“Run.”
I hesitate a moment, but that’s all it takes. He grasps my upper arms and spins us with inhuman speed, putting his body between whatever he heard and me. He jolts a step forward into me with a grunt.
“Are you okay? What is it?” I ask frantically. I can’t see around his large frame, so I have no idea what’s coming or what seems to have caused him to stumble forward like that.
“Olivia. Fucking run!” He rarely uses my full name and that—combined with his urgent tone—has my feet moving.
I turn and run, making it a few feet away before glancing over my shoulder to check that Bastian’s behind me. But he’s not. He’s still back where I left him and turned his back to me, facing the threat head on.
I inhale sharply.
Now I can clearly see the arrow protruding from his shoulder. Blood is quickly blooming on his shirt at the site of the wound.
I duck to hide behind a large tree near me. I peek around the trunk to get another look at Bastian. I don’t see anyone coming, so I’m not entirely sure what he’s waiting on.
Males. I swear. Always wanting to be the big bad protector.
I take a few deep breaths to calm myself—and the trembling in my hands that I’m trying not to acknowledge.
With a final breath, I run back to Bastian. When he hears me approaching, he spares a quick glance over his shoulder.
“Liv, for fuck’s sake.” I can hear the pain lacing his firm words.
I finally reach where he’s standing and grasp his hand, giving it an urgent tug. “I’m not leaving you here to get yourself killed. If I have to run, then you’re running with me.Let’s go.” I try to place as much command into my words as possible, but my voice still trembles a bit with fear. I give another tug, putting my whole body weight behind it, but he doesn’t even budge.
I can finally hear the rustling of leaves in the distance at the attacker’s approach. Branches snap. Birds squawk as they flee the forest.
“Liv,please,” he begs.
“No,” I say, holding firm on my decision. “If you won’t leave with me, then I guess I’ll have to stay here with you.” I cross my arms over my chest and raise an eyebrow at him in challenge.
He opens his mouth to respond, presumably to argue with me, when a twig snaps even closer than before. Both our heads whip in the direction of the sound, but I can’t see anything. He shakes his head in exasperation but firmly squeezes my hand once before releasing it. “Fine, but we need to go.Now.”
We both turn on our heels and take off running as fast as my legs can carry me. I’m almost positive he’s slowing his pace to remain close while he leads the way. The arrow is still lodged in his shoulder and my stomach rolls at the sight.
My chest starts to feel tight, and my breaths become labored from the physical activity. I’m terribly out of shape. I rarely run. And certainly not by choice. I start to slow down in an attempt to catch my breath.
That was a mistake.
Something whistles past my ear and embeds in the tree ahead of me.
Another arrow.
Shit.
Whoever is after us is gaining on us.
“Basti—” I start shouting to get his attention to alert him when an arrow grazes my upper arm. I hiss out a breath.
Fuck, that hurts.
How is he running with one jutting from his back?
In the blink of an eye, Bastian has stopped running and is standing in front of me, wide-eyed and looking a little crazed as he examines me for further injuries. I push at his uninjuredshoulder. “I’m fine,” I gasp out. “Don’t stop. We’re nearly to the portal.” I flick my eyes over his shoulder and can just about make out the near edge of the faerie ring we arrived in.
Bastian pushes me so I’m leading the way now instead, but as we make to run towards the portal, another arrow is loosed and buries itself in his side.
Someone lets out a piercing scream, and I think it might be me.
