Chapter 6 · Hounds and Prey

"Your blood can—"

A horn blasted behind us.

The sound punched through the trees. A second horn answered from the left.

Cain's hand closed around my wrist. His fingers were hot. Fever-hot. The bond between us snapped tight, and my knees nearly gave out.

"Move."

"Finish the sentence."

"Move now, Ivy."

He yanked me behind him just as an arrow sliced through the space where my throat had been. It buried itself in the tree beside my head.

I stared at the black feathers.

Cain turned, blocking me from view. His eyes had gone bright and wrong. Silver burned through the darkness.

"They're not here for me," he said.

"You said that before. Then why are they shooting at my head?"

"Because they want you alive."

Another arrow struck the ground between us.

Cain grabbed the back of my coat and shoved me downhill.

I hit the dirt, rolled over a root, and came up with mud in my mouth.

"You could warn me before throwing me down a mountain!"

"You'd argue."

"I am arguing!"

"Good. Stay loud. It makes you easier to track."

He moved through the trees like the forest belonged to him.