Auren told them everything.
Anger rippled through the vehicle in hushed tones, careful because of their shared, sleeping Soulbond.
"You know that he is coming for her. His last word to her was,Run. He held a gun to her head, but he did not want to use it. He seemed to wish for her to run, so he could hunt her. I did not know Kiton as he was," Auren continued, "but I know what I seenow, and he is not a man. He does not move like one. He does not act like one. He acts like a machine."
A shadow moved swiftly as the vehicle sped down the dark road. Cyrus turned to the window, unease flaring. He opened his senses, tasted the air beyond, and immediately pulled back. A rotting, metallic taste suffused his mouth—the putrid taste of a corrupted Soul. The brief sip settled in his stomach like tar.
Cyrus opened his mouth to warn them, but his words were drowned out by a sudden roar as the whole vehicle quaked beneath the force of what felt like a battering ram. The wheel jerked, Lucien shouted, Rhyden lifted his gun, and Cyrus and Auren both held onto Vesperin tightly.
Rin woketo the sound of cursing.
"Fuck! Goddammit, doctor! Can’t you drive any faster?"
A roar followed, breaking through the fog of a dreamless sleep—or maybe it hadn’t been dreamless. The memory of hands on her, snow crunching under boots, and fire warming her cheeks. A handsome face, eyes full of reverence…
The memory shattered beneath screaming.
In a daze, she thought,Kit… he’s already here for me.
The vehicle swerved violently. Rin slammed sideways into Cyrus, who crushed her against him and dragged them both down. The seatbelt cut into her chest.
"What’s going on?" Her voice grew sharper as she fully woke. She couldn’t see and tried to pull away from Cyrus.
Cyrus tightened his grip. "Stay down."
A thunderous roar cut through the air beyond the vehicle.
Rin stiffened.
Rogues.
She jammed her elbow into Cyrus’s side. When he released her, she shot upright, staring between the seats just in time to see a thick, barbed tail slam into the windshield. Two massive forepaws braced against the glass as the Rogue struck again. It cracked.
The roof groaned as the Rogue rocked the top of the speeding vehicle.
Rin’s heart lurched dangerously.
Lucien swerved, ducking to peer past the Rogue blocking his view. Beside him, Rhyden snapped an ammo cartridge into place on his gun, unbuckling his seatbelt as he leaned up, bracing a booted foot on the dash.
Auren was gone.
Rin leaned forward instinctively, eyes flicking over the chaos. She didn’t have her Echogun still.
"Shit!" she cursed.
The wheel jerked hard, and Cyrus caught her waist before she could slam into the seats.
Lucien’s eyes darkened. "Get in the back seat, Vesperin!"
She shook her head, trying to move closer, but her belt yanked tight against her stomach. With a frustrated sound, she clicked it free.
Wintry air flooded the vehicle, along with the whistle of wind and the baying of the Rogue as it kept swinging its tail at the glass. Rhyden had cracked the passenger-side window, bracing his gun against the glass and aiming high. He fired.
Rin flinched. "That’s not an Echogun?" She raised her voice to be heard.
Rhyden didn’t turn, shoulders unyielding as he fired again. The shot went up, missing the Rogue where it was atop the vehicle.
Lucien kept swerving, trying to shake it, but the dented roof showed the Rogue had a secure grip.
