Page 62 of Stealing Embers
“The challenge is so pathetic, it isn’t even amusing anymore.”
Ouch.
“Shut . . . your . . . face,” I huff out.
These comebacks are as weak as I am.
Ignoring me, Ronove throws Steel over his shoulder, and I snap. Completely shedding my sense of self-preservation, I launch myself at Ronove a second time, clawing to get at Steel even as the Forsaken holds me off with only one arm.
I might as well be a chipmunk going up against a giant for all the damage I’m inflicting—which is to say, none at all.
“Just kill the male,” Lilith says from somewhere behind me. “She obviously has an attachment to him and it’s just—”
“NO!”
A bubble of heat forms in my chest and detonates, shooting blazing fire throughout my limbs and outward in a blast that hits the Forsaken, propelling them into the air. Their bodies smash against the rough alley wall like a Mack truck, but they recover quickly, each landing in a crouch.
I must have held onto Steel, because his body is sprawled at my feet.
Waves of white light—much brighter than the usual Nephilim glow—pulsate off me.
The Forsaken hiss at me with fingers bent and claws extended. Hatred drips from their black eyes. They’ll come at me any moment now.
The searing heat is still building in my chest and dancing uncomfortably across my skin. It weaves and curls around my torso, skating up and down my arms and legs like a fiery caress.
“What was that?” Ronove casts a glance at his companion.
“She must have a weapon hidden.”
Stepping in front of Steel once again, I firm my resolve. He may have a serious attitude problem and he probably hates me for no good reason, but I’m not going to let these two monsters harm a hair on his head.
Heat lashes my skin as a flurry of possessiveness overtakes me. A single word rumbles up from deep in my chest.
“Mine.”
Whoa.
No, not mine. I don’t want Steel. I simply want to keep him safe at this particular moment in time.
He’s definitely notmine. Not now. Not ever. I will happily hand him off to Nova or whoever else wants to tolerate the arrogant male.
As if a different being lives inside me, the urge to stomp my foot and disagree with myself rides me hard. Gritting my teeth, I push back against the compulsion and focus on the hideous creatures across from me.
“Take her down. The other might make a nice trophy, but we don’t have time for this. We’ll dispose of him after she’s out. This mission has already been too much trouble.”
With a barely perceptible nod, both Forsaken charge.
Lilith slashes with her claws, forcing me to duck and roll out of the way, popping up several feet from Steel’s prone form. It’s just enough room to allow the beasts to circle me. But I don’t mind because it means their attention is on me instead of Steel.
I shuffle a few steps back to put even more distance between them and Steel, but still keep his body in my line of sight.
Ronove dives; I spin to the right, bringing my leg up in a roundhouse kick that’s supposed to land across his face.
It would have, if he weren’t so stinkin’ supernaturally fast.
Failing to connect with my target causes me to lose my balance and stumble a step before regaining it. That’s all the distraction the creatures need. They collide with my body and we fall in a tangle of limbs.
Lilith wraps her legs around my torso and her arms around my neck, and squeezes. Ronove delivers a quick jab to my face.