Page 66 of Hell on Wheels

I never got to tell him how I felt.

Flint was my lifeline. He threw out a life preserver when I didn’t realize I was drowning.

How could it end like this?

I can’t breathe!

My chest felt too tight. The lack of oxygen was taking a toll.

Help!

“Get off her, you sick fuck!”

Spook!

Fred’s hands left my neck as I rolled over, cradling my wrist and sucking air into my lungs, too weak to help.

I heard a struggle and blinked, staring at the burning building now wreathed in shadows. Dozens of dark shadow warriors headed toward us. They formed a mighty army as they approached. Two souls emerged ahead of the others.

The first, a hound.

The second, the man I loved.

That’s not possible.

The shadowed hound reached me first. Familiar brown eyes seemed sad as he arrived, licking the side of my face.

“Kane,” I croaked.

Kane whined as I heard Flint’s voice.

“Stay, Kane. Guard!”

Kane’s body slowly grew more solid as his ears flicked back, and he sat on his haunches next to me, snarling with aggression.

I thought he died. How was Kane here?

My head turned to the side, catching Fred as he lifted his weapon. The gun fired as several bullets left the barrel . . . headed straight for Flint.

“No,” I tried to scream, but the word got stuck in my throat. A raspy sound followed as I nearly choked on my saliva.

God. It stung and hurt when I tried to swallow.

The bullets reached Flint but didn’t penetrate his body. They went through him as his solid form morphed into a shadow, breaking apart and quickly reforming into his body again.

My lips parted in shock. No sound came out.

He roared as he ran toward Fred, who stumbled, trying to back away but didn’t stand a chance against the shadowed warrior.

As Flint reached him, the army of shadows caught up, overlapping as they converged on Fred.

His frightened cries filled the night.

Was it terrible that I only cared about justice? Revenge for me and Molly and Torin?

Flint parted from the shadows, walking my way with a determined stride. He bent down, scooping under my body to lift me into his arms. My hand lifted, cradling a face that seemed to crackle with flames. Beneath the surface of his skin, embers glowed with the remnants of the fire.

Cool to the touch, he didn’t burn me.