Page 27 of Fear the Fall
“I’ve seen more impressive takedowns.” I shrug, biting my lip in a playful manner.
The truth was, watching Zeke work is sexy as hell. That I can admit.
He laughs. “You like me, English. It’s written all over your face.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Don’t get cocky. You still have another one to take out, and he doesn’t look as easy,” I say, nodding my head in the wolf’s direction.
“Come get it,” Zeke calls out to the wolf, but it doesn’t move.
The demon called Magrid throws his head back once more and howls, long and then in clipped yelps. I frown, taking in the peculiar scene, and then it hits me. He’s summoning something.
“Zeke, get back. He’s calling more.”
Zeke frowns as he digests what I yelled. Before he can make sense of it, four more wolves come out of the woods to stand behind Magrid.
“Fuck. Tori, run!” Zeke bellows, backing up quickly to put as much distance as he can between him and the pack. “Tori, I said go,” he commands, but I don’t move. I won’t desert him. He said he wanted to fight alongside me; now’s his chance.
“Go,” he screams, turning and running toward me.
Seeing his retreat, I decide to heed his words, and I take off as soon as he’s past me. I’m running at inhuman speeds, but it’s not fast enough. My diminished power is making me damn near mortal. A quick peek over my shoulder proves what I feared—the pack is gaining on us. Zeke is fifty yards ahead of me, faster than I am, but not even he will be able to outrun these demons.
The sky darkens overhead, clouds snuffing out the sun. Within seconds, the area is shrouded in darkness. They’re controlling the elements. Not. Good.
I look back again, and the yellow eyes glowing in the dim light have me pumping my arms faster. My mind walks through all my options at warp speed. Without Solis, my chances of taking all five of the wolves is bleak, even with Zeke’s help. We’re in uncharted territory. I have no idea of the strength these creatures possess. My run-ins over the past several years have been exclusively with vampires.
That’s when all hope is lost. Ahead of Zeke, another pack of werewolves step into our path, surrounding us at our front and back. Zeke and I put our backs together, each facing one of the packs.
“What do we do?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, not willing to show fear.
“Go for the pack leader’s heart. It’s all I’ve got, Tori. It has to work,” he says, squeezing my hand.
“Can using their name benefit us?”
“I’m not sure. Call it out and see,” he suggests.
“Magrid, freeze,” I yell out, shaking my head at the lameness of my command.
A loud roar shakes the trees and ground beneath us. My eyes widen, not knowing what the hell’s happening. Did his name cause this reaction?
Even the wolves stop in their tracks, sniffing the air and looking around. Whatever’s out there has even the demons shaken. Magrid’s jowls open into an intimidating smile, and I know that using his name doesn’t have the same effect as calling out an angel’s.
“Shit,” I curse, beginning to lose my cool. “It didn’t work.”
“Tori, listen to me,” Zeke whispers. “When I say go, run to your left into the trees. Our best chance is to lose them while most of them are distracted.”
I nod my head, unable to speak.
The loud roaring continues, and I cover my ears with my hands, trying to drown out the unnerving sound.
“Go,” Zeke says, and I take off, running through the overgrown forest. Branches scratch at my exposed skin, tearing flesh wounds that will heal much slower than usual, considering my powers are drained.
The bushes on both sides of me rustle, signaling I’m not alone. The wolves are closing in, and I’m not sure how many followed me. The only thing for me to do is face the threat head on, no matter the cost. I’ll never outrun them.
I stop, turning to assess the situation.
All of them followed me.
There are two angels in these woods, but they all decided to follow me and leave Zeke.