THERE WERE TWO ROUTES between me and Luke—the easy way and the fast way. Ruth must have traversed the easy way, skirting the walls and clambering over obstacles until she regained her post amid those loyal to her cause. The fast way involved cutting through enemy territory, which meant it wasn’t really likely to be fast.
As I assessed potential paths, Victor’s blade slashed down and caught in Luke’s shoulder. Luke reached up and grabbed the blade barehanded, as if pain had become irrelevant to him.
I winced and chose the fast way straight through enemy turf.
Some let me through. After all, I smelled like their chosen alpha. Road tar and raw liver—the scent of my own neck made me choke.
Others snarled and bared their teeth despite the aroma. I cut my way past without regard to who I hur
