“Let’s not take the chance. Trust me and save Star,” I pleaded. “You’re the only person in the Heights who knows me.”
Finally, a glint of hope passed into his eyes. Time seemed to speed up at that point. I wasn’t even clear as to what transpired, but the instant he released his arrow, I summoned my power, letting it encompass me completely. Sparks flew off my skin, hissing and popping.
“What the—” The chump tried to slice me with his dagger but met an invisible wall: my shield, but I wasn’t done with him yet. I sent a charge of electricity in the air, hitting him the chest, not too close to the heart. The surge laid him flat out on his back, knocking the blade out of his hand.
Wielding two of my abilities was a surprise. I had hoped it would work, but I hadn’t known for sure, a gamble I’d been willing to take. “I’d start running if I were you, before he catches you.” I tried not to be utterly freaked out by the unusual sound of my voice. It had this omnipotent tone to it that had to come from the volume of electricity pumping through my body.
The asshat scrambled to his feet and took off running.
Star trembled from head to toe, blood staining the material of her pants. Not her blood, but Star didn’t seem too relieved by this. The dead body lying beside her with an arrow sticking out of his heart had her on the verge of passing out.
“Charlotte.” Dash was at my side. “Are you okay?”
I lifted my brow. “Are you going to let him get away?”
In long strides, he stalked to where the body had fallen, ripping the arrow from its chest and letting it soar through the woods straight into the back of the rebel who had shaved ten years off my life.
I had wanted to warn them, but it was finally over, and I exhaled, releasing the energy humming inside me.
Dash bent to help Star to her feet, but the look on her face gave him pause. “Are you hurt?” he asked softly.
Star shook her head, her hands quivering in her lap. “They’re dead?”
“Yes.” Dash didn’t bother to sugarcoat it.
I pushed to my feet, dusting off the dirt from my clothes, waiting to see if Star was going to have a meltdown. It sort of looked that way. I sympathized with her, knowing how scary my first hostage situation had been, but I’d trusted Dash. If she was going to survive the rest of the journey, she needed to form a backbone. And quickly.
Star’s eyes bounced from Dash to me, looking at us as if we were insane. “What is wrong with you two? We could have died. He was going to kill me!”
“How the hell did it happen anyway?” I asked, waiting for someone to answer me.
“You went all pink-eyes on us, that’s how,” Dash informed me. “I hope the vision was worth it.”
“Not really,” I mumbled. “It was a warning of the attack.”
“We’ve got to work on your timing.”
I rolled my eyes.
Dash moved a hand under Star’s elbow to help her stand up, but the second he touched her, she jerked away. “I can’t do this. You’re a killer.”
Uh-oh.
Dash flinched.
Where was this coming from? He’d saved her life. My heart went out to him. I had to refrain from grabbing Star by the ear and dragging her to the woods to give her a much needed scolding. “That’s not fair! Do you think I’m a killer?” I challenged her.
She nibbled on her lip.
“Yes, things are vastly different. Yes, none of us are who we used to be. But I think you owe it to Dash to get to know who he is today before you pass judgment on him. I trust him, Star. With my life. You would be dead if Dash and I didn’t trust each other.”
Her shoulders dropped, shame moving into her soft brown eyes. “You’re right. I’m sorry. That was out of line.”
Dash shrugged it off. “Don’t worry about it. You were scared, and what you said, it’s true. I have killed before and probably will do so in the future. You should know the truth.”
Bullshit.
Well, not the part about him killing, but he did what he had to survive, not because it was a game or fun.
“Maybe you should have left me at the Institute,” she whispered.
“I understand you’re upset, but if I’d left you there, you’d already be dead. Dash won’t let anything happen to you. And neither will I. But you’re right; it isn’t safe for you to be with us, not while the Institute is hunting us, which is why we’re taking you someplace safe.”
That got her full attention. “You’re leaving me?”
I nodded. “It’s the only way to keep you out of danger. You deserve a life, Star, and running from the Institute, sleeping in caves, and constantly fighting to stay alive, that isn’t your life.”
Her glossy brown eyes moved to the dead body before she stood up. “Maybe you’re right.”
Chapter Sixteen
I bent to gather my gear that had fallen during the attack. A droplet of blood plopped onto my arm.
What the—?
Another drop followed, and my hand flew to my face. Strange… my nose was bleeding. The rebel must have hit me a whole lot harder than I remembered. I’d grown accustomed to pain and didn’t think much of it. Nosebleeds were common. Why should I be worried? But Dash noticed and was suddenly in front of me.
“What’s wrong?” His eyes drifted over my face, catching my chin in between his fingers and tipping my head back.
I tried to jerk my chin out of his grasp, but failed. “Nothing. It is just a nosebleed. I’m fine.” But no sooner were the words out when I was suddenly hit with a dizzy spell, my head growing heavy. Okay, so maybe there was something wrong. Could I possibly have a concussion? My skin was flushed, yet I felt cold, freezing actually. Tremors took over my body.
Oh no!
“Dash,” I whispered.
His eyes darkened as he ran a thumb along my jaw. “What is it?”
“I’m going to pass out.”
Confusion crossed his expression. “What?”
I struggled to focus on his face. “Like now.”
“I got you,” he murmured, his warm breath fanning my forehead. Both of his hands were on my face, holding me steady. “Freckles, don’t you—”
Too late.
My legs gave out and there was only darkness. No thoughts. No Dash. No nothing.
My mind was hazy and disjointed. Strong arms held me; my head lay on a warm shoulder. We were moving, but I found the rhythmic motions relaxing and was content to stay here indefinitely.
Keeping my eyes closed, I drank in the scent of him, the scent of safety and the woods that made me want to burrow my face into his neck. It had been too long since Dash had held me. Who knew when I’d ever get the chance to be in his arms again?
Unable to stop myself, I weaved my fingers through his dark, silky hair. Dash turned his face slightly toward me, bringing our faces close together. He didn’t miss a beat and kept walking, not making any indication that he would put me down, making me think he also didn’t want to let go.