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“We move fast and silently now!” Aria orders, grabbing me and yanking me after her. She pulls me outside and into a sprint across the square. My eyes go back to the tiger, and I almost scream when I see it bounding after us.
Then it roars.
“Run!” Aria yells.
I push myself to race at her side, but we are too slow. We are going to die. Oh my god, we are going to—
I scream as Aria goes down next to me with the tiger on her back, biting her shoulder. It’s huge, double her size, and so strong, I freeze for a moment, but the fear and determination on Aria’s face gets me moving.
I won’t leave her to die, not when I can help. It’s foolish, but I rush to the tiger to help. It turns to me and roars. Its eyes are now locked on me—a new moving target. “Go!” Aria yells. I glance at her to see her reaching for something, but my eyes cut back to the tiger as it prowls towards me.
It shadows my every step, Aria’s blood dripping from its mouth. I flick my gaze to her to see her determination. She holds a rock in her hand, and she’s swaying slightly on her feet, but she’s standing strong. “Run now!” she screams and lets loose. The rock sails through the air and hits the beast. It turns sharply, its tail snapping across me, knocking me back as he roars at Aria.
My eyes go to her, imploring her to run, to come with me.
But it’s between us…
“Go!” she demands and then runs, despite her wound. The tiger starts to chase her, and I have no choice. I can’t be left here alone. She told me to run. I was told to listen to her, so despite my fear, guilt, and worry, I turn and run.
I hear it roaring and her running feet. I falter, debating going back, but I can’t. She told me to run, plus I might not find her again. No, I’ll run. I’ll listen to her. She’s smart and capable. If I bumble around, I’ll put her in danger. She’ll find me again, I know she will, so I run, blinded by my own fear and tears.
The city remains silent around me as I plunge into the darkness of the Forgotten City.
As the monsters awaken.
SIX
CATO
Frowning, I stare out at the city beyond, the invisible line between my tribe and Akuji’s standing before me. There is nothing to signify it, yet I know it’s there. I heard things—things that shouldn’t be possible if no one was on alert.
Screaming.
Human screaming.
Human female screaming.
I hesitate again, needing to find out what it is, but I do not want to cross into Akuji’s territory. We might be okay, friends even, but he couldn’t allow that to stand. Then again, if there are human females screaming in his territory, he’s probably there already.
Just then, I hear something closer—small, running feet.
It sounds almost like a child. It is not one of ours, though, because they are too loud and unsure, and then I hear her muttering. Her fear hits me full force, the stench of it making acid rise in my throat. It’s pure terror, and for some reason, it sends my heart into overdrive. A growl rips from my lips as I pace the line, and then I see her.
She stumbles at the end of the road, stepping over my territory and into Akuji’s. Her head whips around, looking over her shoulder. There are tears in her eyes, which are the colour of a storm, lighting up like thunder cracking through the night. Her hair is a blonde halo, flowing around her as she rushes back around and falls again. She hits the ground hard with a sob before pushing to her feet and backing away.
She’s lost, confused, and scared.
I’ve never seen a human female, only the male warriors they send in here. How did she get through the wall, and why is she running? And from whom? Was she the one that screamed? It seems likely. Maybe one of Akuji’s warriors found her and is trying to kill her for crossing the wall.
For some reason, that thought fills me with fury, and before I know it, I’ve stepped over the tribal lines, drawn by her fear. A sick feeling tears at my stomach, my heart thunders, my claws slash at the air, and my tail lashes behind me. My entire body roars at me to save her.
To protect her.
To cherish her.
Where did that come from?
I have no time to stand here, shocked and confused, however, as the scent of fresh human blood hits me. She’s hurt!Her head whips around, and I realise I let out a growl. I don’t know much about humans, but I know their eyesight is poor in the dark, so she probably only sees my shadow, but it sends her scrambling backwards. Another scream rips from her throat as she tries to get away from me.
