AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I heard the screech of tires stopping, spinning and the rev of an engine heading toward us, my heartbeat ticked up another notch.
I bounced in my seat as we rolled over dirt hills and dips. But the small track was getting smaller, tighter, more enclosed by trees, and soon, I saw the end of the road. We could go no further.
But they are right behind us.
Charlie answered my growing fear before I had a chance to ask. “We are going to run. Get ready.”
We stopped, but Charlie didn’t turn off the car. He left the lights on and the keys in the ignition while I threw my seat belt off and flung myself out. The sting of pain as my bare feet hit the ground, and the cold air around my almost naked body, were ignored.
Charlie whispered, “Follow me,” and took off running.
I followed him, trying not to wince, trying to be strong and quiet as I scrambled over dirt, leaves, branches, and tree roots. With only the headlights offering some illumination of the forest, I stumbled often, until Zaide scooped me into his arms.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
“You have nothing protecting your feet. I can’t stand to watch you hurt anymore,” he whispered and held me closer to his chest as he continued to run after Charlie.
I caught his wince as I accidentally brushed my hand over his shoulder. “I’m hurting you. Put me down.”
“You are not leaving my arms, Little Cat. Stay still,” he growled in a way that made me immediately still. A blush covered my cheeks at the sudden zing of arousal he’d caused just from his voice.
I opened my mouth to suggest that I change form so I could run faster—and without shoes—but the loud squeal of a car grinding to a stop made my breath catch. The bright headlights flashed through the trees, and moments later, doors slammed shut.
Charlie, responding to my rising panic, told me through our bond, “We aren’t far from town. I think we can make it before they catch us. We can hide until tomorrow, and hopefully they will be gone.”
I relayed the message to Zaide in a whisper, and we continued to run in silence for the next few minutes.
A voice shouted into the dark brush. “We know you’re there, freaks. We’ll find you. And when we do, you’re dead.” Then guns blasted loudly in the quiet woods, frightening sleeping birds from the trees.
Zaide dropped to his knees and curled over me. I flinched as bullets whistled past, my heart in my mouth as I prayed that nothing hit Zaide or Charlie, who I couldn’t see. Footsteps hurried toward us, and suddenly, I was hauled back into Zaide’s arms, and we were running again.
Charlie swerved and began heading toward the men following us.
“Charlie,”I mentally hissed at him.“What are you doing?”
“This way. Quick,”was all he said in reply.
Zaide raced behind him, unquestioning, trusting Charlie would know what to do and how to get us to safety. But he was flagging. I could feel his arms shaking, hear his loud panting and rapid heartbeat. Sweat formed on his brow.
“Please put me down, my love. I’m hurting you,” I whispered, my lips grazing the shell of his ear. He shuddered but shook his head, holding me tighter as he ran down an embankment that, at one point, must have been a river, because to our right was an old stone bridge.
Underneath the bridge, where an archway should have been, allowing a long-dried-up river to continue through, was now rubble, thick undergrowth, bushes, tall weeds and grasses.
Charlie stood right at the bottom of the embankment, waiting for us and holding out his arms as though ushering us in front of him. He swept a hand over the tall grass under the arch, and something flickered. An illusion shimmered, coming apart like it was a drawing on a curtain. Beyond it was the darkness of the secret space underneath the arch.
I gaped, but Zaide didn’t wait for me to process. He walked straight into the black, Charlie quickly following and letting the magic grass curtain sway close behind us all.
Have we broken the magic, or are we behind the magic grass curtain and invisible?I couldn’t see the barrier, and in the distance, lights from torches roamed the woods. They hadn’t given up. They were still looking for us.
“I think we’re safe here for a moment,” Charlie whispered. “I can feel the magic is still in place.”
I let out a sigh of relief, and Zaide released me. He placed me deliberately so I stood on his feet like a little girl that dances with her father and didn’t allow me to escape the circle of his arms.
“How did you know this was here?” I asked with chattering teeth. It was dark, and the damp, cold stones were like ice to my sparsely covered body.
Zaide tugged me closer to his chest and rubbed my arms to warm me.
“I love you.”He didn’t respond, but I could feel the swell of affection and love that surged to meet me, despite his unbearable fatigue.
