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“How?” I risk a look backward at Rodney, frozen in front of the cabin, then peer around at the sagging porch. “How did you do all this?”
A pleased smile spreads over Bryant’s face, revealing his fangs. “It wasn’t hard. I came in through the barrier while the huntsmen had everyone distracted. I planned to take you then, but you surprised me by being in the thick of the battle. So I bided my time, waiting for an opportunity.”
His focus shifts to the werewolf at my back. “Dear Rodney practically fell into my lap, so I created a bond between us. I knew his werewolf would be useful while I had my fun.”
“You killed Tom Arnold,” I whisper.
“No, Rodney did,” Bryant corrects. “He had the misfortune of stumbling upon our little hideout, but I made sure he stayed dead. Then I put him to good use, stirring up trouble for the townsfolk.”
My stomach tightens. “And Drake?”
“You already have that brat, Ambros, living in your house,” Bryant sneers. “I couldn’t have you getting chummy with another vampire. I told Rodney to take care of that other one, too, but he’s made himself too much of a nuisance, and your wolf shifter has eyes on him all the time, so Rodney couldn’t get near him.”
Fear shoots through me at how close Zane came to dying, too.
“Did you hurt Barron?” I demand.
Bryant’s gaze searches my face as if deciding how much he wants to hurt me. “No, Rodney just drew him away, then used the clinic’s phone messaging system when no one was looking to summon his mate. But if the wards hadn’t let him inside the building, we would have gone with Plan B.”
Relief rushes through me, and I fall forward on my hands, my head bowing. “How did they not find you in this cabin?”
“Magic, of course.” Pride fills his voice. “Your measly coven aren’t the only ones in town with magic, you know. I’ve been feeding on witches for decades now, so I’ve learned a few tricks.”
My hands curl into fists, wood scraping against my palms. “Like using Delilah’s magic to mess with my mind.”
“That was fun, wasn’t it?” He sighs at the memory. “You’re so fun to play with.”
“Screw you,” I whisper, the words drowned by the crash of rain on the broken rooftop.
“Is that the best you’ve got?” He stands and extends his hand toward me. “Come inside now, so we can finish our bond.”
My hands clench, splinters biting into my flesh as I look up at him. “So, what’s your plan from here? Wait until they stop looking for me and then sneak me out of town? Did you stock up on soup? You remember how much I like canned soup, right?”
His eye twitches as he offers me his hand. “I underestimated you that time. But there’s nowhere for you to run now, so get up.”
“I don’t need your help to stand,” I spit.
He drops his hand. “Still stubborn, I see.”
I shift, planting one foot on the worn boards, and Bryant takes a step back to give me room.
With all my strength, I push upward, bringing the board in my hand with me. The end I hold lifts, and the end under Bryant’s foot snaps.
His leg crashes through the rotted floor, and I dive sideways, slipping through the broken porch rails before he can muster the magic to command Rodney to catch me.
Wet leaves and twigs squelch under my feet as I race away from the cabin, the wind burns the cuts on my cheeks and branches rip at my hair. Rain pelts down, flattening my hair and making it hard to run.
With no idea where I am within the woods, I follow the angle of sunlight through the forest, chasing sunbeams and praying that they’ll lead me home.
The crash of pursuit keeps me running long after I can gasp breath into my lungs and my legs grow numb from exertion.
Howls sound off in the distance, coming closer. If I can just hold out long enough, someone will come. Someone will save me.
But then the trees around me vanish, the forest giving way to a sheer drop off, with nothing but ocean below.
I fall to my knees, skidding in mud toward the edge of the drop off. Eyes closed, I wait for that moment when the ground vanishes beneath me, when I become weightless before the fall.
Better a plummet to my death than whatever Bryant has planned for me.
