Page 70 of Aberrant Monsters
Nandi’s scream had me skidding to a halt.
One of the vipers had her. She fought and bucked. The viper’s head rocked to the side as Archie punched him.
But another viper was on her.
Everything seemed to slow down. I locked gazes with her, seeing panic and despair.
“Run!” she screamed.
I was aware of the vipers converging on me, aware that I could still make it past the barrier, but there was no way I’d leave her behind.
I ran toward the cluster who had my best friend, battle cry stinging my ears. They looked up at me, stunned. Probably by my stupidity. I didn’t care because the unexpected move gave Nandi the opening she needed to break free. She threw herself away from them and toward me.
I grabbed her hand, and we ran for the barrier, sliding under it and scrambling onto the street beyond. We ran, not stopping until we were several blocks away. Only then did we slow our pace.
“Fuck.” Nandi doubled over, clutching her side. “Oh, fuck.”
“You okay?” Archie materialized beside her and placed his hand on her shoulder. He looked pale and shaken. “Shit, that was close.”
She nodded. “I’m fine, and yeah, it was.” She glared at me as she straightened. “What the fuck were you thinking charging at them like that? You could have been killed.”
I glared back and crossed my arms. “Are you saying you would have done any different?”
She clenched her jaw. “We are both so fucking insane.”
“We could have hit the summoning pillar,” Archie said. “Night Guild would have shown up. Big-ass gargoyle to shut down the fucking vipers.”
We both looked at him, probably thinking the same thing. Doh. That would have been the smart move.
“Thanks,” Nandi said. “Next time point that out during the fight. You know, when we can actually use the tip.”
He flinched and a look of hurt crossed his face. Nandi didn’t see it, but I did, and an understanding began to bloom in my mind. All the times I’d caught Archie staring at Nandi. The digs, the barbs. Archie had a thing for her, and she had no clue.
“Thanks, Archie.” I smiled warmly at him, drawing his attention back to me. “You saved our asses back there. You gave us the head start we needed.”
Nandi sighed and nodded. “Yeah, you did. I’m sorry I snapped. Just…” She rubbed the back of her neck. “That was close.” She pulled her hand away from her nape and looked down at her palm with a frown.
I followed her gaze, noting the bloody smear on her hand.
“August, I think—” Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she dropped.
eighteen
Nandi had been bitten, and not just bitten, injected with venom. “What do we do. Oh, God.”
Archie crouched on the ground with Nandi in his arms. “Nandi. Hey, can you hear me.”
Think, dammit, think. Shit. I needed help. I pulled my phone from my pocket and dialed Quentin.
The call went to voicemail.
Fuck!
Who else?
Devyn! She had to know someone who could help. I dialed Devyn; the phone rang and rang but no answer.
Frustration choked me, driving tears to my eyes.
