Page 68 of Taken for Granite
The vehicle dipped and swayed over the uneven ground. The pistol wavered and Tas used the opportunity to snatch the gun from the male and shot him once.
The male slumped over the wheel. His foot must have depressed on the pedal because the vehicle increased in speed. A cliff base approached. If the vehicle did not alter course, it would slam into the rock.
Tas reached for the gearbox between the seats and shifted the vehicle into neutral. He pulled the male from the driver’s seat, shoving him to one side and climbed into the front.
He slipped the vehicle back into gear and swung it around, the tires digging into the grass and mud.
The other black vehicle approached. He slammed on the brakes, throwing the male against the dashboard. Tas rifled through his unconscious passenger’s pockets for a key to the restraints and found what he needed. With the key in his mouth, he unlocked the cuffs on his wrist. The bands around his wings were plastic. Flexing his claws, he sliced through the restraints and freed his wings.
He opened the glove box and found a gun. Judging from the weight, it was loaded with bullets designed to pierce a Khargal’s stone form. Nasty thing. He hated to the feel of it in his hand, but he needed every advantage.
Time to rescue his mate.
22
Tas
Tas launched himself at the approaching vehicle and landed on the hood with a thud. The talons on his feet dug into the fiberglass. The male behind the wheel opened his mouth to shout or scream—Tas wasn’t certain and only cared insomuch as the male sat in Tas’ spot.
Roaring with fury, he smashed his fist through the windshield. The glass scratched but did not damage his skin. The vehicle swerved to shake him loose, but he remained in place.
“Stop the car, you fool!” Rhododendron shouted from the passenger seat.
Juniper and Chloe sat in the back. The youngling breathed heavily, as if trying not to cry in fright, and buried in her face against her elder sibling. Juniper watched him with her deep chocolate eyes, trust shining through.
The male turned the wheel sharply to the left.
Tas grabbed the male by his hair and pulled his head down into the steering wheel. A horn blared and the vehicle skidded to a halt. Wasting no time, Tas moved to the roof. A bullet pierced the top.
Irritated, he leaned down and smashed the rear passenger windows. He wrenched the door open, the metal groaning. Juniper and Chloe spilled free.
With his eye on a ledge halfway up the face of the cliff, he gathered Juniper and Chloe. “Hold on,” he said.
Chloe wrapped her arms around him with a fierce grip.
“Can you lift us both?” Juniper asked.
“Yes.” They were not heavy, but the carrying two individuals proved an awkward hold. He pushed off the ground, wings working to gain altitude. He needed to reach the ledge, high above and out of range of the agent’s firearms.
The male stumbled out of the vehicle and raised the gun.
“No! Don’t shoot the specimens!” Rhododendron tackled the male. The tumbled to the ground and the gun sounded. Tas expected to feel the sting of a bullet piercing his back or his wing, but nothing came.
He reached the ledge and carefully set his charges down before sinking to his knees. He had expelled a great deal of energy and still a long flight ahead of him.
“I can carry one to the coordinates and return for the other, but I cannot carry you both for long,” he said. “Perhaps if I was stronger or had not flown for so long—”
“Nonsense,” Juniper said, kneeling next to him. “You were amazing. When you collapsed, I thought—” Her words caught in her throat.
He smoothed back the hair from her forehead, the blue strands flowing through his charcoal gray fingers. “I will always return to you.”
Her eyes watered. She turned her head to the side, blinking away tears.
“Is it true?” he asked.
“Is what true?”
He placed a hand on her stomach.
