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"You can’t get away fro" And to make sure he did, she rolled his heavy body over onto his back

His face was ashen His eyes had dilated until only a thin ring of green re ay too fast

Nika righted the phone and said, "So with Madoc"

Nicholas was still there, sounding relieved to have heard froath"

"They hit hiuinar can fix it Just hold on Help should be there any minute"

"What do I do?"

"Is he bleeding badly?" asked Nicholas

He’d lost a lot of blood, but none was gushing out "Bad enough"

"You need to leave him, Nika Get as far away as you can"

"No"

"It’s theSynestryn down on you"

"That’s why I need to be here To fight theht them off You need to run"

Frory howl The Synestryn had caught the scent of Madoc’s blood

"Run," whispered Madoc, his eyes pleading with her

Nika set the cell phone dohere he could hear reassurances that help was on the way; then she stood and picked up Madoc’s sword

She didn’t dare try to lift it up before the last second for fear her arive out too early

"Run," he panted

Nika spared hirayer, and a panicked sense of desperationyou Not now Not ever Get used to it"

Behind her, she heard an engine roaring and tires screa In front of her, she heard ainst the cold She couldn’t feel her toes anyid ht on her left She wasn’t sure what it was, so she turned toward it, splitting her attention between the howls and whatever threat that light posed

"Nika! Nika Madison!" a distant voice shouted from the direction of her truck Help

"Here!" she yelled, standing her ground over Madoc

The shadowy shapes of twotoward her She couldn’t see who they were, but they had all the right parts to be hunize either of the young uns

They positioned the?" the older one asked She guessed he was a few years older than her, but not h"

"Looks like the cavalry’s coer ht

"What’s that?"

"Portal They’ll be here any second"

As the last word left his ht solidified, then ripped open in a perfect line as if someone had split the air with a blade The line widened and Helen stepped through, followed closely by her husband, Drake Seconds later, Angus and Gilda spilled through as well

Relief ainst the frozen ground, shesy face deepen "You did well We’ll take it fro for the sword

Nika’s arm didn’t move, so he caers One of the young men wrapped his coat over her shoulders and the warmth made her moan in thanks

Helen flipped one of her twin braids over her shoulder, waved a hand, and a long line of flaround several yards away Drake drew his sword and stood by her side, scanning the area

Gilda lifted the heown and knelt beside Madoc in the snow She pressed her dainty hands on either side of his face, and bent her head as if in prayer

A series of short yelps rose up from the trees nearby They were closer now

"The two of you need to get Nika away frous to the hu hi you to hi to be pushed around like a child This was too i"