Page 65 of Far From Center
“Because just as there’s always a weak spot, it’s never where you want it to be. And this is going to be a bit tricky. When I tell you I need you to squeeze between this Divi Divi tree and hibiscus. Then try not to fall down the hill and into all that cactus.”
“Yeah, I’ll try not to do that.” She shoved a couple of the water bottles in her waistband, and a fistful of granola bars in various pockets, then stood sideways eyeing the narrow space between the plants. “Ready.”
“And…..go.”
She shuffled sideways, letting out her breath once she was carefully perched on the steep rocky decline of the hill. It was then, looking up at Gabe, that she realized he’d never fit between the tree and the hibiscus, at least not without trampling the hibiscus and, no doubt, triggering the ward.
“Gabe?”
“Run,” he told her, his expression brooking no argument. “Run, and don’t look back. Find a city, take the next plane out, and don’t stop until you’re safely home with the Iblis.”
She set her jaw, and this time it was her turn to scowl at the angel. They’d kill him, and he wasn’t strong enough yet to defend himself against two angels. She wasn’t about to run away and leave him to his death. She’d rather die with him.
“Nyalla.” His voice growled, low and menacing. She knew it was supposed to intimidate her into compliance, but all it did was turn her on and make her all the more determined to not leave his side.
“No. Get your cute butt over here right now. Then we’ll both run.”
“I’ll trip the alarm. I’m too big to squeeze through the weak spot, and I can’t alter my physical form. Either you run and get away so I can fight these angels in a few days without worrying about them using you for leverage, or I trip the ward and we both die.”
“You’ll still worry even if I run,” she countered. “You won’t know whether I’m safe or not. All they’ll need to do is show you some Photoshopped picture of me with my fingers and toes missing, and you’ll back down, you’ll do whatever they want.” She adjusted her stance, sending a shower of rocks down into the cacti below. “If we’re still in Aruba, all they need to do is be watching the airport and they’ll catch me. Gabe, I’d rather die fighting by your side then have them kill you while they beat the stuffing out of me and drag me off to a locked room all by myself for however long it takes them to win Aaru.”
He took a deep breath. “I’m not happy about this, Nyalla, but I do see your point. Get ready.”
Nyalla had no time to get ready before he’d launched himself through the space, flattening the hibiscus. The air popped and crackled as he came through. Then he jumped, grabbing her and tucked her close as they fell down the hill.
* * *
It hurtto bounce along the hard ground, sliding through rocks and rough brush. At the bottom he landed first, breaking a saguaro in half and crushing several prickly pears.
“Oww.” He grimaced, jumping up and grabbing her hand. His shirt was smeared with cactus bits and thorns, his arms scratched and bloody. It hurt, but he couldn’t risk healing himself and expending energy that he would most definitely need in the next few minutes at most.
And as he expected, before they could even turn to run, the air crackled and Tura appeared.
“You two are more trouble than you’re worth,” he commented, floating down the rocky hillside toward them.
Gabriel shoved Nyalla behind him. “I won’t let you take her, Tura.”
The angel laughed. “What are you going to do, hit me with a set of bolt cutters? I’ll admit that was a frightening display of actions completely unworthy of someone who used to be a powerful archangel, but it will take more than that to stop me and you don’t seem to have any bolt cutters handy this time.”
“I don’t need human tools to stop you, Tura. You’re lucky to have escaped me last time. You won’t be so lucky this time.”
The angel shot out a whip of energy that snaked around Gabriel’s arm, burning through his flesh to the bone. It held his arm as Tura tugged him forward. He heard Nyalla gasp, felt her grab his other hand.
Gabe shrugged her off, leaning backward so Tura had to exert himself to drag him forward. The rope of energy smoked, filling the air with the smell of heat and burning flesh. Tura’s smile grew wide as Gabe stood before him.
“Kneel,” he commanded.
“No.” Gabriel responded, shrugging off the compulsion that would have had him on his knees if he’d been human.
Tura blinked. “Kneel,” he ordered, putting every bit of his power behind the word.
Gabe gritted his teeth, fighting against what he should have easily been able to resist. “No.”
“Then I’ll just have to kill you as you stand.”
He heard Nyalla cry out and prayed that she stayed where she was. Ignoring the pain in his arm, he summoned every ounce of power available to him and shoved it outward.
“I think not.”
