipe, narrowly missing being diced and lanced like a kebab. The guard did, however, manage to slice the front of Dash’s shirt. Blondie ceased his kung fu and charged. A nanosecond before impact, Dash sidestepped to his left and stuck out his arm, clotheslining the poor sod. He went down like a sack of rocks, wheezing and gasping for air.
Ouch. That had to have hurt.
Dash stepped on the tips of his claws, leaning over the groaning guard. “I hope that felt as good as it did for me.” Unfortunately, it was going to take more than a hit to the throat to take out Blondie. His leg swiped through the air, catching Dash in the back of the legs. He went down to his knees, stringing together a truckload of f-bombs.
Dash’s head snapped up, his gaze finding mine, silver eyes glowing like orbs. I could feel the power radiating off him. “Run,” he growled low in his throat.
There was no way I could leave him alone. Not with Blondie pointing his boney blades at Dash’s heart.
Spidey laughed, a gloating sound, reminding me the fun wasn’t over. I turned my head away from Dash to locate the second guard. Unfortunately, he was too close for comfort. The devil was in my face. “Shit,” I swore. Spinning around, my shirt flapped in the wind as I tried to run.
“Charlotte!” Dash screamed.
Spidey’s hand went into my hair, grabbing a fistful at the scalp and twisting me around so my back was to his chest. “Don’t worry, doll. I’ll be gentle,” he murmured in my ear. “I mean, it can’t be worse than letting Darhk touch you.” He chuckled, his rancid breath on my neck. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, his hand moved roughly around my hip and up my side, skimming just under my breast.
Revulsion rose up like bile in the back of my throat. “Listen, you piss-ant,” I hissed. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Take your hands off me.” I yanked back.
Big. Fat. Mistake.
Jarring pain shot through my head, and I squeezed my eyes against the sudden sting of tears. Concern blossomed. I struggled against him, but it did very little other than hurt me more.
“Fight all you want, sugar. I like it rough.” His tone made my skin crawl.
>
I wanted to punch him and might have tried, if I just hadn’t had my ass handed to me.
Dash glared at Spidey with murder in his eyes. “If you touch her again, I’ll kill you.” A muscle jerked in his jaw as he ground his teeth in disgust.
My captor pulled out a gun, and I was pretty sure it was a Taser, not the real deal. It still wouldn’t feel good if he touched me with it. “You’re in no position to make threats,” he told Dash, gloating. “Or do I need to have Saber remind you?”
Saber was all too happy to comply. “I thought you’d never ask.” He raised his hand, all five claws extended, with a devious grin on his slimy lips.
“No!” I bellowed.
Twisting and turning as if my hair was on fire, I tried to loosen his grasp, struggling to break free. All I managed to do was knot my hair and look the jerk in the face. Over his shoulder, my wild eyes found Dash. Rage seeped from his pores at seeing me struggle with the other guard.
I cried out when the douche tugged my head back, severing my brief glance at Dash. My hands flew to my head, and I thought I was going to scratch his eyes out. It also occurred to me that this might be it.
I might not survive this attack.
Saber swiped down his claws, grinning the entire time as he lacerated the flesh on Dash’s chest. Dash reacted fast, moving an inch out of the way, minimizing the depth of the claws, but he didn’t make a sound as the tips cut away at his flesh. Eyes closed, every muscle in his body clenched.
Seeing him at the mercy of Saber cracked my heart into a million pieces. “Dash,” I sobbed as tears filled my eyes, going lax in the other guard’s arms.
Everything felt surreal on my end.
Dash and I might end up in the Institute’s clutches after all.
Or worse.
He must have had the same thought, because the next thing I knew, his eyes met mine and something transpired between us. I didn’t know what it was. It was as if he could transport his thoughts into mine, and he was telling me to fight—to not forget the power I had, the power just at my fingertips.
Pulling from the light inside me, I held out my hands, ignoring the crackling of heat dancing along my skin. A spear of lightning launched from my fingers. This time I hadn’t aimed for the ground as I had with the others. I went for his heart. Not having Dash’s precision, the charged light hit Saber in the center of his stomach.
Impact knocked him back, and the shock of electricity vibrated throughout his body, causing him to shake uncontrollably. In my blind rage, I had wanted to kill him, stop his heart, and I might have, if my aim had been true.
“What the—” Spidey jumped, releasing me quickly as if he’d been zapped, and he probably had.
My skin vibrated with an electric current, making my hair fly out around my face. Dash shot to my side, grabbing Spidey as Saber twitched on the ground. “I told you I was going to kill you,” Dash roared with a fueled rage that even frightened me. He had drawn the knife from his boot.
The guard’s eyes went wide at the sound of Dash’s threat, and his blade pressed against the guard’s throat. A drop of blood trickled down the guard’s neck, disappearing into the blue material of his issued uniform.
Yay for team Dash!
Without thinking, I twisted out of the guard’s grasp and slammed my knee into his groin, instinct guiding me. I didn’t know why I saved his life. Dash struggled with trying to be a different person than the Institute had trained him to be, and I didn’t want there to be more blood on his hands because of me. My knee might be throbbing, but it had been worth it.
Air expelled from the guard’s lungs in a rush. “That. Was. A. Stupid. Move,” he wheezed.
A giddy satisfaction danced inside me, and I smirked. “It was my pleasure.”
Dash whacked the guy on the back of the head, and it was lights out. “Charlotte,” he groaned. “How many times can you stop a guy’s heart in a day?”
I shot him a glare. “Do you really want to find out?” I had just been threatened and groped; I electrocuted someone and had seen Dash bleed. I was not in a good mood. The reminder of him getting shredded by Saber sent an instant concern streaming within me. “Are you okay?” I asked. Not waiting for him to respond, I tore open his shirt to look at the wounds. Five marks sliced across his chest broadside, close to the old scar. This hadn’t been the first time he’d been lashed open.
My heart ached for him. There didn’t seem to be any fresh blood flowing, but I ran my fingers along his chest. I wanted to touch him and fulfill the need to make sure he was okay. Somehow having my hands on him reassured me he was going to be fine.
He winced at my touch. “It’s just a scratch,” he said, grabbing my hands.
I tipped my head up. “You don’t have to play the tough guy.”
“I’ve had way worse, Freckles. I’ll live.” He threaded his fingers with mine. “Now, come on. You can play nurse later, once you’re safe.”
It was no longer when we’re safe, but when I was safe. My eyes softened. When had his concern shifted entirely to keeping me out of the Institute? When had he suddenly made the decision he would put my life before his?
I didn’t know what to say, but I really wanted to kiss him at that moment.
“Move your butt, hot cheeks”—a hand smacked me on the butt—“before these two decide to wake up.” Obviously he wasn’t in jeopardy of bleeding to death.
I jumped, giving him an exasperated look.
Dash let out a low chuckle at my expression and gathered up his discarded pack.
I didn’t need to be told a second time. My legs were moving, climbing over the guards before either of them could regain consciousness.
“Thanks for what you did back there,” he said. “Restraint has always been my biggest problem.”
Did I hear him right? Dash was actually thanking me? “I thought I was your biggest problem,” I added sweetly.
He groaned. “You might be right.”
We worked our way down the mountain, careful not to lose our footing on the gravel and tumble down. There was an air of urgency that followed us. The guards wouldn’t be unconscious for long, and who knew if they’d been alone? There could be an ambush waiting for us.
Someday, I was going to learn to keep my ominous thoughts to myself. They seemed to have some kind of voodoo power of coming true.
Rounding the edge of the cliff, Dash grabbed me and pressed me into the wall, sealing his body to mine.
Holy smokes.
It was unexpected, and the immediate contact from the length of him sent a thrill of tingles, but through the haze of feelings, voices traveled from below us—more guards. I glanced up at Dash for confirmation. He laid a finger to my lips, listening. I held my breath and pretended to be stone; all the while, my heart was pounding in my ears as he smashed me against the rock wall, and I wasn’t certain who was more dangerous to me—Dash or the guards. Both had the power to drag me under.
Chapter 19
His muscles flexed under my hands, and the thud of his heart beat against my chest. The goal was to blend in with the night and keep quiet, and hopefully the guards would move on. We were cheek-to-cheek against a dip in the mountainside, shadows surrounding us. Rock dug into my back, but with Dash so close, I could barely think about anything past the feel of him, let alone that I had a slight fear of heights.
Dash rubbed his stubble against my skin, breathing in my freshly bathed scent and whispered, “Don’t move.”
As if I could.
He had rendered me immobile, the length of his body rocking my composure. There was something stupidly hot about being in danger and having his lips drifting over my skin. Below us, a trio of guards and their lighted torches moved slowly, searching the region, for us no doubt.
“They couldn’t have gone far,” said a voice I recognized as Blondie or Saber. What a stupid name.
“Yeah well, if you two hadn’t flubbed up, we wouldn’t be out here playing hide and seek. Pathetic.” The voice w
as female—which surprised me—and full of superiority and disapproval of her two comrades.
“I thought you liked games,” Saber scoffed.
“If we don’t bring them in, the commander is going to send you two to the dungeons,” the female voice snarled. There was something youthful in her tone, but a hardness that implied she was older than her voice suggested. “I heard the ratice down there are bigger than your head, Trist.”
Whatever a ratice was, I shuddered to think about sharing a cell with one. Every creature in the Heights was hopped up on steroids. Trist must have been the name of Saber’s partner in crime, the one who had gotten a little too friendly with his roaming hands.
“Sorry, not all of us eat off a silver spoon, Captain Kiss Ass.”
A glow lit the ground below us, and Dash’s body went still; the even in and out of his breathing halted.
“If you have a problem with me, let’s get this over with. Me and you.” She was a tough chick, and I wasn’t looking forward to ever meeting her face to face.
“Keep your panties on, Ember,” one of the dipshits griped.
“Whatever. Just find them, and I’ll take care of the rest,” Ember said with a condescending bark.
The bickering continued below us, but I stopped hearing what they were saying. Dash nuzzled my neck, causing my body to relax into his. “You make me lose my head, forget the danger that lurks in the shadows below us. I don’t like it.”
I shivered. “I don’t do it on purpose.”
Our noses brushed. “Maybe not, but it doesn’t change the fact that having you this close is hazardous.” His silver eyes gleamed under the stars. “How the hell can you smell so good?”
I instantly felt the change and arched into him, sighing.
The sound was like dynamite over the valley. He pulled back, pressing a finger to my lips, silencing me. Moonlight splashed over his face, and my breath caught at the passion I read in his eyes. It was impossible to glance away, my face transparent. I wanted him to kiss me.
In one fluid motion, his mouth was on mine, drowning out my moan and one of his own. I couldn’t believe I was kissing Dash on the edge of the mountain. Talk about being on top of the world. There was nothing sweet or gentle about his kiss. It was born from suppressed longing and the adrenaline of being caught.