Page 82 of Shadow

“Your father can handle the hellhounds,” I said, praying the lie didn’t sound as hollow as it felt. “But he needs to know you’re safe. We have to get out of here.”

I pointed to the opposite side of the roof. “Help me lift the ladder and carry it to the far side.”

Che did as I asked.

We moved as quickly as we could and crossed the roof to the back edge of the building. After we lowered the ladder, I climbed down first, ensuring it was safe. I then coaxed Che to follow.

When we were back on solid ground, I grabbed his hand and started moving away from the fight.

There was no point in trying to get back to the motorcycle.

I couldn’t drive it, and the hellhounds would spot us if we went anywhere near the battle.

I was just beginning to think we might have a chance when we heard Boot’s roar.

“Daddy!” Che cried, wrenching his hand free from mine and taking off in the direction of his father.

“No!” I yelled, sprinting after him.

Che skidded around the corner, disappearing from sight, but his scream pierced the air again. I rounded the building and froze. Che stood paralyzed by fear; his wide eyes locked on the horrific scene in front of us. Boot was buried beneath a writhing mass of hellhounds, their claws and teeth ripping into him.

“Che,run!” I shouted, grabbing his arm and yanking him back.

He struggled against me, refusing to leave, so I wrapped my arms around his waist and lifted him. I managed a few steps before a hellhound lunged at me.

“Run, Che!” I shouted as I let him go, spinning to face the beast.

I kicked it with all my strength, but pain exploded in my arm as its jaws clamped down. A burning agony shot through me, fire racing through my veins.

I hit the hound in the face with my opposite fist, and it released me. I struck again with a roundhouse kick, the impact traveling from my leg to my hip. This time, the hellhound crashed onto its back.

This was how my mother had died. Saving me at the cost of her own life. For the first time, I truly understood why she had made that sacrifice.

Che wasn’t my child, but he wasimportant.He deserved to live.

“Che!” I yelled again, forcing strength into my voice while I watched the stalking hellhound. “Run and get help!Go!”

A deafening roar erupted, and Boot exploded from the pile of hellhounds like a force of nature, throwing them aside as if they weighed nothing. His growl of rage reverberated through the alley, and hellhounds scattered in every direction.

Blood streamed from his wounds, but his eyes found mine and then he saw the bite on my arm. Despair flickered in his expression, but he didn’t stop. He barreled toward us, claws flashing.

“Take my son and run!” he commanded, his voice thunderous. “Get him back to the compound. I’ll hold them off!”

He turned back to the advancing pack, slicing through a hellhound’s neck with one devastating swipe of his claws. Another attacked him. Then two more. And still more waited behind them.

“Dad!” Che screamed.

“I love you, son,” Boot shouted. “Run like the wind, my boy. Take care of your mother.”

Tears blurred my vision as I grabbed Che, lifting him into my arms again.

This time, I didn’t hesitate. Iran.

Boot’s roars echoed behind us, mixing with the snarls of the hellhounds.

Che sobbed into my shoulder, his little body shaking. He was heavy, and every step sent fresh waves of pain through my bitten arm, but I didn’t stop. Icouldn’tstop. I had to get Cheback before the poison took me down. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind as I ran.

I had never made love to King.

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