“I’m close, but it isn’t connecting. I need another minute.”
“You have two seconds to get your ass back in here.”
“You giving me orders, Phoenix?” She kept working, her head down, but her voice was edged in something deadly.
Oh, she was going to make him pay for that. Well, he didn’t care, as long as she was safe.
The zombies were getting closer, moving into a shambling run as they spotted her, crouched on the hood, in easy reach.
Nik’s heart was hammering so hard it hurt his chest. “Nera,dammit.”
Suddenly, the zombies stumbled to a halt. They milled around, their dark eyes wide. A few backed up, making strange choking noises in their throats. Then they started back toward the trees.
Nik picked off a few more, frowning at them. What the hell were they doing? “Nera, they’re retreating.”
“Finally, some luck.”
He didn’t believe in luck.
A second later, a huge, black shadow slunk out of the trees, toward them. God, in this case, he hated being right.
Everything in him went cold. It looked similar to the mutant cat in the museum in Mexico, only twice the size, and it hadtwoheads. Both with jaws filled with sharp teeth.
Its powerful muscles bunched, its glowing green eyes leveled on Nera.
“Nera!” Nik shouted and pulled the trigger.
The beast pounced.
Oh,hell. Nera saw it coming.
She slid off the hood, her boots hitting the muddy ground.
The creature flew over her, its huge, powerful body outstretched. It landed in front of the Centurion, skidded in the mud, and spun to face her.
Damn, it made the beast in the museum look like an expensive, pampered pet. This thing was huge, and those two heads, each containing teeth the length of her forearm, were the stuff of nightmares. She slid out her sword and felt like she was facing off with a giant while holding a butter knife.
Laser fire hit the creature’s side, and it twitched as though it had been bitten by an annoying insect. Its black hide was too tough for the laser to do much damage. Nera moved slowly. She wanted the bulk of the Centurion between her and the animal.
But as she moved backward, it walked forward, its movements slow and measured. It was hunting her.
“Nera.Inside.”
Niklas sounded stressed. She forced his worry out of her mind and focused on her prey. She still needed another minute to get the Centurion functioning. If they stayed stranded here, she was sure this monster would rip the vehicle open like an old-fashioned tin can.
The creature lunged. She tensed and jumped backward, her hip hitting metal with a burst of pain. But the creature hadn’t come far.
It was toying with her.
She didn’t enjoy playing games unless she was the one instigating them.
She pressed her foot to the Centurion’s footboard, then jumped. She came down on the creature’s back, and with two swift strokes, opened up the back of its neck. It wasn’t a bad wound—its skin was just too tough—but the animal let out a howl. It twisted both of its heads, trying to reach her, but she had already jumped away.
She spun, watching the creature focus on her again. Its muscles flexed, and its mouths opened, showing off impressive fangs.
“Get back!” Niklas called out.
Trusting him, she leaped backward.
