Page 46 of Faerie Hunted

The cold sweat spread everywhere and my muscles trembled.

“What are we going to do?” Onyx whispered.

No clue. As per usual.

I eased off a bit and slowed down, hoping against hope that trudging along at Grandma Moses speed would entice the other person to pass. To show us that they were a normal person and not a threat.

The other vehicle slowed down as well.

Same distance—no more, no less.

“Well, now we know they are definitely tailing us on purpose.” Onyx sounded resigned.

My teeth clattered together and I clenched down on them to stop the movement. It was fine.We’ll make it out of this somehow. We had to.

With only one road, it wasn't like they had many places to go, either. If I sped up enough then I might be able to swerve off into the trees and have them pass us by. Maybe.

“Whatever you’re thinking about, it won’t work.”

“You don’t know that,” I murmured. My grip on the wheel tightened despite my now clammy palms.

The sweat pooled under my arms. I caught sight of Noren in the rearview mirror, his hackles lifted and a warning growl rumbling his throat. He was either picking up on my anxiety or something my senses weren't able to quantify yet.

Either way?—

“I do know that.” Onyx rolled down the window and stuck his face out, drawing in the air. “Shit, Tavi, this is bad. This isbigbad.”

“What is it?” My voice broke.

I took the curve too fast, the tires screeching. The road straightened out and I slammed on the brakes in time to avoid a second vehicle blocking our path. Four brawny bodies leaned against the side and straightened when they saw us coming.

Onyx yelled, slamming his hand against the dash as I hit the brakes harder, trying to keep the car from fishtailing.

We finally skidded to a stop and the only sound was Noren’s growl. That sound raised my hackles but the four big men blocking the road in front of us barely blinked.

“Get out of the vehicle,” the nearest one called out with a sneer. “Now.”

I saw no weapons on them. The speaker was a tall man with a mangy salt-and-pepper beard and only a single functioning eye. Long brown hair fell to his chest. He was dressed in a checkered shirt and stained jeans, with his shoulders slumped menacingly forward. The others slipped in close to him.

“Well?” the man pressed. He tilted his head to the side and one of his associates shifted forward and brought his palms hard against the hood of the car. “What is it going to be, kids?”

Noren’s growling grew louder with his sights set unblinkingly on the four men.

When we made no move to obey, the other two slinked forward, their eyes gleaming dully in the darkness.

“Get out of the fucking car!” the leader screamed.

These men were not playing around. We had one shot at getting out of here: We had to shift. It was the only way we’d be able to outrun them.

I glanced over at Onyx and saw a similar gleam of recognition in his eyes. He’d had the same thought. I gave him a tiny nod, hoping none of the others would be able to see it in the gloom.

Then I sent out a wave of magic to open the back door to let Noren out. He headed straight for the closest man, with his maw gaping open and saliva dripping from his fangs.

I turned my attention inward, reaching for my inner wolf.

We’re out of options.

The thought played on repeat in my head as familiar magic flooded my system, a power uniquely mine that wasn’t dependent on energy. I’d be able to shift exhausted, starving. Even without a full moon.

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