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HUGH STOOD IN the open street, his nerves on edge. Things were going too smoothly. Before he’d gone to jail, he would’ve figured that was his due. Now, he knew better. His life was never this easy and when it was, something was wrong. A flash in one of the upper windows drew his gaze. “Guns!” He threw himself on top of Tim, knocking them both to the ground as the first bullets pelted the area.
“What the...” Tim shoved Hugh off him and started to stand.
“They have guns.” He grabbed the Servant’s arm, pulling him back down.
Tim’s eyes widened as he flattened himself on the street. Their soldiers were running for cover. He’d trained them to hold the line if they were attacked but he hadn’t prepared them for this. He’d known that eventually the Council would agree to release the weapons, but not this soon. A bullet hit the road next to him.
“We have to move.”
“Where?” Tim’s voice was incredulous as he curled in a small ball.
“I don’t know.” They were separated from the others. He should’ve grabbed Tim and ran, instead of knocking them both to the ground. It’d cost them their chance to retreat but they could still move forward. “There.”
“Toward the gunfire? That’s your brilliant plan?”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“Staying here and pretending to be dead works for me.”
Another bullet hit the payment a few inches from Hugh’s head. “We won’t have to pretend if we stay here much longer.” He positioned his hands under him, ready to leap and run. “They won’t expect us to come at them.”
“No, they’ll expect us to have common sense.”
“It’s our only chance.” They’d never make it to the others.
“If I die, you’ll pay for this.”
Tim uncurled himself and raced toward the statues at the front of the building. He followed, bullets raining down around them. Good thing the Guards didn’t train often with the weapons. Years ago, his father had been furious when the Council had ordered him to stop his monthly training sessions. The General had argued that the soldiers would lose their skill and thankfully, dear, old dad had been right.
He grabbed Tim’s arm and pulled him behind a statue. He leaned against it, panting. They were safe for the moment.
“Now, what?” asked Tim.
His soldiers lay scattered in the road, most dead. One of the youngest Guards was a few feet away, injured and crying for help.
“Don’t even think about it.” Tim let his claws sink into Hugh’s shoulder. “You can’t do anything for him now.”
He jerked free. Tim was right and it pissed him off. All these deaths were on him. He should’ve suspected this, trained them for this.
“Beat yourself up later,” snapped Tim.
“I wasn’t—”
“Save it. I know you and it’s written all over your face.” In a mocking tone, Tim continued, “This is all my fault. I’m responsible for everything that happens in life. I am the great and powerful—”
“Shut up.” He really couldn’t stand Tim.
“You shut up. I should’ve known better than to come with you. Things never go well when we’re together.
“I told you to stay back with...” He peeked around the statue, searching the crowd but didn’t see her.
“She’s fine,” said Tim. “She has to be, but if we don’t get out of here, she’ll come after us and then she won’t be fine.”
“She will do that. Won’t she?” His heart stilled at the thought of her doing something so foolish.
“Nothing will keep her from getting here to help, not even Gaar and Mirra.”
Tim was right. She’d figure out a way to get away from Gaar and Mirra or convince them to help her. Either way, he needed to get them to a less dangerous place. He nudged Tim. “Around the side of the building there’s a back door.”
“Ah, I’m not sure if you noticed, but we’ll have to go straight through the gunfire to get to the side of the building.” Tim’s voice raised several octaves as he spoke.
“I didn’t say it was going to be easy.” They’d have to get past three Guards who were covering that area.
“Hard is one thing, but that is suicidal. What’s your other plan?”
“There’s no time for another plan.” He pointed at one of the Guards who was moving toward them, weapon in hand. “They’re tired of waiting for us to come out. On the bright side, they stopped shooting at us.”
“Ah, shit,” said Tim.
His heart pounded. This wasn’t going to end well for both of them. “When he gets a little closer, I’ll jump him and you run.”
“No. You need to get away. I’ll—”
He grabbed Tim by the shirt. “Don’t give me the war will end without me crap. This war is going to end today no matter what and honestly, I don’t think I’m getting out of here alive.” The Guard was getting closer. “You have a chance. You’re faster. You can slip down the side of the building and out through the alleyway or go inside the building and hide. They’ll never notice you in this chaos.” He let go of Tim’s shirt and took a deep breath. “Tell Trinity I love her.”
“Hugh—”
“For once in your life, don’t argue with me.” He glanced at the approaching Guard. “This is the only chance we have of one of us getting out of here. Take care of your family and...” He couldn’t finish. This wasn’t how he wanted to die. He didn’t want to die at all. Not now. Not when he had Trinity waiting for him, but he had no choice. He took a deep breath and shifted forward, closer to the Guard. He crouched, his muscles quivering with fear and anticipation. In another minute, the Guard would be close enough. “Get ready.” Before he could move gunshots rang out and blood splashed his face as the Guard flew from the ground in the jaws of a gray and black Tracker. “Sikka?”
He scrambled forward, grabbing the gun that’d been knocked from the Guard’s hands. He aimed it at the Guard but the guy was already dead, throat torn out. His eyes followed a trail of blood leading to the alley. Sikka had been injured. A carriage pulled up just as gunshots started hammering down all around them.
“Get in.” Jackson held the door open
He scrambled in after Tim.
“Around the side,” he yelled.