Cassie shuddered, her eyes closed as she clung tighter to Devon, knowing that these may be the last moments she had with him. Her heart was breaking, terror filled her, but she shoved it all fiercely aside. If she started to break now then they would never survive this, and the most important thing right now was to make sure that the creatures in this town were destroyed before they could wreak havoc upon the earth.
“All of you need to be prepared to defend yourselves as soon as this is over. You also need to be prepared to run, to flee when this phase of the battle is over,” Devon told them.
Though Cassie didn’t protest, she had no intention of leaving him behind.
***
Devon kept Cassie behind him and Julian. He knew she bristled at it, knew that she wanted free of the two of them, but he was not about to let such a thing happen. He was going to make damn sure that she survived this night. Beside him he could feel Julian bristling, wanting to reveal what he had glimpsed from Matthew, but unable to do so.
Julian glanced back at Cassie, his eyebrows drawing tightly together as he studied her carefully. She met his gaze, her beautiful eyes troubled as she watched him. “It was about me, wasn’t it?” she breathed, her voice so soft that Devon barely caught her words.
Julian was silent for a moment before he turned away, his hands fisted at his sides in frustration. Cassie reached for Devon, clinging to his hands as she grasped hold of him. Small tremors of fear shook her delicate frame. His own terror matched hers; he needed to know what Julian had seen. He could not take the chance of losing her.
“Julian.” Julian remained still, unmoving. “Julian!”
“Shh,” he responded softly, his gaze flickering toward where the others were gathered not far away.
Frustration filled Devon, he wanted nothing more than to grab hold of Julian, drag him from here, and demand to know what he had learned. But he could not do so. It was obvious that Julian did not want The Elder’s to know about what he had learned. A shadow moved amongst the woods, drawing Devon’s attention sharply that way.
He was not fooled into thinking this would be an easy battle, even with The Elder’s on their side. He was not fooled into thinking that the remaining creatures would all come at once, or that they would not have a plan of their own. Though Devon was fairly certain that Zane’s only true plan was to attempt to lure the creatures out and slaughter them as best he could.
Devon turned suddenly. Dani issued a small cry of surprise as he pulled her roughly forward. Bending close to her, he pressed his lips to her ear. “There isn’t a Grounder amongst them, they might not know what you are, don’t use your power until they are the only ones left standing.”
Dani’s gold flecked eyes were wide as they darted fearfully toward the group of Elders. She nodded mutely. Devon released her abruptly, defiantly meeting Zane’s curious, amused gaze. The head Elder was far too smug for Devon’s liking. Another shadow drifted through the forest, moving rapidly amongst the trees as it hunted them.
He turned his attention to Cassie, who was watching the woods intently. “Remember your promise,” he reminded her.
Her attention remained riveted upon the forest as she nodded. They stood upon the street in front of the mercantile, away from the area that Robert had destroyed in his attempt to kill Cassie. They were out in the open, exposed to the stalkers in the forest. They carried no visible weapons, relying upon their strength and powers to help them get through this.
The first one burst from the woods, drawing their attention toward it as five others suddenly emerged behind it. They raced forward, oddly silent as they barreled down upon The Elder’s who were closest to them. Melissa spun suddenly, turning back toward the building as ten more of the monsters emerged from inside. Devon didn’t know how they had gotten into the building, but he was certain that they had always known how to do so.
“I love you,” Cassie whispered, seconds before they were besieged.
CHAPTER 20
Power surged through her; Cassie felt the influx of it as the thrill of the fight, the eagerness for the kill descended upon her. The fear inside of her was buried as adrenaline pulsated to the forefront. Her body surged with the rushing strength that filled her veins. She felt the change come over her, knew when her eyes turned red.
She braced herself, bending slightly in preparation to launch herself at them. The others had already descended upon The Elder’s who eagerly embraced them in battle. Before the monsters could reach them, before Cassie could leap eagerly into the fray, Julian spun on Devon. Grabbing hold of his arm, he pulled Devon roughly toward him.
“Matthew is insane,” he hissed. At Devon’s wide eyed, confused look, Julian hurriedly continued, trying to get it all out before the fight was upon them. “He has seen what could become of Cassie, but he has not told anyone yet because he almost hopes it will happen.” Cassie’s mouth went dry, her heart thumped wildly in her chest. Julian looked crazed, terrified as his gaze darted toward her. “It’s not good, none of it is good. In fact, if what he saw comes true it could be very bad Devon, we need to get out of this somehow. We need to get Cassie away from them.”
Cassie gaped at him in shock, she forgot briefly about the creatures rushing toward them as Julian’s words sank in. The broken, crazed man had seen something that had to do with her! Something that had terrified Julian, something that put her in danger, put all of them in danger. Something that sounded as if it was going to stop her from being able to make the change.
Her gaze darted toward Devon, panic tore through her. They had finally gotten here. The decision had been taken out of both of their hands; the choice had been taken away from them. Consequences be damned, she was going to join him finally, because that is what The Elder’s had decided for them. But now, whatever Julian had seen from Matthew had left him so torn and horrified that he was shaking before them.
Cassie wanted to reach out to him, wanted to touch him and assure him that Matthew was wrong, that not all premonitions came true. Melissa was living proof of that. But she could not do that here, not now when they were about to be attacked.
“Julian…” Cassie broke off as Julian’s ice blue eyes swung slowly toward her. She could see the love in his steady gaze, but she could also see the stark terror that filled him. His hard, handsome face was pinched tight with worry; his platinum blond hair fell around his chiseled features. “Oh,” she breathed.
Her heart hammered; disbelief and pain filled her. She had wanted to join Devon so much, and for so long it had been constantly denied her. And now, now that it was almost upon them Julian had seen something from Matthew that had completely unraveled him. And it was because of her.