“We need a plan,” I murmured to Dash.
“Do we ever, Freckles. I’m all ears. What do you suggest?”
“Me?” I squeaked.
“Well, you’re the one who threw up the shield. I only got to hit four guards with my arrows.” He sounded disappointed.
“We’ve got all night!” the commander yelled.
“I’d love to strike him with a bolt of lightning,” I mumbled between my teeth.
Dash shouldered his bow. “You might get your chance.”
At no point when I had woken up today had I imagined things going down like this.
“I’m getting bored, Slayer,” Ember hollered. “It’s not like you to hide from a fight.”
The pulse in Dash’s neck popped. Ember was goading him, and it was working. “Don’t listen to her,” I told him.
“She has a point. What is our game plan here? I know you’re only trying to protect us, but we can’t just sit here and pray they get tired and leave. The truth is, you’ll probably wear out before they do.”
Dash wasn’t being malicious but practical, and he was right. I could already feel myself weakening. “You want to fight?”
He angled his head to the side, contemplating our odds. “Yeah, Freckles. I say we go out there and kick some serious Night’s Guard ass.”
“Just say the word.”
“And if we get caught,” he rested his forehead against mine, “just remember that I love you.”
“I won’t let them separate us.”
“We might not have a choice.”
“We’re not getting caught,” I said with conviction.
“How about a good luck kiss, Freckles?” He winked. “Just in case something goes awry.”
My eyes frantically searched his. “Nothing is going south. We can escape... I think.”
“Now would be a really great time to have one of those visions, preferably on how we get out of this mess.”
“I’ve tried, believe me. Nothing works.”
“You’re wearing yourself thin. You need to release the shield, save your energy for what is to come.” He moved closer, his eyes dropping to my lips. “How about that kiss?”
I leaned forward, framing his face with my hands. “Don’t leave me,” I whispered right before my lips touched his in a desperate kiss.
“Never,” he vowed as we broke away and prepared to face the Institute.
Uncertainty and a good dose of fear burned through me as I let the protective barrier disappear. I kept my eyes locked on Dash, for I knew they were a dead giveaway. They might be shining blue now, but once the power left, the rainbow would return.
“Stay behind me,” Dash said.
Things went from bad to crap-tastic the second I dropped the shield.
“I don’t like this,” I grumbled.
“Neither do I, but what choice do we have?”
A guard barreled through the woods, moving so fast I couldn’t follow his movements. One second he stood at the edge of the trees and the next he was in Dash’s face… or I should say that an arrow was in the guard’s face.
I don’t know how, but Dash had his bow drawn, ready to strike. “I would think twice about what you plan to do, or this arrow will be sticking out of the back of your head, friend.”
Ember flicked out her wrists, letting flames encompass her hands. “You can’t be thinking of fighting us all.”
“There is only one way to find out.” Electricity burst from me in tumultuous waves, striking two guards and tossing them into the air. I went the extra mile and unleashed my inner tigress. Arrows hissed past me on my right, a second before Dash grabbed my hand.
“We need to move,” Dash said, scooting to the tree line and releasing arrows as we went.
A guard jumped in front of Dash, blocking our path. Not a smart move. Dash raised his arm, smacking him in the face with his elbow. Blood gushed from the guard’s nose.
Another line of defense bordered the forest, and once again, Dash and I found ourselves up shit creek.
“I tried to warn you,” Ryker grumbled.
“Right now, I don’t want to hear anything you have to say,” I shot back.
“I’m going with Freckles here. Unless you’re going to help us, shut your piehole,” Dash roared.
A movement stirred down the left side of the tree line, and my father strolled into the clearing, holding up one hand. “Stand down!” he ordered before the guards could tase us.
Son of a …
Chapter Twenty-Five
I shouldn’t have been surprised to see my father, and yet I was. Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I tried to collect myself and prevent my mouth from saying something I’d regret. I took a deep breath. “If you’re here to order me back to the Institute, it’s a waste of your resources. I’m not going back there.”
“Charlotte,” he said.
I actually recoiled at the sound of my name.
Squinting, he began an apology I didn’t want to hear. “I’m sorry. I had to find you, but I don’t want you to get hurt. Please don’t make this difficult.”
“Difficult?” I squeaked. “You’re the one who put a price on my head. You’re the one who has me surrounded. You’re the one who is making this difficult.”
He kept his eyes on me. “I can’t lose you again. I’ve worked too long and too hard to protect you.”
“You aren’t the only one capable of protecting me,” I retorted.
My father’s bright green eyes slid toward Dash, and a vast amount of loathing and distrust centered on the guy beside me. It was so potent, I swore it slapped me in the face like a sheet of ice. “The Slayer may be capable of striking down any target he desires, but we’re family. And no matter what kind of feelings you have for him, he is dangerous. He might not mean to hurt you, but he could.”
“You’ve hurt me. How is that any different?”
Dash widened his stance, crossing his arms over his chest. “This feels like déjà vu. Haven’t we been here before?”
“Dash Darhk.” My father tsked. “I knew that if I found you, I would find my daughter. Can’t say that I’m thrilled to see you together.”
“Trust me, I’m equally thrilled to see you, Dr. Winston.” Dash’s fingers flexed. “You here to lock me up again?”
“I’ve come to learn that no cell will hold you. Part of your gift, possibly?” My father raised a brow, pondering the thought.
“Then why all the hoopla? You must know that I’m not going back to the Institute. I won’t be a part of your plan, and as you can see, neither will your daughter.”
“You might change your mind after you hear what I have to say.”
“No!” I stepped in. “There is nothing you can tell us that would justify what you’re doing to people. You’re murdering them, and for what? The sake of science? That’s crap.”
My father’s brows knitted together. “You wouldn’t understand. I know you think that what we’re doing is heartless and cruel, but a few sacrifices to save the lives of thousands, isn’t that worth it?”