Wow, suddenly I had grown a conscience.
“You know what to do,” he continued in a voice devoid of emotion, just hard, unyielding authority. “All threats on society must be eliminated. Is that clear?”
My blood turned to ice. “Yes, sir.” It was an automatic response.
Was she a threat?
I wasn’t so sure.
But I was positive that I was not a cold-blooded killer. Murder wasn’t something I wanted on my resume. Killing half-demons for the greater good—fine, but killing Angel—it struck a chord of humanity I still was clinging to—that even with all the evil running amuck there was a balance of good. That there was still a shred of decency in this world, a thread of decency left in me. I wanted to believe that the facility hadn’t wiped me clean of all sense of wrong and right.
Did I still have a heart? Any morals? Common sense?
I needed to run. Far and fast.
***
So a run might not have been the smartest move, but in the end, I knew my identity would be discovered sooner or later. I had just hoped it would have been later. Once it was known that I was back, the hourglass would be short on sand.
Tires squealed against the blacktop, piercing my ears. Chase had spotted me.
Damn.
Damn.
Damn.
I kissed my nice jog through the woods, which was supposed to calm my antsy spirit, goodbye. Just like a half-breed to ruin what was shaping up to be a perfect evening. Alone with nature on my daily run had become a habit. It was the only time I felt inner peace.
My hair was plastered to my damp, glistening skin. In deep, heaving breaths, I raced over a hill and to the edge of the road where I stopped for a breather. While I guzzled from a bottle of water I’d brought with me, the leaves rustled in the trees behind me.
With the back of my hand, I wiped a dribble of water from my mouth, and it was just my freaking luck. Chase’s car zoomed past. Immediately slamming on the breaks, he caught a glimpse of me before I dashed back into the woods. I pushed myself, not letting panic set it. Here I was, caught unaware without my bow and just a dagger stuffed in my sock. Not exactly an ideal situation for a hunter.
Kicking it up to full speed, my thighs burned from the excursion as I flew over the rough terrain. Even I knew that there was no way I could outrun him. My only chance was to get to where I had left my weapon and hopefully turn the tables on him.
I had the bow in my sights as I rounded a big oak. Never easing my speed, I ran straight for the weapon, picking it up on the fly. As my hands wrapped around the curved hilt, I spun on my heels and pulled back the arrow already in place. The only sound I could hear was the panting of my uneven breaths.
I had no more than steadied my hand when he was suddenly in the clearing. He blinked at his first real sight of me. Then he blinked again, angling his head. “Well, it appears the missing has risen from the dead. Joy.” His voice was dark and deadly, making his words come out as a threat.
Now that he was in front of me, I was at a loss for words, but not for long. “If it isn’t the spawn of Satan.”
“In the flesh,” he replied, holding out his arms like he was a gift. His cockiness knew no bounds.
I gritted my teeth as every muscle in my body begged me to let the arrow soar. Why hadn’t I? “You don’t seem surprised to see me.”
He narrowed his eyes, sizing me up, and then shrugged his broad shoulders. “Nothing surprises me anymore.”
Here it was—demon against hunter. An arrow aimed at this black heart, just me and him.
I was determined to end it all right here, right now.
I should have known it was going to blow up in smoke, but for once even I was rendered speechless.
“What the he—?” came a voice to my left.
I couldn’t afford to take my eyes off Chase, and by the look on his face, he was not a happy camper.
“Angel!” Chase roared from deep in his chest. “I told you to stay put. Will you never just do as I ask?” He was thoroughly annoyed.
Angel crinkled her nose, giving him the stink eye. “Well, it looks like you need me,” she said, her eyes indicating the weapon I still had stretched out in my arms.
Smart cookie.
At least one of them had a head on their shoulders.
Chase and I were in an intense staring contest. His eyes held mine in a war, but he spoke to Angel. “Do you honestly think I couldn’t have handled one little hunter? Your lack of faith in me is heartbreaking.” His words might have been offhanded, but he was poised to attack at any moment. I wasn’t fool enough to think that he wouldn’t do everything possible to get to Angel before I did.