AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Something had shifted between us when I’d brought him that meal. The blame, the hurt, the wounded look in his eyes had all been replaced by something different. Admiration? Respect? Attraction? I deserved none of those things from him, but each left me desperately craving him.
“How much farther until we reach the dragons’ kingdom?” Shadow asked, shielding his eyes as he glanced into the sun.
“Another half a day’s hike,” I said around a mouthful of bread.
“You should rest, Snow,” Shadow said. “You’re tired. Let us find a spot to camp overnight.”
There he went again, proving my point, confusing me further. Despite everything, he still cared.Damn him!That made it even harder for me to stay away. It made me even more determined to get that collar off, to find out if he was someone I could let into my heart.
“There’re other hunters out there searching for her,” Phantom challenged. “We should keep moving.”
“I’m fine,” I protested, willing to keep going, even if it meant hiking all night to get to the dragons’ kingdom so we could get these collars blasted off. Time was not on our side, and every moment that passed brought death that much closer for the panthers.
But they weren’t listening to me, choosing to argue instead.
“You know what’s best for her, do you, pup?” Shadow said, resorting to nickname.
“I care for her safety.” Phantom stood, marching across to stand eye to eye with Shadow.
Sea God.They were fighting over me. Fire claimed my cheeks. I put a palm to my forehead, unsure of how to handle this unfamiliar territory.
“Shouldn’t we ask the lady?” It was a rare day when Flare came to my defense, pushing both the panthers back and standing between them to stop things from deteriorating. He glanced at me. “Hey, sweetheart? What do you want to do?”
I blinked, thinking I must have imagined his consideration for my feelings.
“Why are you being so nice to her all of a sudden?” Phantom asked, echoing my sentiments.
Flare’s boot scuffed the ground. “Shut it, pup.”
If I had to draw a conclusion, I guessed he was only being nice because out of all the resistance members, I’d shown him the most mercy by offering a nice meal.
They all stared at me, waiting for a response.
Their attention made me feel like a weak child who needed to be coddled, carried, and protected.
“I’m fine,” I said, wrapping up the cheese and butter, then stuffing the food and my canteen into my satchel. Without waiting for them to make a decision for me, I charged forward, leaving them behind.
I heard them all scrambling behind me.
“Snow, wait!” Phantom shouted. “You shouldn’t go off alone.”
No, I shouldn’t have. Waiting beyond the boulder on a windy pass with barely any ledge were two hunters. They took up the entire trail, blocking my passage. Their eyes glowed green, their collars were dark red, and their teeth were bared, ready to sink into my flesh and end my life. Another two black panthers snarled at me from the ledge above.
Flipping hell.Why hadn’t Phantom or the others sensed them? The fools had been too busy fighting over me.
Scraping on the rock behind me told me the others had entered the pass.
“Snow, get back,” Phantom warned, his voice low and urgent.
Snapping and cracking behind us indicated that Shadow and Flare were transforming, ready to defend me…or worse…kill me.
Panic fought to claim me. But I had to fight my fear—and the hunters—if I wanted to stay alive.
“Too late for that,” I said, collecting a rock to use as ammunition.
One of the panthers, a smallish feline, probably a few sun cycles younger than Phantom, took a swipe at me. My stomach dropped as I kicked at him to make him back off. He made a funny gurgling and burping noise in his throat that kind of sounded like a growl. The one beside him hissed at me, showing teeth that could easily take my hand off if he tried.
If they moved, I was ready to bash their skulls in. I waved the rock over my head in a threatening manner, hoping to get them to back away.
