Page 87 of Skinwalker's Bane
I’m in the middle of the fighting. The realization was a cold one. She had no time to react, to feel fear or any other emotion.
Devin concentrated on staying on her feet and protecting herself. It was difficult now that the people around her were not squeezing her anymore. It was chaotic, unpredictable.
A stray fist landed on her shoulder, spinning her around. She no longer knew where she was, or how close to the edge of the crowd and possible safety she might be.
“There’s one!” came a loud shout. She glanced around. A coherent voice among this madness might be the voice of someone who could help.
The man pointing at her was bald, with a mad light in his eyes. Dhaval Bull.
The man next to him was consulting a portable terminal. “Devin Bronson,” he shouted back.
Devin stared, her mouth dropping open. They were actually looking for her among this madness?
They were looking forher.
Fear bloomed in her chest. There was no time to reason out why anyone might be looking for her in particular. Her name was on whatever list the man with the terminal had.
Dhaval Bull surged through the people around him, fending off attacks with practiced ease. His mad eyes were focused on her.
Devin tried to get away. She couldn’t force her way through writhing people the way he did.
He grabbed her neck and turned her head to make her look at him.
Devin gripped his forearm, trying to shake his grip loose. His fingers squeezed, making the tendons in her neck and the muscle and bone grind together. Pain flared and her vision blurred.
“Bishan Frost sends his regards,” Bull growled. He brought his fist up.
Devin struggled harder, kicking and scratching. She felt his face under her hand and clawed at it.
His fist slammed into her temple.
Sparks flittered in her head and all her muscles went limp, refusing to cooperate. The pain was more than she’d ever imagined it could be. She sagged in his grip.
“Devin!” The shout was not from Bull.
Devin didn’t have the strength to lift her head and look around. She was too busy trying to rise above the pain and get her body to work.
“Dhaval Bull!” It was the same voice. It was Adam. Miraculously, he was here.
Devin gathered every skerrick of energy and strength she had and lifted her head. Bull looked up, surprise registering on his face.
Adam fell on him.
Bull’s grip on Devin’s neck loosened and she dropped to her feet. He had been holding her up by her neck. Now her legs wouldn’t support her. She tilted forward.
For the first time, the press of bodies around her helped her. She shoved herself upright, her hand against the nearest back. The back was moving, while another shoulder presented itself and she levered her arm, propping herself up.
Don’t fall. Do not fall!The command to herself was a silent shout in her mind. The dizziness was easing, yet it was still making her stumble and the world to reel around her. Then she found something to focus on.
Adam was struggling with Dhaval Bull. The Caver was a big man and strong. Adam was bigger. Devin thought of the strange, unsettled light in Bull’s eyes and her fear increased. Bull would stop at nothing to achieve whatever crazy ambition he wanted.
They were locked together. Adam’s muscles were flexed, working hard to contain Bull. He looked the man in the eye. “You picked on the wrong person, Bull,” he said. His voice carried clearly because she was so focused upon him.
Then Adam moved. She had no idea what he did, yet Bull seemed to cooperate in a strange dance that sent him staggering backward, making the people behind him grunt and fall forward.
Bull came back at Adam with a roar. It was a horrible, animal sound.
Adam steppedtowardhim. His fist came up in a powerful underarm swing that slammed into the underside of Bull’s chin. It lifted Bull up off his feet, with a grunt of pain.
