She lifted her head to look, but he pressed her back to his chest again.
“Don’t look. Just keep focusing on keeping as much blood in my body as you can.”
Violet did as he told. This way, at least, she could be useful to him, and she didn’t have to panic and distract him if things looked dismal. His whole body was taut enough already,hisfocus absolute. Hers should be too.
Hooves pounded in pursuit, though it sounded as if they were coming from all directions, not just behind. Was this what being herded meant? But to where?
Violet decided to trust him.
If he said these people wouldn’t catch them, she would believe him.
Drake yanked on the reins again. The horse skidded, caught itself, and surged on.
Violet risked a quick glance over her shoulder. Drat. “Someone is gaining on us!”
“Let him try,” Drake muttered.
The pounding grew louder. Violet wanted to peek again, but Drake’s hand clamped over her crown, forcing her down again.
“For God’s sake, stay down.”
Bang! A shot nearly deafened her.
Violet flinched violently, and sheer terror ripped through her. “They’re shooting at us!” God save them. Was he hit? She would have felt it if he was hit, right?
“It’s not them. It’s my brothers.”
Instant relief blanketed her along with a sliver of skepticism. “How can you be sure?”
“Trust me. My brothers are on the roofs. Probably Maxen, Serpent, and Saint.”
The roofs? “That’s oddly specific.”
“I can sense them.”
“Your senses are a bit off tonight.”
“Only where knives are concerned.”
Another shot cracked through the night, and this time the rider on their heels faltered, retreated, or vanished entirely. Violet dared not look. She had only her ears to tell her whether death still thundered behind them.
“So you led these men into your territory?” Smart.
“We never left my territory, little flame. We’ve been in it all along. But here these arses will pay for entering it.”
Only here he had brothers on the rooftops with pistols in hand. “There should still be men on our trail.”
No answer. Not even a grunt of acknowledgement.
Her brows knitted. “Drake?”
She looked at him, eyes widening at the sight of his eyes closed. She shoved at him. “Drake!” His whole body jerked, a curse slipping from his lips. “We are still in the midst of a chase, you brute! Don’t do that.” She hated how unsteady her voice came out. “Are you all right?”
“Never been better, little flame.”
“Don’t lie. We need to find shelter, now.”
He nodded.
