An owl.
Another slams into Asher's shoulder. More coming.
"What the fu—" I curse, barely ducking the next, vaguely thinking that owls don't flock.
After a moment of disorientation, instinct kicks in.
Say what you will about my monk of a brother and me, we might bicker for a few centuries straight, but when it's time to throw down, we don't miss a beat.
I lunge for the idiot on the shore. Asher charges the one clutching the girl.
The big guy moves faster than expected, stepping to the side with a muttered, "Blyat… vampires." He sounds vaguely familiar.
Another bird slams into me. I swat it away, then smack a bat out of the air. Something small and pissed scuttles across the ground and bites my shin.
The forest has officially lost its mind. And I'm pretty sure it's tied to these two walking sacks of rot.
I dash again. This time, I grab him.
But not before his blade drives into my side. The steel bites deep, sliding right under the ribs. The bastard grins like he's proud of himself.
So I step into it. Let the blade sink deeper and grin right back as I rip his throat out with my teeth.
He gurgles. Staggers. Then drops dead.
At the same moment, I see Asher knock the other one out cold and scoop the girl into his arms. The instant the other guy's on the ground, the animals stop, the air stills. The forest starts behaving normally, as if someone flipped a switch.
"She's icy cold," Asher says, checking her pulse. "But alive."
"Good," I mutter, dragging the now-throatless bastard's body closer. I sink my fangs in—more out of habit than hunger.
The taste hits me instantly: grass, sap, and bark.
I gag and spit it out. "Well. Definitely not human," I announce, then casually snap his neck. I do the same for the one Asher knocked out. Just in case.
My brother watches as the body crumples to the dirt.
"Not townies," I say with a bloody grin, feeling much better now that our midnight stroll turned into something actually entertaining. "Doesn't count."
"Sure. Let's get her home before she freezes."
He turns, but I hesitate. Step closer. Lean down to get a better look at our little mystery girl.
I freeze. Recognition hits like a sledgehammer. My entire chest tightens, fire surging beneath my ribs.
I know her.
Iknowher.
The one who nearly killed me.
"The fuck," I whisper, my voice suddenly razor-sharp. My eyes narrow, fury flaring hot and hungry. "I know who she is."
CHAPTER THREE
Kayden
The wound in my ribs throbs with every step. But not as much as my pride.
