Page 101 of Resurgent

The side door opens beneath my trembling hand, cool night air rushing over me as I step into the darkness—alone once again with a monster.

Another wave of panic slices through me when I spot my dad’s pickup—cabin lights just bright enough to reflect off the bed cover and illuminate the already open tailgate—alone in an abandoned service parking lot.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re taking me?”

My dad pushes me forward, but I resist as much as I can with the hypnosis, trying to fight my way out of his grip now that we’re out of view, and his command no longer has any hold.

“Oh, you’re not going anywhere until we’ve had a nice, long talk,” he snarls as his beastly arms try to find hold around me. “There’s some things we need to get straight.”

“A talk? I’m not going anywhere with you!” I spit out, knee connecting hard between his legs.

Sprinting back to the door—back to safety—I yank it…FUCK!

Locked. Of course it’s locked!

My dad’s bulbous fingers fasten around my arm, pulling me back so abruptly I’m shocked it didn’t dislocate.

Tyr’s roar booms overhead at the same time my free hand grips his face, my thumb pushing into his eye.

His arms drop, and I don’t hesitate, taking off for the front of the building.

I’ve barely crested the corner when another set of arms wrap around me, only this time, they’re accompanied by a low, out of breath voice that I'm beyond grateful to hear.

“I’ve got you. I’ve got you. Stay with me—”

“You little bitch! Get back here!” my dad bellows before Tyr’s flames light the sky, transforming my dad’s silhouette into a clear picture of frenzied rage—his fists clenched as he charges after me.

Thud

We’re plunged back into darkness just as his body hits the ground.

Thud

Thud

Thud

Another burst of light floods the sky, illuminating my father's bloody, swollen, and totally unconscious face—Korr on top of him, unleashing years of his own pent-up aggression.

Where the fuck did he come from?

“Korr,” I call, but he doesn’t hear me.

“Hunter!”

His eyes snap to mine—dark and predatory, his pupils blown so wide that the usual gray of his irises looks like lightning flickering at the edge of a storm.

“Hunter, he’s knocked out. We’re safe.”

“Lee!”

Matt’s voice has me spinning, his already long strides turning into a full-on sprint, Theo right behind him.

“Thank the Gods, you’re ok! I was looking for you everywhere!”

His arms wrap around me, as he splatters a thousand tiny kisses on my head.

“Theo said your dad wanted a dance with you, but you were gone before the song was even over. What happened?”