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Brook frantically scans each monitor. A cry of triumph leaves her before she yells, “Got you, you motherfucker!” Brook has zoomed in on the main street where a grainy Vance is standing between the top of the dump truck and the back bucket, firing off a gun.
Brook tries to grasp Lilly’s arm as she bolts for the door. “Where are you going?”
She pauses and turns back, her panther just under the surface. The shining turquoise of her eyes reflects off the screen behind Brook. In an almost guttural voice, she declares, “First Rights.”
Bolting for the roof, Lilly climbs out of the hatch, and army crawls to the edge. Looking down, she scans the tree line near the street first. Finn’s grizzly, Matt’s wolf, and many Homani and clones are engaged in a fight with several of Vance’s heavily armed men. The battle is fierce and bloody, with both sides taking severe hits.
A direct look down reveals Kate’s body lying in the street, her sightless eyes staring into the abyss. Lilly blanches.No!So many bodies, so much blood and smoke–the stench is almost overwhelming to her highly attuned sense of smell.
A movement catches her eye. Below her, to the left, is Vance. Her stomach rolls at the sight of him. A brief flash of April’s face momentarily blinds Lilly before visions of the last attack on the farm assault her. Her breathing increases as sweat breaks out on her brow and upper lip. Her heart feels as if it will pound out of her chest at any moment. She shakes her head and digs her nails into her palms, the quick pain grounding her. Only seconds have passed, but it feels like an eternity to Lilly. Vance turns left and right, then raises his gun as Emily runs out to shield a female Homani.
Shifting into her panther, Lilly leaps off the building, her long fangs finding deep purchase in Vance’s out-stretched arm. The gun fires just before she reaches him and can haul him off the truck. They hit the ground, both rolling with the impact, then separate, his gun skittering off to the side.
Lilly turns her head and starts to shake. She is too late. Too fucking late again. The female Homani lies on the ground, blood seeping from a round hole in her forehead. Anger and guilt surge through her. Emily stares up at her, and their gazes meet. She nods to the left of Lilly before sprinting for cover. Turning, Lilly focuses on Vance. Her low growl and show of fangs has Vance scurrying backward until he’s hiding behind the truck like the pathetic little bitch he is.
“Not exactly a fair fight now, is it? Why don’t you fight me in human form?” he challenges, rising to his feet.
As much as her panther wants to rip him to shreds, her need to feel his bones break under her hands overrides her animal, and she shifts back.
“That arrogance on your face isn’t fooling anyone here. You can’t hide fear from the Homani,pet,” she sneers. “It always bleeds through.”
“It’s over, Vance. Your army is dead,” Matt calls out.
Glancing around, Lilly smirks as the last of Vance’s men fall at the hands of the Homani and clones. She watches Gage approach her from the tree line. Matt, Finn, Dawn, and Lennon are right behind him. She holds her hand up, palm out. “I called First Rights.”
Gage continues to approach while the rest stand aside, honouring her wishes. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he leans in and gives her a gentle kiss. Pulling back, he whispers, “I’d burn the world for you, but you’re strong enough to light the match yourself.” He glances over at Vance then back to Lilly. “Rip him to shreds,” he says, then turns to stand by the others.
Lilly faces Vance. Raising her hands, she gestures a ‘bring it on’ motion. Some of Vance’s cockiness has left him as he glances warily at the crowd now gathered. “Don’t look at them. Look at me,” she spits out.
Vance snorts. “Yeah, as soon as we start, your friends are going to pile on.”
“We have honour here. I’ve called First Rights, which means you’re mine and mine alone. You walk away from me alive, you live. They won’t interfere.”
“Bullshit!” Vance yells. “You’re fucking animals. You were trained to kill.”
Matt steps forward. “No. You tried to make us cold-blooded killers, but you failed. What Lilly says is true. You defeat her, and you walk away. It’s our code of law.”
“Here,” Lilly kicks a bloody machete lying on the ground near her feet toward him, “even the odds for you.”
A glimmer of hope shines in Vance’s eyes before a calculated smirk crosses his face. “So be it,” he says, picking it up.
“He doesn’t deserve a fucking weapon!” Dawn's shout of protest distracts her, and Vance lunges. He strikes a glancing blow across her face with his cheap shot. Reeling back, she stumbles before regaining her footing. She raises her hand to her cheek, pulling it back; there is minimal blood.Just a graze. A quick jab is thrown her way, and she ducks, sweeping out her leg and bringing Vance down.
Lilly's heart pounds in her chest as she locks eyes with Vance. Her hair falls in wild disarray around her face as she squares her shoulders.
Without a moment's hesitation, Lilly springs forward. She moves with practiced ease, fists slashing through the air. A rush of adrenaline courses through her veins, sharpening her senses as she launches her assault.
But Vance, a looming shadow before her, remains steadfast. His movements are cautious, each step deliberate. Lilly's fists connect with empty air as Vance barely sidesteps her attack. Panic flickers within her, but she swiftly regains her focus.I will never back down.
Determination fuels her every move. She launches a barrage of lightning-fast kicks, her legs finding their targets. Vance defends himself, blocking and parrying with the machete. Each collision slicing cuts on her limbs, but she ignores the pain, driving herself forward.
Suddenly, he reaches down and tosses a handful of dirt at her face, momentarily blinding her. Eyes watering, a slight motion catches her attention. With a flick of his wrist, the blade gleams menacingly, catching the dim light.
Vance seizes the opportunity and runs the machete through her side.
Blood streams down her body; she is vaguely aware of Gage’s anguished roar before Vance closes the distance between them. His powerful arms encircle her waist. The pungent smell of tobacco, sweat, and blood that clings to his clothes assails her before he crushes the air from her lungs. Agony radiates through Lilly's body, her vision fading at the edges, but she refuses to surrender.
Summoning the last vestiges of her strength, she shifts into her panther, giving her animal the blood it’s been craving. She swipes at Vance, and her claws dig deep into his abdomen.
