“Psst! Witta!” Agri, the Nephilim in all black stalked through the forest. She turned over the dead body and pulled the hatchet from Witta’s back.
She spotted a wide tree and ran behind it for cover.
Each call that remained unanswered multiplied the concern within the Nephilim. Agri tried to stay in the shadows, hoping his black clothes would conceal him. He knew something was wrong. He felt it in the air around him. The faint scent of blood wafted through the forest. Witta should have replied. The others should have replied. There was too much silence in the forest.
Then he saw him. “Witta!” Agri cried, racing towards his dead friend. Witta’s body lay covered in dirt. His chains were a mess on his chest, and his cloudy eyes looked back at Agri. Agri’s heart beat faster as knelt over his dead friend. He realized that the rumors were true. She was powerful. She’d killed three of their little party of six. Agri didn’t want to be the fourth.
Agri pulled an arrow from his quiver and slowly stood, nocking the arrow. He scanned the forest, looking for a clue as to her whereabouts. Sunlight streamed through the branches of the trees and cast shadows on the ground. A large bird fluttered out of its nest. Was she there? Did she scare it away?
Agri fought to control his breathing. He calmed himself with slow, steady breaths. The beating of his heart calmed as he prepared himself for a fight. He refused to panic. He also refused to underestimate the female. She’d proven herself a warrior, and he planned on giving her a warrior’s death. “Ahmose! Rafe! We are not alone,” he yelled over his shoulder to his friends.
Kate focused on his breathing and his racing heart as she pressed herself against the tree. The gun she brought along poked into her back, but its presence gave her little comfort. These Nephilim had blocked out her mind control. They could certainly mess with the inner workings of a gun. She looked down at the hatchet in her gloved hand. She really didn’t want him to get that close, but she was willing to slice into him if she had to.
Alex’s scream floated to Kate and crashed against her heart. She heard scuffling and swearing at the Nephilim’s location. She’d obviously lost the element of surprise.
Ahmose gripped Alex by the shirt and pulled him to standing. “I’m going to give you her head,” he seethed in Alex’s face before roughly shoving him back to the ground.
Alex felt the anger rolling off of Ahmose. He hoped that Ahmose felt the hope coursing through him. “No,” Alex said. “She’ll bring me your heart.” Alex smirked. Then pain flooded his senses as Ahmose bashed the smirk off of his face. Blood filled Alex’s mouth, and he spit a wad of blood on the ground beside him before the bag covered his head again.
Agri stepped slowly and continued to scan the forest. A tightening in his gut spurred him on. He wanted this over. He felt exposed standing beside Witta’s body. He didn’t know where she was, so he listened for the beating of her heart. And then he heard it. The soft thumping purred in his ears. She was his for the taking.
He stepped lightly on the ground, avoiding nature’s crumbs that would “snap” and give him away.
Kate heard his approach. She inhaled deeply and let the air escape slowly over her lips. Her timing had to be right. As Agri moved around the tree that she hid behind, she circled it and came up behind him.
She’s fast, was Agri’s last thought. He never even saw her, but the sharp blade of the hatchet sunk into his brain. The bow and arrow fell to the ground, followed by his knees. Kate tore the hatchet free, and Agri fell face down into the dirt with a thud.
Kate stood still, listening for signs of Ahmose and Rafe. She heard their footsteps as they scuffled along the leaves and branches. She hid again; this time behind a boulder.
Rafe followed Ahmose’s orders. They fanned out as they looked for her. They listened for movement and studied the branches on bushes, looking for evidence of her location.
Ahmose saw Witta and Agri first. His stomach turned. He had no idea how he was going to explain this. He’d lost four soldiers in a routine snatch ‘n grab. At the very least, he was looking at a demotion. There was no way he could explain this pathetic showing by his squad. Ahmose knelt and examined Witta’s throat. “Damn chains,” he muttered. He’d always thought the chains were ridiculous, but he never expected them to be the cause of Witta’s death.
Rafe wasn’t sure what to say as he stared at his dead companions. Fear coiled like a snake in his gut. He wanted to flee, but that wasn’t an option. If they abandoned this mission, they’d have to disappear. They could never return home. They would live in fear, waiting for reprisal. “What now?” he managed to squeak out.
“We kill him,” Ahmose said. He stood and scanned the woods. If they at least got rid of the male, he hoped he could save some face. “He’s bait, and he’s an easy kill right now.” Ahmose marched back towards Alex. There was no explanation for this screw-up. How would he ever justify their failure when they’d had the advantage? The poison should have crippled her, even if she were powerful.
Rafe nodded and followed quickly in Ahmose’s footsteps. “That’s good. That’s a good plan,” he mumbled nervously with a nod. What would they do afterwards? Killing Alex wasn’t their mission. They were to return with him… and her. “What about the girl?” Rafe asked.
Ahmose stopped suddenly and turned. Rafe nearly walked into him. “The girl is a problem,” he said slowly as he stared down at Rafe.
Rafe nodded. “Problem,” he muttered. The look in Ahmose’s eyes frightened him. “Is that what we’ll tell Kahan?” Rafe asked, his shaky voice betraying his nerves. Rafe was thankful he wasn’t the leader. Ahmose would be lucky to get out of this disaster alive. Kahan wasn’t known for his mercy.
Kate flew to Alex’s side, but she continued to listen to the last two Nephilim as they talked. She ripped the bag from Alex’s head and took his face in her hands. “Alex,” she mouthed and then peppered his lips with a kiss.
Alex accepted her kisses like honey. Her smooth lips glided over his as relief flooded him. When she broke the kiss, he squinted as his eyes adjusted to the light. “You must be careful. They have some kind of poison.” She’d come this far, he couldn’t bear to see her fall to them now.
Kate slipped her knife between the ties on Alex’s hands and feet. He rotated his fists and wiggled his legs, working out the pain that had taken up root.
“I’m no good to you,” he said. “I’m powerless.” Was this how it felt to be human? It’d been so long that he’d forgotten the crushing weight of powerlessness and the frustration of being at another’s mercy.
She smirked at Alex. “That’s okay. I’ve got these.” She held her hands up and wiggled her fingers.
Alex gripped her hand, feeling the supple leather of the gloves. “Shhh, listen.”
Kate heard the footsteps as they approached. She nocked an arrow and took cover beside the boulder.
“Ahmose, look,” Rafe whispered. His heart beat faster when he saw Alex was no longer bound. She’d already gotten to him.
Ahmose felt all hope drain out of him when he saw Alex sitting there with his head uncovered and the ties cut. “Look for her,” he ordered.
“Yes, Sir,” Rafe said and disappeared into the woods. He thought about not going back, but he wasn’t sure what his chances would be if he disappeared. Ahmose would surely send others to get him. Desertion was never tolerated.
“You’re done,” Ahmose barked at Alex, nocking an arrow and letting it fly.
Alex watched the arrow tip spin as it cut through the air towards him, and then the arrow split in two as Kate’s arrow sliced through it.
Ahmose jerked his head and saw her. She glared at him as she pulled a poisoned arrow from the quiver.
Ahmose finally saw the big picture. He wouldn’t survive if he stood his ground and fought. His only chance at survival was running. He darted so quickly that his feet slipped on the carpet of leaves that lined the forest floor.
Kate wanted to go after him. She wanted both of them dead
, but Alex was still powerless. She wouldn’t leave him vulnerable to attack.
“Take off your shirt,” Kate said as she knelt beside Alex.
“I don’t think this is the time,” Alex said, trying to lighten the situation. His eyes roamed over her body as he looked for a wound. Thankfully he didn’t find any.
“Funny,” Kate said with a smirk. “Take it off.”
Alex noted the concern in her eyes even though she smiled. He winced as he pulled the shirt over his head.
Kate’s fingers glided over the planes of his chest and stopped at the arrow tip embedded in his flesh. “How did they do this? What kind of poison are they using?”
“I don’t know.” He covered her hand with his. “I’m glad you’re safe. Are you hurt?”
“No. Do you have a knife?” She gazed into his eyes. Relief washed over her. Knowing he was safe freed her from the guilt she carried. She couldn’t help but believe that he was in danger because of her presence. “We need to get that out.” She now regretted not getting a smaller knife. The hatchet was not going to work as a medical instrument.
“No, just my Talon,” Alex whispered. “Check dumb and dumber.” He tilted his head in the direction of the two dead bodies.
Kate walked over to them. As she surveyed her kills, she held no regret for their deaths. She would gladly kill an army of Nephilim to save Alex or any of her friends. The one covered in chains had a knife on his belt. She grabbed the knife and headed back to Alex.
“This is gonna hurt,” she said, holding the knife up for him to see.
“Do you want me to do it?” he asked. He’d dug debris from his body before. He could do it again.
“Really? You’re up for digging an arrow out of your body?”
He chuckled and then grimaced. “Just get it over with.” He appreciated her strength. She was single-mindedly focused on the task at hand.
Kate inserted the knife tip between the arrow and Alex’s flesh. He tried to be quiet, to not let her know how much it hurt, but little groans still escaped through his clenched teeth. She gripped the slick arrow tip with her fingers and inched it out of his body. Blood seeped from the wound. “Done,” she said, dropping the arrow tip on the ground. She passed her hand over his flesh and healed the wound.
“Not quite. There’s another one in my back.”
“So you were outnumbered four to one and the cowards decided to shoot you in the back? Why does that not surprise me?” she huffed.
Alex scooted away from the boulder and showed her the wound. “The pain isn’t that bad,” he said looking over his shoulder at her.
“Hmm,” she mumbled, not believing him. Her fingers traced down his back and stopped at the wound. Blood trickled from the edges. She worked carefully with the knife, removed the arrow tip, and healed his wound. “That’s it?” she asked.
“Yeah.” Alex grimaced. He picked up the arrow tip and wiped it clean on his discarded shirt. “It doesn’t look any different from other arrows.”
“It must be coated in something.” Kate picked up the other arrow tip and held it in her gloved hands. “Hopefully the effects aren’t permanent.” Kate tossed the extra pair of gloves into Alex’s lap. “You’ll need these.”
Alex slipped his hands into the leather gloves and they conformed to his hands. “This leather is from the other side.”
“Cool, huh,” Kate said. “Apparently one size fits all. Do you feel any better?”
“A little.” Vertigo spun his world as he stood. “Let’s get moving.” He took a steadying breath and grabbed the Nephilim’s discarded weapons.
“Just so we’re clear, I’m hunting them down,” Kate said.
“Understood,” he replied as they took off in the same direction that the Nephilim had fled.
They came to a stop, unsure which way to go. Alex looked around, his eyes scanning the forest’s edge and looking for movement among the tall bushes. “Shhh,” he whispered, listening for any sound that would betray their prey. He brushed his fingers against Kate’s hand, and she picked up the scent.
A hint of sulfur hung in the air. Kate breathed more deeply, taking in the stench. Her predatory instincts kicked in. Now she understood how Nick felt, the overwhelming need to destroy the wickedness around him. She felt it. It pulsed through her, heating her blood yet calming her nerves and focusing her thoughts.
Alex couldn’t believe the transformation in Kate. She’d changed in an instant. She’d gone from the role of doctor to the role of grim reaper. She’d gone from soft and sweet to killer the moment she processed the scent. Her eyes had a piercing edge to them that betrayed her mind. He was used to seeing this transformation in Nick, but this was the first time he saw it in Kate. Avengers flipped a switch, and their appearance took on an armored sheath that dared another to cross them. In this moment, Alex knew that Kate was no longer his student. She was his equal.
Kate knelt and ran her hand over the grass. Faint tracks were visible in the tall grasses that had been crushed as the Nephilim raced through. She breathed deeply and let the stench of sulfur fill her. She memorized the odor and knew she could track it. “They’re ours,” she said.
Alex nodded. They followed the tracks into the woods. The stench grew stronger, and Kate no longer relied on the tracks. There were subtle differences between the odors that she picked up. She could distinguish between Ahmose and Rafe.
The trees and shrubs grew thick and branches scratched at their bodies as they cut through the woods. They came upon a wide, rushing river that snaked between the trees and masked the scents. Light filtered through the dense trees and various colors danced upon the water as it slithered over the rocks and silt that made up its belly.
“They crossed the river,” Kate said. Their scent still hung in the air. The breeze only confirmed the direction she guessed they traveled. She knelt and dragged her fingertips along the surface of the water. Colorful leaves collided and added beauty at the bends of the watery snake. Flat rocks protruded through the surface farther downstream. “We can cross over there.” She pointed to the rocks that would form their bridge.
Alex nodded. He liked that she was taking charge. This was her destiny, and he wouldn’t stand in her way.
Kate led the way to the rocks that formed a natural bridge. Water rushed around the rocks and leaves gathered at their walls. She quickly made her way across the river with Alex in the rear. With her feet on solid ground, she inhaled deeply. The scent troubled her. It divided. She breathed it in again to confirm the split. She looked at Alex and said, “They split up.”
Alex smiled. She caught on quickly. “They’re trying to improve their odds. So what are we going to do?” He looked at her for guidance. He wanted to see how she led.
“How do you feel?” she asked, eyeing him. “Are you strong enough to hunt?” The last thing Kate wanted was to send Alex away when he wasn’t strong enough to protect himself.
“I’m good.” He gripped the knife handle. He’d slowly felt his powers reenergize as they traveled through the woods. “It’s worn off.”
Kate wasn’t sure whether to believe him or not. She wasn’t sure he’d admit any weakness, but she had to trust him. “You go that way.” Kate pointed up the river. She was confident that the scent was Rafe’s. “And I’ll go this way.” She pointed the other direction. “Let me know when you find him.”
“So you’re taking Ahmose, the alpha, and leaving me with Rafe?” Alex smiled. “Should I be insulted?” he teased. He knew she was concerned because of the poison. He’d make the same decision if the roles were reversed.
“I’m stronger,” she replied.
“And you think Nick’s over-confident,” he teased. She smiled, and he loved the way her eyes lit up. Her smile always revealed her pure heart.
“No offense, I just haven’t been recently poisoned.” Kate rested her hand on her hip. “This is what I was made for,” she said with a shrug. “Besides, I’m in the mood for blood.”
The crooked
smile that highlighted her face almost covered the predatory aura that surrounded her. Alex was a little saddened that he would miss watching Kate kill Ahmose. Part of him was nervous for her safety, although he knew she was very capable, but he wasn’t ready to give up defending her. “Yell if you need me,” he said.
“Ditto.” Kate wanted to hug him, to part with a kiss, but it just didn’t feel right. He didn’t make a move towards her, so she gave him a quick nod and took off.
Alex watched her until her form disappeared behind the expanse of the forest. The emotions that skittered through him were varied. He was proud of the Asteri she’d become. She was strong and determined. Her courage and integrity only strengthened his love for her. He’d been so long without the love of a woman that now he realized that he’d been drowning and she’d rescued him from the depths of despair. Each moment with her surged new life and hope into him.
The breeze carried Rafe’s scent and refocused Alex. He followed the scent until Rafe’s footsteps compromised his location. Twigs and leaves snapped and crunched as Rafe ran. His heart beat out a frantic rhythm.
Alex neared Rafe, careful to remain quiet and not give away his presence. He watched as Rafe paused at the side of the river.
Rafe froze, his head pivoting as his eyes swept the forest for a predator. He needed to mask his scent. He wouldn’t let a simple thing like that give him away and cost him his life. Rafe waded into the river and dunked himself in the cold water. It seeped through his clothes and chilled his bones. He continued wading down the river, turning his head about quickly in fear. He knew he’d never overpower the girl. She was just too strong. He hated that they’d lost the advantage; surprise attacks typically promised success.
Alex stood at a safe distance as he watched Rafe wade through the river. The wind favored Alex. It carried his scent away from Rafe. Alex swept wide to ensure that Rafe would walk right into him.
Alex cloaked himself and ran along the river into the mist of the waterfall. Water drenched his clothes as it fell from up high into the river. He stepped through the veil of water and stopped on a narrow ledge behind the waterfall. Alex looked around and realized Rafe’s intentions. Rafe would never realize his presence until it was too late.
Synchronicity (Scintillate Series Book 3) Page 21