Thorne's POV
Lyra's voice trembled, her hands shaking as they stroked against mine. "You don't know what you're asking me to do, Thorne."
Trying to ignore the pain in my chest, I lightly held her in place by grasping her wrists. "I'm not bothered. I will pay it if this is the cost I have to pay to save you. I'll do anything.
She shook her head and turned away from me just enough to glance back at me. You believe you could keep me safe? You believe you can repair this? Her voice faltered, but her eyes were hard. This is more than you could possibly know. More than I could possibly know.
I choked hard, her words sitting in my belly like a stone. "I'm not interested." Whatever it is, we tackle it together. Lyra, I don't give a damn about the hazards. I give you importance. My voice was low, rough, the truth out in a manner I had not intended.
Her gaze softened momentarily, then the frigid truth slammed back in. She drew back from me, a long sigh breaking forth. "You misunderstand. I have something I have been hiding from you in there. From everyone. It's the reason we can't have the life you're dreaming for and why I can't be with you."
The words seemed like a kick to my chest, so I moved forward naturally clutching her arm. "Stop. You dare say that, not here. Nothing about us I wish to hide; nothing about you I cannot embrace."
Lyra's lips trembled, her feelings a whirl-pool. She started to talk, but before she could utter anything a voice from behind us cut off her mouth.
"I agree with Wilder; she is right."
Whipped around, my instincts were sharp right away. From the shadows sprung a tall, broad-shouldered guy sporting a dark leather jacket. Though his face was shadowed, his posture exuded clear chilly confidence. Jaxon is it.
I hissed, my body coiling with anger once again. "What the devil are you looking for?"
Jaxon's lips curved into a haughty smirk, his gaze fluttered between Lyra and me. "I said to you earlier, didn't I? How this turns out is not up to you. Thorne, you are above your level.
I moved closer, my hands tight as the distance between us shrank. Jaxon, I had enough of your games. Though it won't alter anything, you can threaten me whatever you want. I am not letting her go.
"Go?," asked . He laughed slightly in gloomy tones. Oh, she is nowhere at all. Not until she performs as expected of her half of the bargain.
My heart sank. "What compromise?" I insisted, my voice getting more exacting.
Jaxon's smile turned to a chilly, mechanical glance. Lyra should, in my opinion, tell you the truth now.
Turning to Lyra, the terror in her eyes stopped me dead. My brain flew, attempting to make connections. One truth? How had Jaxon mistreated her?
Lyra drew a long breath, her hands trembling once again as she retreated. "Thorne... I—"
A piercing crack that reverberated in the distance tore through the suspense before she could finish. We all stopped; the air seemed to weigh more by the second.
Jaxon grinned once again, darker than before. "You thought it was just us, Wilder?" not sure Backing off, he drew something from his jacket. Glinting menacingly in the low light, a silver ring.
Jaxon said, his voice low, nearly a whisper: "I wasn't talking about just me." "Who do you suppose will come out of this alive?"
My gaze flew over the space, the darkness swallowing anything beyond the lighting. There was something wrong. It was like a hurricane ready to strike, felt in the air.
The air erupted in a piercing harsh screech, then the distinct sound of feet running toward us. It was not one individual. Several times.
"Get down!," urged yelling at Lyra, I grabbed her arm and dragged her after me.
Before I could respond, though, the first of the new numbers appeared from the shadows—a tall guy wearing a mask covering most of his face. His eyes gleamed ghostly in the night.
The following several seconds blend together. As the guy surged for us, his motions fast and exact, my heart hammered in my chest. I pushed Lyra aside just managing to avoid it.
But there were too many—more than needed. Then a second guy, then a third, all disguised, all with a murderous intent, dressed exactly.
"Who are you?!"," asked Trying to get Lyra out of harm's way and defend myself.
The man in the mask closest to me chuckled, his voice cold and low. Wilder, you ought to have remained away from this. Your struggle is not this one. But now it is. And here we are to complete it.
My fist hooked with the man's chest as I swung at him. Still, he didn't stumble. Grinning under his mask, he raised his hand as though disparaging my attempt.
Lyra's familiar voice shook with panic behind us. Thorne, they are here for us. Each of us. And you cannot stop it with anything.
Breath seizing in my throat, I turned back to her. Her eyes held too much terror. She pointed out the truth. Time was running short, and this was all whirling out of control.
"You have to run," I said, my voice firm in the middle of the turmoil all around. "Leave here. Come now.
But I heard a crisp, menacing click before she could get moving—the clear sound of a rifle being cocked. My pulse skipped a beat as I turned; the adrenaline made my limbs move quicker than I could have imagined.
From the shadows came a fourth person, and I saw the glitter of a rifle in their hands, squarely directed at me.
The man advised not moving, his voice calm and deep. "One mistaken action, and I trigger something."
Though I could not clearly see his face, I could feel his danger weighting me. Lyra's scared look locked with me as the seconds passed, and the world appeared to shrink all around us.
Jaxon stood to the side, detachedly observing the drama develop, his smile never leaving his face. "I did warn you, Thorne." Here is where it all ends.
No matter what I did, it felt as though this was it—the world closing in on me. The game ended.
But a weird noise sounded far away as the shooter moved forward. Something forceful. Something acquainted. My pulse skipped a beat as a dark figure moved quicker than humanly allowed in the distance.