Chapter 21 · Tonight, He's Mine

The next contraction hits me halfway down the tunnel and I go down hard.

My knees slam into concrete. Water and blood soak through my jeans. I can't breathe. Can't think. Behind me Cole's fighting three hunters and he can't make a sound when they cut him.

I hear the blade go in.

Metal on meat. A wet punch of air from his lungs.

"Cole—" I try to turn but another contraction rips through me and I'm screaming instead.

He shoves me forward. His hand on my spine. Go. Now.

I can smell his blood. It's wrong. Burnt wrong. Silver.

"No. No no no—" I grab his arm and his shirt's already soaked through. The blade got him under the ribs. Not deep. But silver doesn't need deep.

He shakes his head. Points down the tunnel.

Rena's clinic is four hundred yards that way. I know because I've run this route in my head a thousand times. Four hundred yards and a left turn and a locked door I've got the code for.

I can't leave him.

He cups my face. His palm is hot and slick. His eyes are clear. He mouths something. Can't hear it but I know.